FWD

Speaking to AutoRAI , Tyrone Johnson of Ford Performance let it slip that “late 2017” is the timeframe when the Blue Oval will reveal the all-new Fiesta ST. My gut tells me the IAA in Frankfurt is the venue for the debut. Supposedly, we’ll catch our first live glimpse of the Fiesta ST on September 12, 2017.Johnson holds the title of Vehicle and Engineering Manager at Ford Performance for B- (subcompact) and C-segment (compact) platforms. In a nutshell, he’s the guy that oversaw development of the Focus RS , arguably the most exciting hot hatchback at the present moment. It’s a given, then, that the man responsible for the next-generation Fiesta ST is working on what’s expected to be the most exciting subcompact vehicle of 2018.Speaking of which, Johnson told the Dutch publication that production is slated to start in January 2018. Other details the Ford Performance official shared consist of, driving modes inspired by those of the Focus RS, and a promise: “We want to develop the most fun car [in its segment]". When asked about the possibility of tuning the 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbo-four engine in the current Fiesta ST200 to more than 200 PS (197 horsepower) for the all-new Fiesta ST, Tyrone Johnson cut it short by replying, “next question.”Considering the old age of the 1.6-liter EcoBoost and the versatility of the newer 1.5-liter EcoBoost with 184 PS (181 hp) in the Focus, I tend to think Ford will go with the 1.5 for the 2018 Ford Fiesta. While on the subject of speculation, Johnson said that a hotter Ford Fiesta RS is doable, but it hasn’t been green-lit by the higher-ups, at least not for the time being.