If it were the three-door Mini Cooper S, it could have been a closer race.
Drag races can be fun, especially when all the competitors are on par or when there is an upset. Top Gear however, chooses to race two hot hatches in straight-line races. It’s a great mismatch. On the blue corner is the Ford Fiesta ST, a three-door, pumped-up version the small hatchback. It isn’t available in the U.S.
Although it would have been a thrilling race, Top Gear missed one important fact: the spec sheets of both cars.
The Fiesta ST is a significant competitor to the British hatchback, based on their numbers. The Ford hot hatch’s three cylinder engine produces 197 horsepower, and 214 pound-feet torque. These numbers are higher than the Mini Cooper S. The Fiesta ST weighs in at 2,782 pounds and comes with launch control.
On the other hand, the Mini Cooper S powered by BMW has good output numbers. The Mini Cooper S can produce 189 horsepower and 221 lbft of torque. These numbers are not bad at all. The drag race car was a five-door. This means that it weighs significantly more than the Fiesta ST, which is 148 lbs heavier. It was almost as if the Cooper S was racing with an additional passenger.
Are you expecting the Fiesta ST to be more powerful, lighter and have launch control? Or are you hoping for a miracle with five-door Mini Cooper S winning the race? It’s not possible.
The race could have been more exciting if the Mini Cooper S’s three-door version would be facing the Fiesta ST. It would weigh in at 2,825 lbs lighter and would still have a chance. Three doors against three doors would have been fair, especially for those who already own both cars.