Ford’s Sports Technologies takes on Ford’s Rallye Sport division in a proper in-house battle. On paper, the 500BHP 2.5L 5-cylinder 2009 Ford Focus RS should have the edge with its iconic turbo five-cylinder soundtrack and aggressive presence. But lining up against it is no ordinary ST. This 2013 Ford Fiesta ST has been transformed with a Gen 2 2.3L turbo engine swap and now produces 480BHP in a much lighter chassis. Same ballpark power, completely different philosophy. Five-cylinder brute force versus four-cylinder lightweight precision.

The results speak loudly. From roll races to drag launches, the 2.3-swapped Fiesta consistently outpaced the Focus, clocking a blistering 7.98s 100–200 km/h and a 13.01s quarter mile at 121 mph. The Focus, despite its 500BHP output, simply couldn’t match the Fiesta’s power-to-weight advantage. Even swapping drivers didn’t change the outcome. This showdown proves one thing clearly: in straight-line performance, weight matters just as much as horsepower. The ST badge may stand for Sports Technologies, but in this battle, it stood for straight-up dominance. For more content like this one follow us also on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram!