2013 Ford Kuga And Fiesta ST Bound For Geneva Motor Show

Ford's new Fiesta ST hot hatch will make its production debut at this month's Geneva Motor Show, along with the brand-new Kuga SUV.

"Wait," you say, "was that 'brand-new' Kuga?" 

Yes, the Kuga that only recently launched in Australia will be with us for no more than a year, making way for the new global Escape-based Kuga in early 2013.

While the new Kuga is being prepared for its local debut, Ford Australia needs something newer than the outclassed first-generation Escape if it's going to compete in the midsized SUV market this year.

And, the fact is, the current Kuga is a very good car.

In its all-new 2013 guise, the new Kuga will bring the latest evolution of the company's Kinetic styling language (the old model was one of the first to wear it), along with Ford's new 2.0 and 1.6 litre EcoBoost engines.

• Ford Kuga/Escape news and reviews

Fiesta ST

Joining the new Kuga at Geneva will be the production version of the new Fiesta ST, at last giving the Fiesta range a rival for Volkswagen's Polo GTI.

As with its concept forebear, the Fiesta ST will mark the debut of the facelifted Fiesta range, picking up revised headlights and a new Focus-inspired front bumper and grille design.

In concept form, the Fiesta ST is powered by Ford's turbocharged 1.6 litre EcoBoost engine, delivering 135kW and 240Nm of torque, matched to a six-speed manual transmission.

Ford promises a 0-100km/h time below seven seconds - either matching or bettering the 132kW Polo GTI's 6.9 second time.

The carmaker has yet to confirm a local debut for the Fiesta ST, but it would be mad to leave this one out of the Australian range. Just bonkers.

• Fiesta news and reviews
• Ford news and reviews
• Geneva Motor Show