Pocket rocket goes ballistic

The Ford Fiesta is a great supermini.

Period.

But this new incarnation – the latest ST – is something else. It packs 200PS into its compact form from an all-new 1.5-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. And it does all that with just three cylinders – the first time so few cylinders have powered a Ford Performance model.

But I can’t wait to drive it – I like three-cylinder engines anyway. Even when they only have modest power outputs they sound energetically sporty. But with this amount of power dialled in, the car should be just awesome.

Last night I spoke to our car reviewer Phil Huff who was on the launch before having to make an emergency dash home – but he told me that already, on brief acquaintance, it was pretty juicy with 0-62 mph in just 6.5 seconds.

There are lots of toys – such as Selectable Drive Modes for Normal, Sport and Track settings, and an optional mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD) for optimising cornering grip.

Leo Roeks, Ford Performance director, Europe explained: “Hot-hatch drivers are expecting big things from this small car. We’ve applied what we’ve learned from recent Ford Performance models including the Focus RS and Ford GT to develop an all-new Fiesta ST that sets a new standard for driving fun in its segment, with a throaty three-cylinder soundtrack that will speak to petrol-heads whatever their language.”

You can read more on the new Ford Fiesta ST with our story on prices starting at £19k.

See the SME Company Car of the Year on our stand at the Confused.com London Motor Show

We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the SME Business Motoring stand at the Confused.com London Motor Show (17-20 May) where we’ll be displaying the SME Company Car of the Year winning Jaguar XF.

With the move to the more business oriented ExCeL in London we thought it was time to get involved with the SME Business Motoring stand.

We’ll be on hand to help you with your business motoring questions and Neva Consultants will be there to take questions on leasing – what it is, how it can work for your benefit and so on.

However, the Jaguar is not the only car on display. We’ll also be showing the latest in electrification: BMW’s 5 Series iPerformance Saloon, the MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid, and Nissan’s brand new all-electric Leaf model. More detail here.

Why daily rental is the modern face of SME mobility

I interviewed Roger Hancock recently. Roger runs Thrifty – at least he did, until appointing former Hyundai Sales Director Martin Wilson as the new Managing Director – to explain why Thrifty had changed its management structure.

But Roger (left) also provided some interesting insight for SMEs. He believes that daily rental providers are in the forefront of mobility. “Short term rental is an incredibly useful product,” he explained. “We see that in major sectors serving SMEs who need a car for week, two weeks, a month.

“And you can see why they want that flexibility. With the constant uncertainty over company car tax and with WLTP changes on the way it’s all a bit of a lottery. To commit to a long term purchase when so much uncertainty is around is very difficult for UK businesses.”

You can read more on the Trifty business and Roger’s views here.

New name on the pick-up front

There’s a new brand back on the pick-up front: SsangYong. And it’s a really welcome returnee to a burgeoning market.

I know SsangYong has had a few false starts in the UK market, including its previous pick-up.

But the firm is now run by Nick Laird (left) who cut his automotive teeth with Ford before managing a series of companies outside the automotive sphere. And talking to Nick at the CV Show recently, I get the feeling the brand is really going to start moving.

And the new Musso pick-up is great place to start. It offers the full SUV style experience (high up seating position, all the toys inside including leather) but with a load bed instead. And it will offer great VFM. Find out more about the new SsangYong Musso pick up.

Maserati revs up Harlequins

And let’s face it, my rugby team could do with a V8 or V12 engine powering them at the moment after this season’s lacklustre-to-disastrous performance. Nevertheless, your team is your team through thick and thin…so I was pleased to see the Trident getting involved with the coloured quarters. More in my blog.