What's the news?

Ford UK has released pricing information for its new Fiesta ST. The junior hot hatch will go on sale in two forms, ST and ST2, and is priced at £16,995 and £17,995 respectively. Ford suggests that the entry price undercuts that of competitors, which should keep the ST a familiar sight on UK roads.

Exterior

Visually, the ST does stand out from its standard counterpart. Round the front is a large trapezoidal grille above the new front spoiler; complemented by side skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels; while twin exhausts, a large spoiler and rear diffuser make up the rear. Colour choices include the not-so-subtle Molten Orange and Spirit Blue; and ticking the 'Style Pack' options box adds red brake callipers and a grey finish to the alloys.

Interior

The basic interior layout is carried forward from the standard Fiesta, but both ST models come with generous equipment levels. The entry-level ST gets Recaro seats, air conditioning, a DAB radio and Ford's SYNC connectivity. Upgrading to the ST2 adds partial leather and a heat function to the Recaros, an uprated Sony stereo, keyless start and privacy glass.

Mechanicals

The Fiesta ST gets its power from a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine that features twin independent variable cam timing and a low pressure turbocharger. Output comes in at 180hp and 290Nm of torque, sending the ST from 0-62mph in a quick 6.9 seconds. Economy figures aren't too shabby either as Ford is quoting a 47.9mpg combined figure, and emissions of 138g/km.

The ST's bespoke suspension system lowers the Fiesta by 15mm, while retuned steering and enhanced Torque Vectoring Control (eTVC) complete the chassis and handling tweaks.

Anything else?

Due to the popularity of the Fiesta, Ford's 530 UK dealerships set 24th January aside as 'Fiesta Day' to help cope with the new model's expected high demand. Deliveries of the ST to dealers are expected to take place in March, and we can't wait to have a drive.