Sweet Dream: Ford Fiesta RS

This is the Toyota GR Yaris-beating hot hatch that Ford is too scared to build – a Fiesta RS!

The official line from Blue Oval executives on the prospect of a more focused sibling to the already brilliant Fiesta ST is ‘wishful thinking’, with the kibosh put on a Fiesta RS for several years now.

Well, at MOTOR HQ, we are big fans of wishful thinking, so we’ve envisaged a world in which the Fiesta hot hatch family exists with a two-tier system.

A Fiesta RS isn’t completely unheard of historically, with Ford putting its Rally Sport badge on the back of a blown third-gen XR2 in 1990 to create the Fiesta RS Turbo (pictured below).

While it may seem odd initially for the smaller of Ford’s hatches to become the hotted-up hero, and not the more storied Focus, there are strong motorsport links for a ‘baby’ RS to play on, with the three-door Fiesta bodystyle being a regular rally winner in WRC, and a dominant force in feeder categories (wearing badges R2-R5). As a result, the Fiesta RS would be available only as a three-door – much like the Toyota Yaris GR that would become its main competitor.

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The previous generation Focus RS set a high water mark for Blue Oval hot hatches, and it forms the mechanical basis of what could make the Fiesta RS a haunting nightmare for Toyota’s Gazoo Racing division. The Blue Oval already has all the ingredients it needs to build the hypothetical halo, it’s just a matter of making them work in a smaller package.

There are plenty of reasons why the Fiesta RS will remain a figment of our imagination – obliterated profit margins and threats to the Focus’ market position being chief concerns – but hot damn do we wish it would become a reality. How would we make it happen? Read on.

We are incredibly excited that Sweet Dreams has returned to the pages of MOTOR. Want to play fantasy product planner with us? Send your best ideas to MOTOR@aremedia.com.au

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How we'd build it

Rally Inspired

RS badge demands widened bodywork heavily influenced by Fiesta WRC and R5 racers. Rear bumper gets twin exhausts and diffuser treatment. Front lip benefits from aggro spoiler.

Big Block

Gone is the ‘regular’ Fiesta ST’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder, replaced with a 2.3-litre four from the Focus ST, with a slight tune-up to produce 210kW and 440Nm (a lift of 63kW and 130Nm).

Rubbered Up

Where the Fiesta ST has Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres in 205/40 specs wrapping 18.0 x 7.5-inch wheels, the RS would add an S to the tyre sidewall and step up to 235/35 rubber on 19.0 x 8.0-inch wheels from elsewhere in the Ford Performance catalogue.

Weight Saver

Fiesta ST already tips the scales at a slim 1217kg. By adding a new, bigger engine, along with a trick all-wheel drive system, the RS will come in nearer 1300kg. A 63kW/130Nm power bump will make up the difference for Power-to-Weight.

What's the Diff?

Sending power to all four corners is a GKN-supplied Twinster differential set-up similar to the previous-gen Focus RS, along with a six-speed manual transmission. Three pedals ahoy!

The Slow Down

One of our only major criticisms of the Fiesta ST is its lack of braking hardware. Brembo comes to the rescue with the RS, supplying track-ready discs, pads, and calipers front and rear.