Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/634989
engine, and if you wanted more performance, there are vendors out there, such as Cobb Tuning and Spool Tuning that provide you with the means to make more power. That will come at the expense of fuel economy. The Fiesta ST is rated for 26 city and 35 highway, which is good, but adding a tune will definitely affect those figures. But it would be fun, wouldn't it? Even in stock form, the Fiesta ST was competent on the Streets of Willow circuit, which is a tight road course that can be configured to limit top speeds — and it was during the "MPG Track Days" event. The ST exhibited a bit of understeer, but it wasn't difficult to drive it so you could induce oversteer and get the car rotated nicely. The suspension is firm enough for track days and certainly good enough for autocrossing in a stock class, yet it's not at all harsh on the street, comfy even. On the inside, the ST offers optional Recaro seats, which came on the test car we drove. They're fantastic, and the driver ergonomics are first rate. Everything is within easy reach and finding just the right driving position only takes a minute. Ford did an excellent job there. In terms of materials used on the dash, horn pad, door panels and other hard interior surfaces, the Fiesta ST was a little on the plasticky side. That's easy enough to understand. We are talking about a performance variant of an economy car that is sells for thousands less without all the performance goodies bolted on. That certainly wouldn't keep us from considering owning a Fiesta ST, because this is a fun little car that is screwed together quite well. It's quick and nimble and has the same seating capacity as a crew cab pickup. It is, however, a lot more fun to drive and far easier to park — and you can't sneak in an autocross day in a dually. — Brett Becker SN SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE: 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder HORSEPOWER: 197 @ 6,350 rpm TORQUE: 202 @ 4,200 rpm FRONT SUSPENSION: Independent MacPherson strut with coil springs and 19 mm sway bar. REAR SUSPENSION: Twist beam with coil springs and gas-charged shocks. TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual AXLE RATIO: 3.82:1 CURB WEIGHT: 2,742 lbs. BASE MSRP: $21,595 29