Convoy of 40 Fiestas, many from Ford’s own collection, in the run from Dagenham to Brighton

• Convoy of 40 Fiestas, many from Ford’s own collection, in the run from Dagenham to Brighton
• Ford Summer Festival to take place at Brighton Racecourse, July 16, 2016
• Club stands, public bar and evening entertainment
• Chance to win a Ford Focus ST

The new Ford Fiesta ST200 will be one of the stars of a 40-car convoy celebrating four decades of the Blue Oval’s famous supermini.

The 40^th anniversary run is part of the Ford Summer Festival, a brand new event celebrating Britain’s most popular car marque, which is set to take place at Brighton Racecourse, East Sussex, on Saturday July 16, 2016.

Organised by the team behind Fast Ford, Classic Ford, Fast Car and Retro Cars magazines, the event will start with a themed run from Ford’s traditional UK home in Dagenham to the famous resort.

Heading up the convoy will be a special selection of 40 Ford Fiestas to mark the car’s milestone birthday, many of which are from Ford’s own collection or affiliated owners clubs. These include a variety of Mk 1s, including a Crayford ‘Fly’ Convertible, a Mk 1 Van and an XR2, a whole range of Fiesta Mk 2s from the humble Popular Plus to the range-topping XR2, the 10-millionth Fiesta off the Dagenham production line, a one-off road legal rally car, a customised Fiesta ST camera car built by Ford’s press and PR department and the eagerly-awaited ST200, which made its UK debut at last weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Event manager, Katherine Chappell, said: “What a great way for Ford to celebrate the Fiesta’s 40^th birthday, by launching the fastest and most entertaining Fiesta ever. It’s the perfect partner for our event, as it’s fun, lively and celebrates everything that is great about Britain’s most popular small car.”

As well as the run, the Ford Summer Festival will feature club and individual displays, a retail area and a live entertainment stage, with a selection of live music acts throughout the day and well into the evening, along with the chance to enter a competition to win a modified Ford Focus ST. Overnight camping will be available and is included within the ticket cost for all those taking part in the run, helping to keep the festival atmosphere going as the sun goes down.

The Festival is open from 11am to 11pm and entry tickets cost £10 in advance* (£15 on the day). For those wanting to take part in the run, entry costs £60 and includes a breakfast voucher, rally plaque, camping for two people and two free drinks.

The Ford Summer Festival is just one of a series of high profile Ford events organised by the Fast Car Entertainment team. Other events include Ford Fair, Ford Fest, The Classic Ford Show and The International Ford Show.

Ford will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its iconic Fiesta model at this year’s Goodwood Moving Motor Show

Ford will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of its iconic Fiesta model at this year’s Goodwood Moving Motor Show, part of the Press & Preview day on Thursday, June 23.

Central to the celebrations will be the introduction of the newly-upgraded Fiesta ST200, which will make its UK debut at the event and will be available for visitors to drive up the Goodwood hillclimb course.

The Fiesta ST is already regarded as one of the best hot hatches ever built, so the arrival of the turbocharged, 1.6-litre version will be one of the most hotly-anticipated unveils of this year’s Moving Motor Show.

The ST200 boasts 200PS (197bhp) and will accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds, making it a compelling proposition for visitors who are lucky enough to pilot it up the 1.16-mile hillclimb.

As part of the same event, Ford will also show its new GT supercar. The main Festival of Speed weekend will also be graced by Ford’s GT race cars, fresh from the marque’s return to the Le Mans 24 Hours earlier in June.

The Ford Fiesta first went on sale in 1976 and quickly became known as the ‘first British supermini’. In the first three years of its production, Ford sold a million examples and it wasn’t until 1980 that the Fiesta faced serious competition in the form of the Austin Metro. Over the past 40 years Ford has sold a total of 4.33 million Fiestas in Britain.

Goodwood Festival of Speed founder, Lord March, said: “The Fiesta is an icon of British motoring and it is marvellous that Ford has chosen the Festival of Speed to celebrate the car’s 40^th anniversary and debut the new ST200.”

After 40 years, the Fiesta produces it's most powerful and fastest model ever, I introduce the ST200.

• New 200PS Fiesta ST200 version of the acclaimed Fiesta ST hot hatch delivers 10 per cent more power and 20 per cent more torque; sprints 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds
• As Fiesta celebrates 40 years in production, most powerful production model ever features optimised ST chassis with revised suspension and steering for improved driving dynamics
• Exclusive Fiesta ST200 specification includes unique Storm Grey exterior, machined matt black alloy wheels and special interior detailing
• Pricing for the Fiesta ST200 has been announced and is now available to order

Ford Performance has taken the acclaimed Fiesta ST compact hot hatch and made it even hotter. The new Ford Fiesta ST200, which debuts this year as Ford celebrates the 40-year anniversary of Fiesta, is the most powerful production Fiesta ever. 

