Ford Fiesta ST

2014 Ford Fiesta ST

Us, car enthusiasts, the cars we prefer or we dream off depends on what our personal tastes should be. Whether if its Italian exotics like the Aventador and the F12berlinetta, French hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron, American muscles like the Camaro and the Mustang, and Japanese street racers like the Z and the GT-R. We all dream to have one of those but any particular reason what this little chump doing here?

This is the brand new Ford Fiesta ST, the latest hot hatch made possible by the American carmaker, Ford, and what we have here is once a car everyone can afford, now made even as tangier as siling labuyo sprinkled through an ice cream sandwich. Sure it may not be as flashier as the dream cars but as a hot hatch, the brand new Fiesta ST would be a must-buy of the year because not only as cheaper as a million dollar sportscar, it's the most enjoyable Ford yet since the classic Capri, the Sierra, and the Escort.

Here's a thing, remember the episode from Top Gear when this car compared to the Renaultsport Clio and the Peugeot 208 GTi? Well, you get the idea but we're talking about the North American-spec Fiesta ST. Like its French rivals, the Clio RS 200 EDC and the 208 GTi, the brand new Fiesta ST comes with the 1.6: straight-four engine but unlike its French enemies, it's down by 3 horsepower, therefore it develops 197HP of power with a 0-60 time of under seven seconds. It may not be faster than the French but here's the idea; while the 208 GTi costs 32,900 dollars and the Clio RS 200 EDC costs 33,500 dollars, in France, the Fiesta ST, the lesser of the three, costs 21,400 dollars, making it the cheapest and by the cheapest, time to cue the triumphant music soundtrack while describing what's what about the new ST.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST interior

2014 Ford Fiesta ST interior

Anyway, while the ST is cheaper than its French hot hatch rivals, it has loads of equipment on it such as fat 17-inch alloy wheels, RECARO seats, big exhausts, and a swooping design that really stands out the crowd. All of which is nice but with that 3 horsepower deficit, the Fiesta is surely gonna have a pasting in a drag race but you'll never know because it's lighter and has more torque than the rivals and if the options were: 1) win, 2) come second, and 3) come third, the answer will be the third option even though when you're shifting the 6-speed gearbox manually like a man. However, what's like for the Fiesta ST when you give it some corners?

Amazingly, you can corner this American hot hatch like a half-wit and the Fiesta ST loves corners. That's because the Fiesta ST comes with twist-beam rear axle to prevent understeer, the lower center of gravity height and ride height versus the base model, and unique sport suspension features; making the Fiesta ST one of the best handling cars in ages and when you turn the Traction Control off, it really is off. Ford really managed to get it right about the Fiesta ST because in here; it's not what it can do, it's HOW it can do.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST

So, what I like about the Fiesta ST is its value, the handling, the features, and its sheer charisma that stands out the crowd. However, what I really don't like about the ST was it's 3 horsepower less than the 208 GTi and the Renault Clio, the front face seems a bit looking like Harukasan from Puchimas, and overall, the name. ST...Why did they name it after a lady towel? Doesn't matter though because this is the hot hatch you can buy. I honestly never seen a car is as exciting and as likeable as this. That's how I like this Fiesta.

Available colors: Performance Blue, Green Envy, Race Red, Molten Orange, Ingot Silver, Oxford White, and Tuxedo Black.

Photo: Ford Motor Company

Ford Focus Electric vs. Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus Electric

This is a Ford Focus Electric. Sure, it looks like the current generation Focus but it sports a Ford family face at the front of it. Because it's an electric car, it's being powered by a combination of the 100kW electric motor and a 23kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It promises about a combined fuel economy equivalent at 105 MPGe (2.2 L/100 km), with an equivalent 110 MPGe (2.1 L/100 km) in city driving and 99 MPGe (2.4 L/100 km) on highways. It's 3 miles longer than the Nissan Leaf.

Anyway, what I thought I'll do is compare the Focus Electric to a rival, a competitive product of some sort. Producer-san liked that idea so what I thought I would do is by bringing...this.

2013 Ford Focus ST

It's the Focus ST. A powerhouse of hotness and some troublemaking fun in every corner thanks to its 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that generates 252HP of power. I think it's better looking than the Focus Electric and of course, it's better than almost everything. This is insanely more like a Ford Focus that spent several days drinking too much bottles of Regain energy drink. No wait...Monster? Rockstar? Never mind. This car feels like it's been fueled by the sweet smell of energy drinks. It's autistic! An autistic Ford Focus! 0-100kph takes about 6.7 seconds, flatout in 245kph, and ADHD for the rest of your life because, you'll be autistic before, during, and after driving it!

Of course, because the Ford Focus ST is now a global high-performance car ideal for the world market, it's a bit half-cocked. And sure, the interior is a bit mental as other hot hatches from Europe, this car begs us belief.

In terms of handling, it isn't a bit as dynamic as a muscle car, as standard as a Nissan GTR, it's a bit...well, MILD. Mild and menacing. Mild's the exact opposite of Dynamic because it's so easy to handle thanks to its FF powertrain. It's a great car though, like a young woman wearing a some one-piece Asics racing swimwear. But how does it compare to the Focus Electric?

Well, in the number of reasons...not well. Sure, the Focus Electric has SYNC, airbag, five seats, and a bigger boot. The ST is pretty much the same as well. The Focus Electric costs $39,200 MSRP while the ST costs about $23,700 MSRP. The Electric maybe more expensive than the ST but it's more economical.

Choosing which Focuses is not all fun and games. Sure, the Focus Electric did well but I think on balance, I'd chose the big yellow autistic one instead...

Photo: Ford Motor Company