Fiesta goes out with a bang

Ford is going back to black as it prepares to bid farewell to the current-generation Fiesta.

With an all-new supermini due in showrooms at the end of the year, bosses are making sure the current version goes out with a bang... in the form of a hot special-edition model.

Called the ST500, it marks itself out from the rest of the outgoing Fiesta range with a Panther Black metallic paint finish, 17-inch, 11-spoke alloy wheels, red brake calipers and distinctive silver stripes on its bonnet and flanks.

However, the ST500 badge doesn’t hint at the Fiesta’s power output. Rather, it refers to the fact that only 500 cars will be made, with each one starting at £15,000. As with the standard flagship ST, the last-of-the-line car is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 148bhp. The steering is tuned for sharper responses, while the suspension is stiffened and lowered and a close-ratio manual gearbox is fitted.

Inside, heated leather sports seats and carbon fibre-effect trim add to the appeal, while there’s also a Sony CD stereo.