Performance Review: Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Fiesta Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 W-Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo.This particular Ford Fiesta has a 1596cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The Fiesta shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Fiesta's Front Wheel Drive, Hatchback combination then how about the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo or the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD 3.5 V6.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1234 kgs (2720 lbs) this makes the Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Fiesta shares the same bhp with the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp)

In terms of power the 1596cc 16V St4 engine produces 197 bhp (146 kW) @ 6350 rpm similar to the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp) or the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 215 lb-ft (291.5 Nm) @ 5000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Fiesta you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type UK - Hawkeye (184.6 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta has a Power to weight ratio of 159.6 bhp per ton and 174.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Fiesta competing with the 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type UK - Hawkeye (184.6 bhp per ton) or the 1970 Chevrolet Malibu 5.7 V8 Turbo Hydra-Matic (184.3 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Fiesta generating around 174.2 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2001 BMW 3 Series M3 GTR E46 (199.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (199.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.1 secs, this made the Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo as fast as the 2015 Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Coupe (6.90 secs) the 2013 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged (6.90 secs) the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (6.90 secs) the or the 2009 Renault Clio 2.0 RenaultSport III 200 Cup (6.90 secs). This Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo is also faster than the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (7.00 secs) the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (7.00 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 1.8 FR Start-Stop DSG (7.00 secs) the and the 2012 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Cabriolet DSG (7.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Fiesta and the 1996 Alfa-Romeo GTV 3.2 V6 Lusso

When talking about the performance of the Ford Fiesta on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.83 secs @ 92.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1996 Alfa-Romeo GTV 3.2 V6 Lusso (14.76 secs), the 2008 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0 (14.77 secs), and the 1982 Ferrari 308 GTB QV 3.0l V8 (14.78 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo has a maximum speed of 136mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Fiesta equals the 2022 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 Turbo FL5 (147 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo then how about the 2022 Honda Civic Type R 2.0 Turbo FL5 (147 mph), the 2012 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Roadster (147 mph), or the 2010 Peugeot 308 1.6 GTi (147 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Fiesta Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison