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Ford Fiesta RS Gets Green Light, Hole In US Lineup Now Painfully Evident

Tipster Martin pointed us in the direction of the Dutch version of Autoweek, who have stated the Ford Fiesta RS has been approved for production. The car would of course be based on the 2009 Ford Fiesta and will be getting a turbocharged 1.6 liter four good for a speculated 200 HP. Making things even more interesting they say some of the interior bits will be chucked in favor of weight savings and help to get the little terror from zilch to 62 in six seconds. We're assuming since this would be a positively awesome car, it won't be making its way to US dealers... ever. [Autoweek.nl]

9:20 AM on Thu Apr 17 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,477 views
28 comments

Comments

  • WANT WANT WANT. I've got a new commute that's cross-town surface roads and a few narrow lanes, and this would be PERFECT for slicing through traffic.

  • Image of 2 GIЯLS 1 POLAЯ 2 GIЯLS 1 POLAЯ at 10:00 AM on 04/17/08 *

    We wouldn't want people to confuse it with the upcoming
    Mustang Fiesta Edition.


  • Let's start a new company going that builds this type of thing. Who's in? I'll put up the first $500. All I need is either; a, one million more investors to match my investment, or b, 1 investor to put in $499,500.00. We'll call it Jalopolet.

    I have a good feeling about this.

  • it looks great but i already feel screwed. Britain gets an rs w a 5 cyl turbo Volvo and 290 hp. its bad enough VW gives us leftovers but this is a domestic.

  • my bad. i am so hot on the Focus RS as a future purchase i did not notice it was a Fiesta. for where this car is competing, it will be hard to beat.

  • Image of Ash78 Ash78 at 10:12 AM on 04/17/08 *

    I applaud Ford for finally trying to match Honda and Toyota head-to-head, several years late, using essentially an existing product.

    Sorry for the sarcastic tone, I really do like this car. Too small for me, but I appreciate choice and diversity, especially if it means quality small cars that help shed the econobox stigma.

  • @Jeb_Hoge: No you don't. You don't want this. You won't buy it. You would rather drive an Expedition. - FoMoCo

  • It will be many years (i.e., never) before we see this car in the states...and if Ford builds it I am sure that they will slap an SVT badge on it, never advertise it, sell it for two or three years, and quietly cut it when they move overall production to Mexico. Or am I just bitter about the SVT Contour and SVT Focus?

    Anyhoo, the thing that gives me some hope are the rumors that GM is planning to import the Corsa, and that we might even get a Corsa Redline, and that would be cool.

  • Well, keep the $4 gas up, and we'll be seeing these sooner than later. this is 99% of the car anyone ever needs. Honestly, if you could buy this car, then trade it, and say $50, in for a pickup/suv when you needed it, foreign oil dependancy would become a quaint olde fashioned idea, like voting Whig.

    And another thing: Where can I get some Tang 'round here!?!?

  • @ash78: Ford did the Fiesta XR2 & RS turbo long before Honda or Toyota tried anything like that. Only small cars Honda did was crx,& the civic which was Escort size not fiesta.Cant really think of a small car that dull Toyota ever did to compete with fast Fiesta's.

  • Now I am the biggest Mustang fanboy anywhere, but there's no way Ford will import an econobox that hits 60 faster than a Mustang GT. Which is sad.

    Message to Ford: WE DON'T WANT TRUCKS ANY MORE. GIVE US THIS CAR KTHX

  • @BenjiS: The simple fix is to make the Mustang faster.

  • that car is so rad i almost don't care if it burns my garage down.

    i heart you, gti, but i'm ready for a fiesta party. or do i repeat myself?

  • Ford of Europe has not, nor has it ever been, Ford of America.

    If Ford could sell it for even $20-22K in the U.S. it might be a Mini Cooper S killer. But that will never happen.

  • @BenjiS:

    This won't be faster than a Mustang GT at all, unless you are referencing a bitchen 91 5.0 ragtop?

  • I find these kind of articles very interesting...you'll always want what you can't have I guess. As a European I'd love to see more Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers and even-please be gentle-the Ford Edge or Flex. I cross a Fiesta ST every day and I'm like "meh, okay", but I keep freaking out whenever there's a Chevy van rumbling down the street...

  • @brandegee: We go to all the trouble to make Europe safe for democracy...TWICE!! Yet, we're stuck with the crappy US, let's make another "special-edition" Mustang Ford, instead of the good Ford.

    Enough, I say! Europe, we demand reparations in the form of Ford of Europe, and we want them NOW!! (pounds shoe on desk in honor of Khrushchev's birthday)

    Scroggs!
    Jalopnik Ambassador to Neptune......NJ


  • Image of Ash78 Ash78 at 11:36 AM on 04/17/08 *

    @layabout: Good points, but the Fiesta in the US predates my by quite a bit (and presumably predates most prospective buyers, so there's a clean slate).

    I'm referring more to the Fit or the Yaris, both of which seem to be doing really well here.

  • @ash78: I cant really be fair,im a bit of a Ford fan & only like a few jap cars.Im set in my ways.I may need help with this!

  • it looks like its gonna eat me.....

    I'm scurred

    ....and yah....I would buy one

  • @Feds: Hello, Mr. President? I figured if anyone knew where to get some tang, it'd be you. SHUT UP!!!

  • Image of Novaload Novaload at 01:06 PM on 04/17/08 *

    I couldn't read the Netherlandish on the link but this is an interesting little beastie. The old (late 70s) Fiestas were really fun, great clutch, fast gears. Alas, they vanished like dew drops at noon.

  • Image of Novaload Novaload at 01:07 PM on 04/17/08 *

    Also, what's with the little Hyundai man who walks out of the ad at the top of the page? Can we paintball him? Is he a target? A wee mascot?

  • @Preferredcustomer: The current Corsa OPC/VXR is cool, but we probably won't see this or the next generation before that platform finally makes its way to the US as a Saturn. However, I do expect GM to drop the Astra VXR turbo engine into the current Corsa (Corsa VXR Clubsport R4, maybe) to create the ultimate torque-steering Fiesta RS-destroying hatchback monster. A new 'hot hatch' war would be awesome.

  • Look at Ford's us lineup and then look at Ford.co.uk and compare. This is why Ford is losing 13 BILLION a year. This is why they will be going under in around 2012 (my prediction). Bring this to the states pronto fiesta ford!@

  • "Have you derided a Ford... late-ly?"

  • @TampaRon:

    Well...see, we already have a Freestyle. So I've got the six-passenger people hauler.

  • Why is it so hard to make a car that has around 160 hp, gets 30-35 mpg, weighs about 2300 lbs and costs about 15k? That's all I ask for in life!

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