Fast Ford aficionados Mountune have unveiled a new tuning package for the new Ford Fiesta ST, which is set to land in New Zealand later this year.
It's set to be a bitter-sweet arrival, since New Zealand misses out on the rest of the brilliant Fiesta range (thanks, SUV buyers). But in their place we get the new ST; an entry-level hot-hatch favourite that's scheduled to arrive in the second quarter.
The biggest difference between the new Fiesta ST and the old one is the engine. Gone is the turbocharged four-cylinder unit — it's been replaced with a warbling, popping, and banging turbocharged three-cylinder unit that carries a familiar three-pot growl and 147kW/290Nm. It will be paired exclusively to a six-speed manual.
Read more: New Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch confirmed for NZ in 2019
Those figures are competitive in the lightweight performance hatchback space, with only really the muscular Polo GTI producing anything better (its power is equal, but torque is a much higher 320Nm thanks to a booming 2.0-litre engine).
But, as has always been the case with the Fiesta ST, the tuning companies are here to help.
Mountune's new package is called the m225; a flash tune that increases the little Fiesta ST's numbers to a more-than-respectable 165kW of power and 340Nm of torque respectively. The UK-based company claims that the package is enough to give the little Ford a 0–100kmh in under six seconds, which is crazy given that a far more powerful (and, admittedly far heavier) Honda Civic Type R FK8 does the 100km/h dash in 5.7 seconds.
Along with a boost in power, the kit also allows for some adjustability. Drivers get three modes to play with; Performance, Stock, and Anti-theft. The third option immobilises the vehicle, Stock returns the car back to its ordinary numbers, and Performance gives the driver access to the full 165kW/340Nm. Naturally, we would advice sticking the Mountune Fiesta ST in Performance mode and then forgetting about it.
It's been confirmed that the kit will be available to New Zealand buyers, too, via CTB Performance and Accessories in Manukau. There, Mountune products will line up alongside a raft of other Ford-centric tuning packages — including RTR and Hennessey packages for the Mustang.
Confirmation of a new Fiesta kit was only part of Mountune's overnight announcement. They also confirmed a new smartphone app called mTune SMARTflash — an incentive that will allow customers to make changes to their car's calibration through their phone.
"SMARTflash makes it incredibly easy for our customers to switch between vehicle calibrations in as little as two minutes, just using their phone," says Mountune director David Moore.
"It adds a new level of convenience and functionality to our packages and embodies our forward-thinking approach to vehicle performance upgrades. The new Fiesta ST is the perfect platform to launch this DIY-friendly, pioneering technology. No laptop, no wires, no handsets – no problem."
Pricing for both the m225 tuning kit and the Ford Fiesta ST itself haven't been confirmed yet for the New Zealand market, although when that becomes known we'll let you know.
