Ford Fiesta ST Online
Here we will show what Mule test vehicles were spotted during testing, prior to the ST's launch.
A mule test vehicle is one used to carry or test something. Based out of the Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, vehicles would undergo mechanical and drivetrain testing. Whereas the body side of things was done by Ford of Europe over in Germany.
Mule cars would be seen with all manner of things bolted onto them, plus using body panels and camouflage wraps to disguise any body shapes.
A lot of test mules are given a nickname during their testing life. Making it easier for the engineers to keep track and us alike. Each mule has it's own unique code on a window, but not all of them. Each mule would also have a log book inside.
2007 disguised - Not strictly the ST but these are the first mule's produced in 2007 prior to the 2008 Fiesta reveal and launch, where it all started.
The above vehicles were among a long list of test mules using consecutive registration numbers, many have been photographed.
These ones below were spotted on 15th December 2007.
The body design looks to be set and ready, but here the mechanicals and functions are tested. Plenty of body mouldings added to disguise the shape.
These mules were seen in October 2007 right up until July 2008. The Fiesta Mk.7 launch was September 2008.
The body mouldings were removed in March 2008, as seen here winter testing.
Photo credit: caradvice.com.au / www.autoblog.com / KGPphotography
September 2010 - The first ST mules were spotted testing at the Nordschleife.
There are a lot of visual items that giveaway that this mule is running ST mechanicals. There's the front-mounted intercooler and the rear disc brake set-up. If only that twin exhaust made it onto the ST for production!
Photo credit: carscoop.blogspot.com
May 2011 - More ST mules with body mouldings spotted testing. Meet 'hans'.
This was spotted at the Nordschleife again, kitted out with a full roll cage to really push and find the limits. This was the first glimpse of actual ST front bumper mouldings being used. This was to measure the performance of the car and carry out the required tests, while having the correct aerodynamic bumper opening. The production dual-pipe exhaust can be seen here also.
Photo credit: CarMagazine / autoblog.com
June 2011 - Another Mule created for testing, and meet 'hans 2'.
This was a 5-door, possibly to test for the US Market (Who only got a 5-door ST), but shows all the ST running gear with tape covering some bumper lights. Sporting the same wheels that 'hans' was running.
This 5-door was then seen a month later with the front bumper lights un-masked and back on 'snowflake' wheels.
The mule formally known as 'hans' was back as 'hans 2', going by the name on the boot, plus now the front end was coloured white.
Photo credit: Worldcarfans.com
The burgundy, 5-door and 'hans' mules would be seen for the rest of the year testing, various videos could be found on YouTube at the time.
Various other mules were spotted around testing different components in various locations.
Here's EU60 ATZ, a 5-door with front-mounted intercooler spotted in Europe catching some warm time in September 2011.
And here's EU11 BNL, another 5-door testing in the same location.
Also showing the same front bumper moulding.
January 2012 - Cold testing with more ST mules with body mouldings.
The ST was sold globally therefore once the set up was perfected by the three previous mules (and probably more), it was time to carry out climate testing to suit environments around the world.
First up was winter testing and a couple of mules were out on a frozen lake when one came to rest in a snow bank, which removed some of the body disguise and revealed the front-mounted intercooler thus meaning they were testing the ST mechanicals. The ST grille can also be seen.
Photo credit: Worldcarfans.com
More testing in Germany saw this mule get snapped quite close up, but the interior was that of the 2008 Zetec-S, although it did feature a 6-speed gear-knob (Zetec-S only had 5-gears) to give the game away, plus the body mouldings and presence of the dual exhaust and rear disc brakes.
April 2012 - The first of the ST mules spotted with a proper front bumper. Doing final warm testing along side the new Kuga.
Where better, than Tenerife?! A lovely location for hot testing and featured three ST mules, one of which displaying a lot of features of the U.S. version. Along with a Kuga.
First up was EU11 AXF, a black 5-door sporting an ST-shape front bumper moulding. This now featured a tow-bar (common on the mules) and the funny shaped exhaust exits which are designed to quickly connect to testing equipment for emissions readings etc.
This could be the same 5-door spotted testing in June 2011.
Next up was EU11 BAO, another black 5-door with twin exit exhausts, and a shot of the interior showing it was mainly the American style interior.
Then there was EU12 AFV, sporting an actual ST front bumper and alloy wheels, along with the facelift front end (which wasn't available to buy until 5 months later). But still with the pre-facelift rear light style. The rear featured the dual ST exhaust.
This ST front end with camouflage would be a common sight in the coming months.
June 2012 - Back to the 'ring with an ST-looking mule. This one has different camouflage to the one above tested in Tenerife. But has the facelift rear light style fitted. There was also another ST mule there at the same, as seen in the background of a photo.
Photo credit: Automedia / autozeitung.de
August 2012 - Testing at home.
This ST mule, EU12 KFX, was spotted on UK roads in late August but sported the kind of camouflage used on the American ST mules.
Closer examination shows it's a 5-door with a blue rear door handle, confirming it is in fact an American ST mule. See below for another appearance. Displaying an ST badge also.
We have the VIN for this vehicle and it is of the US format.
Here is another American ST mule, showing just the type of camouflage they used on these mules.
Unfortunately the registration is blanked out but it is different from the mule above as the fog light is in a different place, as is the ST badge, as is the camouflage taping over the rear lights.
Showing there were many American mules tested in the UK.
August 2012 - The USA had the ST in 5-door only form, released in 2014, but here spotted testing in late 2012. Heavily camouflaged but clearly it's an ST mule underneath. Could this be EU12 KFX from above?
Photo credit: CarAndDriver / KGPspyPhotography
September 2012 - More testing in America with an ST mule. This one differs from the one above, and the bootlid camouflage differs from that of EU12 KFX above. Although there is a UK tax disc in the windscreen, meaning it was over here being tested at some point.
This distinctly looks like the ST mule above seen on the driveway, the camouflage matches too.
October 2012 - Testing in China with an ST mule with part camouflague. Looking nearly production ready.
Photo credit: auto.sohu.com
November 2012 - This pre-production ST, EU62 BVS, was spotted and also used for some promotion by Ford. It was first spotted out on the road and then in someone's neighbourhood, before being used by Ford for marketing the EcoBoost engine. Plus it is left-hand drive.
Showing as being registered on 19th October 2012, The ST wasn't released on sale until January 2013, with the first cars being made on the '13' plate.
There were other pre-production ST's produced and registered on '62' plates, but these started 'ET62...'
There were around 9 vehicles we have VIN's for, which were all built between the 12th and 21st of December 2012.
Two of these were registered and sold to the public (see below), whether they were vehicles passed around the showrooms on the build up to the ST release date is yet to be confirmed.
We have included these in the Mules section because they were produced pre-release date. It doesn't mean they were test vehicles or used on trials, it could just mean they were the first ones built to test the production line itself works how it should. Then they were ultimately used as display pieces and shown off prior to the release date.
They could've been built and used overseas for promotion or a launch event of some kind and deemed to be saleable back home in the UK. Which would explain any import markers against the car.
Either way, they are special in some way, but will we ever find out what...
