Ford Fiesta Zetec-S Mountune

[Tom]

Ford Fiesta Zetec-S Mountune
12 out of 20
£14,400











Driven April 2009
Ford won't build a new Fiesta ST. Not for a long while, anyhow. This is a pity - the sixth-gen Fiesta has a sweet chassis and could be a proper laugh with a bit more power than the 118bhp of the top-spec 1.6-litre engine.

Enter, then, Mountune, Ford's official tuning brand known Stateside as Roush. It has put together a performance pack that costs around £1,600 on top of your Fiesta Zetec S (or £14,400 all in). The pack comprises a big new exhaust system and a bunch of ECU tweaks, but it won't invalidate your warranty. It will, however, add 20bhp and cut two seconds off the 0-60mph time, bringing it down to a respectable 7.9 seconds.

Like the previous Mountune Fiesta - which was based on the ST and put out a much more respectable 183bhp - the new car is a noisy little bugger. At low revs, the Mountune coughs and snorts and trumpets at such a volume that you'll seriously consider sticking a big decal across the flank reading, ‘IT'S NOT ME, IT'S THE CAR, HONEST'.

That said, the Mountune sounds bloody marvellous when you wind it up past 5,000rpm. Yes, the noise is still as intrusive as a XL suppository, but so howling and sonorous that you'll forgive it.

Trouble is, the Mountune isn't really quick enough to justify all the shouting. Sub-eight seconds to 60mph is respectable yet hardly blistering by today's standards. But the bigger worry is the absolute paucity of low-end torque from the naturally aspirated engine - there's never a proper slug of power, and the Fiesta struggles to pick up pace from low speeds, leaving you lagging at the lights with a chuntering exhaust.

It's frustrating, because the Mountune handles tidily on the standard Fiesta chassis without ever getting close to its limits. A proper hot version - a rival for the soon-to-arrive 200bhp Renaultsport Clio, for example - could unlock a whole lot of potential, but this Mountune is more talk than trousers...

Sam Philip

Text Source: Top Gear

[focusin]

More options! LOL

This car has such a large amount of options and models its going to be impossible to tell whats what on the road.

Thats a great thing though.

[warneej]

Pretty!

(first post woot!)

[Tom]

Hopefully Roush will release the same kit here.

[focusin]

Maybe more power to allow some reason for the loud exhaust??

[WD40]

It will, however, add 20bhp and cut two seconds off the 0-60mph time, bringing it down to a respectable 7.9 seconds.

That's a huge time reduction for only 20 more hp.
I wonder what all is changed in the "ECU tweaks"?

[theDocta]

You're right, if they are automatic, perhaps different shift points, and higher revs, if it is a stick, maybe there is a different final drive ratio install in the diff? weight shaving? its a good question.

[tukaniRAY]

That's one nice looking Fiesta in the white.

-Ray-

[Captain Moonpie]

Hold on a minute!! Does this mean they are bringing back the zetec motor?

[tukaniRAY]

If memory serves me right ... the European Car group call it a Zetec Duratec. When you read the specs on the engine ... it says 1.6L Duratec 16V Engine.

-Ray-