This September, Ford introduced what it's calling the "Ford Fiesta ST Concept," at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. The idea of a turbo-charged version of the Ford Fiesta might not be new to the market, but Ford is peppering this latest-gen ST with sporty new upgrades and a flashier design.

Compared to the  traditional Ford Fiesta which delivers an everyday 120 hp, the new Ford Fiesta ST concept fitted with a turbocharged, direct-injected, 1.6-liter EcoBoost branded, 4-cylinder engine, puts out up to 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. According to Ford, that's enough to get the Focus ST from 0-62 mph in just seven seconds, with speed topping out at about 135 mph! Pretty impressive,  right?

Ford didn't just tweak the engine of the Fiesta ST concept, either. The compact hatch received a complete cosmetic overhaul: a taller, blistered hood; a larger, honeycomb grill; hoop style rear wing; side-sills; flared wheel arches; a lowered ride height; and 17-inch aluminum wheels complete the muscular look of the supercharged Fiesta. Ford has yet to release details about the interior, but they've promised a "high contrast"¹ color scheme. Maybe to match the eye-catching orange of the concept's exterior? We'll see.

Rumors about the seemingly imminent release of the Ford Fiesta ST peg the date as early as 2013. While some might worry that there really isn't room in the Ford lineup for a second sport vehicle, we're sure that the Fiesta will give the Focus ST a run for its money - or in the very least, round out the lineup.

While preliminary releases of the production Ford Focus ST will start in Europe, we're sure you'll be able to see the feisty compact  at Dale Jarrett Ford, located at Indian Trail, NC within the next year or so. In the meantime, we invite you contact us via our website to schedule a time to take a spin in any of the sporty new Ford or certified used-car models in our showroom.

Source: ¹http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hatchbacks/1109_ford_fiesta_st_concept/