Ford’s Reported Fiesta RS Could be More Powerful Than Initially Thought

Ford has been on a roll as of late, thanks to the latest from its performance arm, including the GT, the Focus ST, and the Focus RS. Recently, new reports indicate that the RS tag may extend beyond the Focus and to the tiny Fiesta, and today, even more details have leaked out regarding this hot-hatch.

» Related: Demand for the Ford GT Far Outweighs Supply

Currently, the Fiesta ST is the range-topping model for Ford’s smallest hatchback, and this model certainly gets the job done with its 1.6-liter four-pot that delivers 197 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. The RS model will obviously crank the wick way up, but the initial estimates of 230 horsepower were reportedly low, as Autobild.de claims it will actually crank out 247 horsepower.

With that extra 50, or so, ponies and what will likely be gobs more torque, expect the rumored Fiesta RS to be significantly quicker than the ST. Look for a 0-to-60 time in the low-six-second range, which would best the ST by almost a full second.

Additional rumors claim that like its Focus RS big bro, the rumored Fiesta RS could come with all-wheel drive. While this would be a welcome addition to help keep traction at maximum, I think it is highly unlikely that Ford would develop an all-wheel-drive system specifically for this teeny hatchback.

For now, these are all unconfirmed rumors with no solid sources, so I suggest not believing them 100 percent. However, an RS version of the Fiesta does make sense, and it is a great way for Ford to drive up the margin on its entry-level hatchback.

We’ll keep an eye on this growing rumor, and bring you all of the latest details as they become available.