Positioned at the top of the Fiesta lineup, the RS model will allegedly be equipped with the same turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBooost four-cylinder engine that’s found under the hood of the Fiesta ST (pictured). It will be tuned to make roughly 250 horsepower, a 66-pony increase over the ST, and it will likely be bolted to an enthusiast-approved six-speed manual transmission.
Some sources report the RS will retain the stock Fiesta’s front-wheel drive configuration, while others believe it will adopt all-wheel drive for the first time in the nameplate’s history. Regardless of which option is chosen, the smallest member of the Ford Performance lineup will be capable of sprinting from zero to 62 mph in approximately six seconds before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph.
The Fiesta RS will look even meaner than the ST thanks to a full body kit whose design will be inspired by the one fitted to the Focus RS. Expect Ford’s next pocket rocket to feature a deep front bumper with a bigger air dam, a wider grille, a pair of vents cut into the hood, model-specific side skirts, and a sizable air diffuser out back. Like its bigger sibling, the Fiesta will also gain a sprinkling of RS emblems all around as well as track-inspired bits and pieces in the cabin such as bucket seats and a more thorough instrument cluster.
German magazine Auto Bild believes Ford will introduce the Fiesta RS next year to celebrate the nameplate’s 40th anniversary. It will go on sale globally the following year, a time frame that suggests the hatchback might not arrive in the United States until the 2018 model year.
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