PISTONHEADS - MK8 FIESTA ST MAKEOVER

February 19, 2026

When Ben Lowden, Marketing Manager for PistonHeads asked us which 09Design upgrades would be best for his much-loved Mk8 Fiesta ST, we knew exactly what he'd be looking for.

So, with a brief and budget agreed, we set to work at our HQ, transforming his otherwise standard ST into something all-together more fun, more capable and much more engaging to drive...

Words: Ben Lowden - Pistonheads

I’m turning 40 this year. So by rights it should be the time I grow up a bit, buy something a bit more understated, and try to remember not to drive in my slippers. 'Should', being the operative word. My bright blue Fiesta ST and I are living proof that just because you get older, you don’t really have to grow up. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway…

Nor should my insatiable appetite to modify my cars start to wane either. I bought WR21 ELH with a clear vision, so it was never going to stay standard for long. Out of the box, the Mk8 Fiesta ST is one of the most real-world fun hot hatches we’ve been blessed with this century, and perhaps one of the last. But there’s always room for improvement, right?

There’s so much head room for tuning in most modern turbocharged engines. They’re massively over engineered and then strangled to meet emissions requirements; the standard turbo will generally run out of puff before you start bending rods from a remap. Sure, adding more power will add more strain on certain parts of the car, but touch wood, I’ve never had anything horrific go wrong in my decades of modifying cars.

I already had a wishlist for ZeroNine Design long before I bought my Fiesta. The eagle eyed among you will remember them from the PistonHeads Annual Service last year where we got chatting, and naturally, one thing has led to another. My original plan was to get one of their exhaust systems, an induction kit and stage one remap, but they quickly sold me on the benefits of a few other upgrades too.

Nor should my insatiable appetite to modify my cars start to wane either. I bought WR21 ELH with a clear vision, so it was never going to stay standard for long. Out of the box, the Mk8 Fiesta ST is one of the most real-world fun hot hatches we’ve been blessed with this century, and perhaps one of the last. But there’s always room for improvement, right?

There’s so much head room for tuning in most modern turbocharged engines. They’re massively over engineered and then strangled to meet emissions requirements; the standard turbo will generally run out of puff before you start bending rods from a remap. Sure, adding more power will add more strain on certain parts of the car, but touch wood, I’ve never had anything horrific go wrong in my decades of modifying cars.

I already had a wishlist for ZeroNine Design long before I bought my Fiesta. The eagle eyed among you will remember them from the PistonHeads Annual Service last year where we got chatting, and naturally, one thing has led to another. My original plan was to get one of their exhaust systems, an induction kit and stage one remap, but they quickly sold me on the benefits of a few other upgrades too.

The OEM lower gearbox mount has the structural integrity of a Twiglet, so even if you aren’t adding more power, it’s essential for reducing engine roll and getting rid of wheel hop under hard acceleration. And their cast quickshift is another essential for any Fiesta too, removing any wooliness from the shift for a precise and firm gear change. Worth every penny.

Before adding more power, I’d normally advocate upgrading the brakes, suspension and ensuring you’ve got top quality rubber fitted. However in this case, I love the way the Fiesta handles from the factory on the wrecked b-roads around me, and even the standard two-pot calipers up front pull the car up well, so I was curious to see if the car felt overwhelmed before taking further action. As my car has the Performance Pack, it came with a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential from the factory, so I had no concerns about it being able to put the extra power down to the road. I’ve started with a stage one remap taking power from 207hp and 235 ft lb to 238hp and 275 ft lb. Lets not forget the kerbweight of 1283kg either.

The result? Total transformation. With a standard Fiesta ST, you can mash the throttle to the floor, and wait for it to wind up and put the power down. Now you actually have to drive it. Rather than revealing flaws, the additional power amplifies the Fiestas willingness to lift off oversteer, transferring weight more aggressively and making it much more entertaining to drive as a result.

The OEM lower gearbox mount has the structural integrity of a Twiglet, so even if you aren’t adding more power, it’s essential for reducing engine roll and getting rid of wheel hop under hard acceleration. And their cast quickshift is another essential for any Fiesta too, removing any wooliness from the shift for a precise and firm gear change. Worth every penny.

