Ford Fiesta news - Fiesta ST? - 2008

More excitement from China - of the automotive sort, rather than the torch-wrestling, monk-slapping kind - in the shape of the new Ford Fiesta at the Beijing Auto Show.

We saw the three-door version of Ford's Verve-inspired supermini back in Geneva, but this is the five-door in 'S' trim.

OK, it doesn't amount to a whole lot more - beyond the extra doors, you get a tricksy, aftermarket-style rear wing and some nice aluminium inserts on the front grille - but at least it gives us some idea of what the ST (or even RS, perhaps?) version of the new Fiesta could look like.

Damn good, in other words. Ford tells us that the paintjob is Passion Orange, but you'll also be able to choose from Randy Purple and Horny Green. We made up the last two.

The Fiesta will be launched in the UK at the end of this year (in normal garden guise, mind - you'll have to wait a while for a hot version) and will be built in Europe, America and - yes, you guessed it - China.