2014 Ford Fiesta ST’s Arrival Confirmed in Gov’t Docs—Possibly Only 160 HP

[FFTeam]

Finally. After a year of coy not-quite denials, we’ve got something official from Ford that the Fiesta ST is coming to the U.S. That Ford hadn’t officially confirmed the Fiesta ST’s sale here was as secretive as the Taurus Limited is, in fact, limited. A concept-in-name-only Fiesta ST was shown at the 2011 L.A. auto show, and since then, Ford employees in the U.S. and Europe have winked and nodded about U.S. sales.

The Fiesta ST is included in compliance documents that Ford filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this month. There are two points worth highlighting.

First, the horsepower listed is 160, and that’s a surprise. Europeans will get a Ford-confirmed 178 hp in their Fiesta ST, and the company has been loud lately about the One Ford policy meaning global markets get the same cars. Before the launch of the Focus ST, the Blue Oval issued press releases saying that its new hot hatch would be almost identical in the U.S. and Europe.
Second, the 160-hp number corresponds in the chart to the older TiVCT engine—that’s the naturally aspirated 1.6 in the existing regular Fiesta. Misalignments and bad copy/pasting happen all the time in these manufacturer-submitted documents, and there are others in this one. The 1.0-liter engine in the third row is listed as an “I4″ when we know it’s an inline-three.

[kylesvt720]

Probably a typo, why would they de-tune the engine that's in the Fusion and Escape for a performance car.

[Malibooya]

If it's not a typo, I wouldn't be surprised anyway. 160HP on US spec gas...so is it tuned on 91? I'd believe 160HP.

I think the cheap stuff in England is what, 95? If the 178HP figure comes from a tune on that...

With that said, I don't care if it has 160 or 180HP. As long as it can hold its own throughout the powerband, it may not matter. Torque is more crucial.

[kylesvt720]

Originally Posted by Malibooya

If it's not a typo, I wouldn't be surprised anyway. 160HP on US spec gas...so is it tuned on 91? I'd believe 160HP.

I think the cheap stuff in England is what, 95? If the 178HP figure comes from a tune on that...

With that said, I don't care if it has 160 or 180HP. As long as it can hold its own throughout the powerband, it may not matter. Torque is more crucial.

This doesn't add up tho. Why does the US spec Ford Escape 1.6T have 178hp? And why does the US Spec Mondeo/Fusion have 178hp?

[Malibooya]

Originally Posted by kylesvt720

This doesn't add up tho. Why does the US spec Ford Escape 1.6T have 178hp? And why does the US Spec Mondeo/Fusion have 178hp?

Ah, that's a different story. Then you're probably right.

[kylesvt720]

I mean maybe they detuned it for some reason, but if it's mechanically identical, all that will mean is there will be an even bigger gain from a tune once you buy it.

[RonMaiden]

US spec emissions might be responsible for the lesser hp.

[kylesvt720]

Originally Posted by RonMaiden

US spec emissions might be responsible for the lesser hp.

Read above, there are two other cars on the road right now in the U.S. with the same motor, rated at the same 178hp as Europe.

[FocusSTHopeful]

if its the same as the euro engine, it can easily be tuned to "true" numbers.

or hell, im gonna tune it anyway. 180 horses or bust

[DEREKC]

I think that we will have to wait and see. I think the 180 hp will happen, because it won't sell well with 160 hp.