Preview: 2009 Ford Fiesta five-door hatch

Ford took the wraps off its new Fiesta hatch last week ahead of the car’s world debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show but the model shown was the sporty three-door variant. The volume seller five-door hatch is yet to be revealed but these latest renderings give us a preview of what to expect. The car is essentially a stretched version of the three-door and will arrive in showrooms in Western Europe in the second half of the year.

The new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process and it will eventually be sold in China and North America, where it will be styled as a sedan. Ford is yet to announce if the hatch will be sold alongside the sedan variant, which itself isn’t set to arrive until the end of the decade, but interest for the car outside of Europe has been strong.

The Fiesta will initially be available with a range of petrol and diesel engines. Entry-level models will come with a 60hp 1.4L petrol engine and will be followed by a 115hp 1.6L unit. Diesel fans will get two 1.25L units developing 60hp and 80hp respectively. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or the new Durashift automatic. The cars also come with Ford’s new EPAS electronic steering to help save fuel.