New Concept Car: Ford Fiesta ST 5-Door

We brought you spies of a five door Fiesta ST concept earlier this week, but when we spoke to Ford it denied the car's existence. Now, it's released official images of the more practical hot hatch and confirmed it will be heading to the LA Motor Show in two weeks time.

If these pictures seem familiar, that's because we saw a three-door version at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September. Barring an extra pair of handles though, the stats for this five-door version are identical.

It uses a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine – just like the WRC Fiesta - producing 178bhp and 240Nm of torque. It's performance figures should outgun the 197bhp Renaultsport Clio, with a 0-60mph time of less than seven seconds and a top speed in excess of 140mph.

It gets the same exterior treatment, with a wide angular front grille, an agressive bodykit and 17-inch wheels. At the back there's twin exhausts, a roof spoiler and an underbody diffuser. To sharpen up the car's handling and for a more menacing stance, the suspension is lowered and stiffened.

Ford is still refusing to confirm that the Fiesta ST Concept will make production, but judging by the Focus ST – which goes on sale in the UK in July and was also previewed by a thinly-veiled show car – it's almost certain to hit showrooms in late 2012.

It's unlikely we'll see the five-door version here in the UK though. For now at least, we'll only get the sportier three-door car. The Fiesta is only sold as a five-door in the US, where it's likely the more practical Fiesta ST will be offered.

“With the Focus ST, we promised to deliver uncompromised sports performance and styling to a truly global audience for the first time. With the Fiesta ST Concept, we are demonstrating that our Global Performance Plan has legs,” director of performance vehicles Jost Capito told us.

“It shows in the most dramatic way possible that the qualities which define an ST are not limited to one model. The potential for delivering the ST experience to an even wider audience are laid bare by this striking new concept." For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express