Before adding more power, I’d normally advocate upgrading the brakes, suspension and ensuring you’ve got top quality rubber fitted. However in this case, I love the way the Fiesta handles from the factory on the wrecked b-roads around me, and even the standard two-pot calipers up front pull the car up well, so I was curious to see if the car felt overwhelmed before taking further action. As my car has the Performance Pack, it came with a Quaife mechanical limited-slip differential from the factory, so I had no concerns about it being able to put the extra power down to the road. I’ve started with a stage one remap taking power from 207hp and 235 ft lb to 238hp and 275 ft lb. Lets not forget the kerbweight of 1283kg either.

The result? Total transformation. With a standard Fiesta ST, you can mash the throttle to the floor, and wait for it to wind up and put the power down. Now you actually have to drive it. Rather than revealing flaws, the additional power amplifies the Fiestas willingness to lift off oversteer, transferring weight more aggressively and making it much more entertaining to drive as a result.

Out of the box it had just enough power to make you smile at sensible speeds, but now I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat. The induction kit and exhaust system add the aural drama the car was missing with their whooshing, chortling, popping and banging (which can be mapped out if preferred), while helping to boost power with the increased airflow. The team at ZeroNine Design were also able to customise my launch control mapping for me, because I’m still a massive boy racer at heart and want to get as close to feeling like I’m driving a rally car as possible. And the lads at my local McDonalds will love it.

Driving along with the standard driving mode selected you’d barely notice any difference, but switch it into Sport mode, and it really comes alive. And most importantly, you can have fun all the time at sensible speeds, without risking losing your licence within a few seconds. With the additional power, the brakes now need upgrading next, but I’m undecided on whether to just go for braided lines and upgraded pads, or to splash out on ZeroNine’s big brake kit.

I doubt it'll take long before I’m heading for a stage two remap with an uprated intercooler but for now, I’m absolutely loving channelling my inner Elfyn Evans on my local b-roads. And the one upside of this miserable weather we’ve had so far this year is that it makes the Fiesta even more of a riot to drive, which is exactly why I bought this car to enjoy all year round, while the MX-5 stays tucked up in the garage. We’ve got a bunch of PistonHeads track days coming up this year, so keep an eye out for the Fiesta coming to a circuit near you soon!

Whether you're interested in the latest vehicle releases, road tests or you're in the market for a new hot-hatch - like a Fiesta ST, be sure to head over to pistonheads.com and check out their auction and marketplace, plus all the latest new releases and road tests!

Out of the box it had just enough power to make you smile at sensible speeds, but now I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat. The induction kit and exhaust system add the aural drama the car was missing with their whooshing, chortling, popping and banging (which can be mapped out if preferred), while helping to boost power with the increased airflow. The team at ZeroNine Design were also able to customise my launch control mapping for me, because I’m still a massive boy racer at heart and want to get as close to feeling like I’m driving a rally car as possible. And the lads at my local McDonalds will love it.

Driving along with the standard driving mode selected you’d barely notice any difference, but switch it into Sport mode, and it really comes alive. And most importantly, you can have fun all the time at sensible speeds, without risking losing your licence within a few seconds. With the additional power, the brakes now need upgrading next, but I’m undecided on whether to just go for braided lines and upgraded pads, or to splash out on ZeroNine’s big brake kit.

I doubt it'll take long before I’m heading for a stage two remap with an uprated intercooler but for now, I’m absolutely loving channelling my inner Elfyn Evans on my local b-roads. And the one upside of this miserable weather we’ve had so far this year is that it makes the Fiesta even more of a riot to drive, which is exactly why I bought this car to enjoy all year round, while the MX-5 stays tucked up in the garage. We’ve got a bunch of PistonHeads track days coming up this year, so keep an eye out for the Fiesta coming to a circuit near you soon!

Whether you're interested in the latest vehicle releases, road tests or you're in the market for a new hot-hatch - like a Fiesta ST, be sure to head over to pistonheads.com and check out their auction and marketplace, plus all the latest new releases and road tests!

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