Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £11,295 to £15,945
Significantly faster than the Zetec S, rorty rally-bred soundtrack, well-balanced handling.
Expensive, slightly wooden ride on 17" wheels, misses out on old car's steering feel, still slightly short on performance.
Hobbled by price, but you might think it's worth it, if only for the phenomenal soundtrack.
Unless Ford has a change of heart, there will be no follow-up to the old Fiesta ST. That's crushing news for hot hatch fans - but Ford has been sympathetic and phoned a friend.
Mountune is an independent tuner fast gaining a fine reputation for transforming Fords with its performance-boosting kits. So far we've driven a Mountune-modified Fiesta ST and the Focus ST and came away impressed. Now it's the time for the new Fiesta.
As far as tuning goes the kit is pleasingly straightforward. Based on the 1.6 'Sigma' engine in sporty Zetec S trim, the dealer-fit option requires a willing Ford dealer to remap the ECU, add a high-flow four-into-one exhaust manifold, a sports catalyst and twin tailpipes, a high-flow cold air tube and a K&N panel filter.
The result is power boosted from 118bhp to 138bhp, while torque swells from 112lb-ft to a punchier 123lb-ft. This is enough to see the standard car's 0-62mph fall two seconds to a more respectable 7.9s, while giving it an exhaust note to humble a WRC car. The neighbours will not be impressed.
Alas, this all costs money, and a lot of it. The kit itself adds £1,300 - which sounds fantastic value until you factor in another £300 in fitting. Add that to the Zetec S' £14,495 pricetag and you start having to line the little Fiesta up against some very talented opposition, but when the regular Fiesta is already our favourite-driving supermini, perhaps it's a price worth paying.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Ford Fiesta
wrote on 22 11 2008