Compared with the acclaimed Fiesta ST, the new Fiesta ST200 produces 10 per cent more power and 20 per cent more torque with 200PS and 290Nm from a specially calibrated 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.

The Ford Fiesta ST200 sprints 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and delivers faster in-gear acceleration for improved drivability and an even more fun-to-drive experience. To further optimise the driving experience, Fiesta ST200 also features enhanced suspension and steering, elevating its award-winning dynamic handling and ride quality.

Production of the new hot hatchback – equipped with exclusive specification including unique Storm Grey exterior, distinctive machined matt black alloy wheels and special interior detailing – begins in June with first deliveries to customers soon after.

“The Fiesta ST is truly beloved by owners and critics. The ST200 takes this special drivers’ car to a new level of power and performance,” said Joe Bakaj, vice president, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “We think it’s a future classic in the making.”

Building on award-winning performance

The renowned driving experience of the multi-awarding winning Fiesta ST is further enhanced for the Fiesta ST200.

The model’s 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine uses a new calibration to deliver 200PS – twice the power offered by its Fiesta XR2 predecessor 20 years ago – and 290Nm of torque, with an additional 15PS and 30Nm of torque available for up to 20 seconds using transient overboost.

A 4.06 ratio final drive – shortened from 3.82 in the Fiesta ST – further enhances in-gear acceleration. Acceleration from 31-82mph takes 5.2 seconds in fourth gear. Top speed is 143mph.

The Fiesta ST200 utilises recently upgraded Fiesta ST suspension and Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) settings to improve ride quality and driving dynamics. A rear twist-beam with 27 per cent more roll-stiffness and a front anti-roll bar increased to 21mm from 19mm diameter support revised damper specifications for better impact absorption. Like the Fiesta ST, the ST200 sits 15mm closer to the road than standard Fiesta models.

“The Fiesta ST has been a hit with performance drivers because of its go-kart-like handling and powerful engine,” said Darren Palmer, small car vehicle line director, Ford of Europe. “The revised Fiesta ST200 chassis enhances composure and control, and improves passenger comfort as well.”

Power steering settings for the ST-specific 13.69:1 sharpened steering ratio with a shortened steering arm and modified steering knuckle are further revised for improved steering feel and feedback on centre.

Fiesta ST200 driving dynamics are supported by Enhanced Torque Vectoring Control (eTVC) and 3-mode Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The eTVC system applies brake force to the inside front wheel when cornering to improve road holding and reduce understeer without affecting speed. ESC offers full system intervention; wide-slip mode with limited intervention; and full ESC de-activation.

Optimised braking is delivered with 278mm front and 253mm rear disc brakes, and a larger tandem brake master cylinder than standard Fiesta models.

The Fiesta ST200 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine’s low weight also assists handling and features technologies including turbocharging, high-pressure direct fuel-injection and twin-independent variable cam timing for high power alongside 46.3mpg fuel efficiency and 140g/km CO₂ emissions.*

Exclusive design and specification

The ST200 offers bolder and more distinctive design, offered only with an exclusive Storm Grey exterior colour and with the distinctive 17in ST alloys wheels finished in matt black with polished rims.

Fiesta ST200 models also feature red painted callipers alongside the ST-specification large trapezoidal grille with honeycomb construction, dynamic front spoiler and side-skirts, body-colour rear diffuser element and large rear roof spoiler.

An enhanced interior specification includes unique partial leather Charcoal Recaro front seats that are further distinguished with contrasting silver stitching, as are the seatbelts. Illuminated scuff plates incorporate the ST200 logo. Carbon fibre dashboard inserts, alloy-metal pedals and gearshifter, and an ST-specification steering wheel also feature for the atmospheric interior that contrasts dark materials and headliner with silver effect detailing.

Sophisticated technologies include:

• Ford’s SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system with 5-inch display
• Headlights featuring LED day-time running lights for even greater road presence
• A sound symposer that channels the engine note to the cabin to ensure the distinctive engine roar is integral to the driving experience
• MyKey that allows owners to set maximum speed and audio volume limits, and ensure safety features are not disabled, when allowing use of their car

The Fiesta ST launched in 2013, delivering 182PS and 240Nm of torque from a 1.6‑litre EcoBoost engine and 0-62mph acceleration in 6.9 seconds – quickly establishing itself as the Europe’s leading compact performance hatchback and earning more than 20 awards around the world within its first year on sale. Ford has since sold more than 30,000 Fiesta STs in Europe.

The Fiesta ST200 is now available to order, priced at £22,745.