Fiesta siesta rethink

A RED-HOT version of the Fiesta hatch is being reconsidered by Ford Australia.

The Fiesta ST, which would take on the Volkswagen Polo GTi, was originally dismissed by Ford Australia because it believed there was not enough demand for it.

But now that sales of the Fiesta range have picked up, Ford is having second thoughts about the potent micro-hatch.

"We are looking at it again," Ford Australia president Tom Gorman says.

"When we looked at it before, the economics were hard. But we are revisiting that."

Gorman says the success of the turbo Focus XR5 and improved sales of the whole Fiesta range have triggered the rethink.

"This time last year I would have said no, because our volume (of standard Fiesta) was so much smaller," Gorman says.

"When you're doing 300 to 400 a month it's hard to get excited about something like that. But when you're talking about 600 to 700 a month it is a possibility, particularly when you look at the success of the XR5."

Gorman says the Fiesta ST business case didn't stack up when Ford Australia examined it last time.

"When we looked at it before the economics were hard, but when you come back and look at what you might take on a volume basis it changes," he says.

The Fiesta ST uses a meaty 2.0-litre engine that pumps out 110kW and 190Nm of torque.

The specially tuned engine is not turbocharged, but is still quite strong. Ninety per cent of peak torque is available from as low as 1350 revs.

Given its relatively low weight tally of 1137kg, there is enough grunt to push the ST from 0-100km/h in a respectable -- but not scintillating -- 7.9 seconds.

The ST sits on big 17-inch alloy wheels and is fitted with a body kit including beefier bumpers, side skirts and a rear-mounted spoiler.

The ST can be ordered with optional racing stripes, which, apart from a Blue Oval badge, is the only thing this baby car has in common with the GT that Ford photographed it with (above).

Ford Australia is also looking hard at bringing a convertible version of the Focus here, following the success of the XR5.

"We are definitely looking at it," Gorman says. "It's not an enormous player for us so we have to make sure the economics make sense."