Yes it’s true. The hot version of the beloved Fiesta won’t be making its way to South Africa.
Officials from the brand suggested that South Africa’s fuel would not be compatible with the petrol particulate filter fitted to the Fiesta ST’s 1,5-litre engine. The particulate filter in question is becoming a regulated feature on petrol cars due to the need to obtain approval under the upcoming Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) regulations.
What will we be missing out on?
The new 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo with more power and torque (up from 134kW/240Nm to 147kW/290Nm) replaces the old four banger. As before, it’s backed by a six-speed manual but the ratios and final drive have changed to suit the new engine. Bi-modal exhaust and electronic sound enhancer add to the aural delight.
Autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping, speed sign recognition, auto high-beam, and blind zone warning are safety additions. Digital speed display, large touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bang & Olufsen audio are among interior highlights.
We could go on, but is there really any point? We are yet to find out if Ford’s now revered Focus ST and RS will suffer the same fate, not to mention the plethora of other performance cars that might not make it to South Africa because of the same issue. And here we thought the petrol price was something to cry about.
