350 horsepower big-turbo Fiesta ST

The most frustrating thing for me as a mag editor (please go subscribe 😀) is that I know beyond all doubt: If I could just put each of your smiling faces in this car & let you run it up the block & back… it would change the entire landscape of tuner culture. Snap, just like that. A new revolution.

Because with a scrappy little Fiesta ST like this, you have to experience it. There’s no other way.

And sadly, digital-age tuners have turned into a group where they KNOW more than ever, but they’ve EXPERIENCED surprisingly little. They like, they follow, they research, they read statistics, and they join groups. But in a lot of cases – they don’t go out & experience for themselves.

And bottom line: This is a lot like love. Meaning, you won’t know what it is, until you’ve been in it. Sure – you can get the smart phone apps. You can join Match, E-Harmony, or even Tinder… and you’ll see lots of pretty photos. But your goofy ass still won’t know what love is.

As we get older, and as we wake up to digitally-saturated times, we start to reminisce & get nostalgic for the analog toys of our youth. Like – how many of us wish that we could go back & buy new import cars from the ‘90s…

Well – THIS IS THAT CAR!! Literally staring you in the face, only we’re 20 years into the FUUUTURE!!

The Fiesta ST is such a hilariously quick, maneuverable, gimmick-free, pure driver’s car!!

And usually when a car hits all these sweet spots, most of us can’t afford it. But the FiST is literally like THE best deal ever – new OR used. It costs as much now (actually less), than a new Integra GSR did 20 years ago. And – it makes more power. And – it weighs the same. Oh and – it just LOVES the aftermarket.

Anthony Freeman has wasted no time throwing mods at his little party animal. Under the hood, Anthony’s got the internally-stock 1.6 Ecoboost, with a Garrett GTX2863R, tuned by Brian Tyson (of JST Performance) on a Cobb Accessport V3, with a Stratified auxiliary fuel. That’s your meat & potatoes right there.

With the 2863R, the car takes a little longer to spool. But when it does, it really unleashes itself, making 348whp & 322wtq. The slight lag/ease into boost actually works out pretty well on the street, as it allows the car to hold traction, and pull hard past redline.

The open TIAL blow-off valve & wastegate will make you laugh with amusement, and make bystanders spit up their Starbucks. Real, wild in-your-face tuner stuff.

The Boomba short-throw shifter combined with a full set of solid motor mounts make for a very grabby/engaging, visceral experience. Especially with the 3” turbo-back exhaust to notch-up the senses.

And the ST Suspension XTA coilovers + Eibach sway bars perform very smoothly & predictably when pushed & zig-zagged, even at Anthony’s substantially/aggressively lowered ride height.