We review the Ford Fiesta ST200 from price to economy and all its features

APPARENTLY it takes just 0.2 seconds to fall in love.

Let me explain. The chemical dopamine, which gives us those unpredictable warm flushes when we see someone we fancy, takes just 0.2 seconds to be produced by the brain.

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The brain then sends it surging to, ahem, other parts of our body.

We feel fuzzy, get tongue tied and so on.

It is a hugely powerful reaction that explodes in just 0.2 seconds. It is how the science world explains the phenomenon of “love at first sight”.

To me it’s how I explain those cripplingly embarrassing moments in mixed swimming classes at school.

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And while 0.2 seconds doesn’t sound like much, in fact a lot can happen.

Ford knows this. Because if you were to crunch the numbers on the new Fiesta ST200 — which has shaved just 0.2 seconds off the 0-62 time of the standard version — you might not think it is worth the extra three grand Ford is asking for it. But believe me, it is.

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The current top-spec Fiesta ST costs just south of £20,000. The ST200 is £22,745.
So what are you getting for the extra money?

For a start, Ford has given it more power — 197bhp, up from 180 — as well as a load more torque. But for those fast, straight squirts, there is an “overboost” function that will pump up the bhp to 212 for up to 20 seconds.

And the gearbox has a lower final drive ratio. It sounds like a lot of work for just 0.2 seconds’ quicker sprint time and a 3mph faster top speed.

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But the new version also has crisper handling and better steering, though it still comes with a ridiculously oversized steering wheel for a hot hatch.

It is tighter, more agile and beefier in the midrange.

It is tighter, more agile and beefier in the midrange.

It was a pure joy to drive on the country lanes which surround Goodwood House last weekend. But all this isn’t even terribly important because the ST200 has something else in spades — sex appeal.

When I picture the Ford engineers behind this car, I see scientist types in lab coats clutching clipboards.

And I wouldn’t be surprised to see the word “dopamine” on those clipboards.

Because this is a car you fall in love with in about 0.2 seconds. It comes in an exclusive “storm grey” — which is one of the prettiest paint jobs I have ever seen.

And it sits atop 17in alloys. Inside, it has all the racing trim plus an “ST200” badge over the gearstick.

And then there is the sound — a sonorous, rasping engine note which is enough to bully the regular ST into going home early.

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The Fiesta ST was hard to fault, but Ford has managed to improve on greatness.

Small gains add up to a great new package. But only 400 are coming to the UK.
So if you want to meet the love of your life, be quick.

They will sell out within 0.2 seconds. Probably.