Well, if you say so.
In addition to Ford’s new heavy bet on SUVs and crossovers as evidenced by their move to cull nearly all passengers from their North American line-up (hatchbacks, sedans, liftbacks, etc), they’re also giving plenty of go-ahead to their Performance division.
The results of this two-pronged focus are encouraging, if also quite surprising. While at the international launch of the Fiesta ST, Motoring exchanged a few words with a man named Leo Roeks, chief of Ford Performance Europe, who had a few interesting things to say.
The most detail-dense point in the conversation came when the topic of the Endura was brought up - the Australian-specific name given to the Ford Edge, due to be launched later this year. Specifically, whether a hot ST version of that car would be spawned in the same vein as the recent Edge ST for the American market. Roeks seemed to hint at the affirmative.
We already know that the upcoming Ford Endura for Australia will be a diesel-only proposition, at least upon launch, powered by the same ‘Panther’ 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged EcoBlue diesel that’s essentially the same destined for use in the 2019 Ranger, Everest, and Ranger Raptor - albeit detuned to 140kW from 157kW.
It’s possible that the Endura will be offered with a sportier ST variant with a further upturned version of that EcoBlue diesel. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch considering that the recently facelifted Ford Edge is currently offered in halfway-hot ST-Line guise in European markets with a 175kW version of the same engine.
All that said, it seems unlikely that Ford would permit having two very similar models carry the ST and ST-Line designation simultaneously. More plausible is the prospect of a true diesel-powered Endura ST being the clear equal to the petrol-powered Edge ST and its 2.7-litre turbocharged V6 with 250kW and 515Nm.
There’s clear potential with Ford’s new EcoBlue family of diesels, and should the company commit to bringing forth an alternative to the North American Edge ST powered by the black stuff, it could well have properly impressive power and pace. Then again, wouldn’t it be easier for Ford Australia to just lobby for the local introduction of the Edge ST and badge it as a hotted-up Endura?
Ford Performance is also busy with their more bread-and-butter products. Next on that list seems to be an even more exciting version of the new Fiesta destined to wear the RS badge. It’s a rumour that’s been circulating for some time now, and the project is seemingly progressing alongside a new dual-clutch transmission for the Fiesta ST co-developed with Getrag.
Both the new DCT transmission and the Fiesta RS are reportedly earmarked for a reveal closer to 2020, until which point the incoming Fiesta ST should remain a manual-only affair. No complaints there.
The company seems to rightly be taking their time with the new auto box following the widespread complaints with the previous 6-speed ‘dry’ dual-clutch offered in the previous-generation Fiesta, pre-facelift Mk3 Focus, and EcoSport.
For more on Ford cars, check out our Showroom.
