Ford has officially unveiled the next-generation version of the Ford Fiesta ST, which will be powered by an all-new 197bhp 1.5-litre engine.

The car made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this Friday, and is the hotter version of the all-new 2017 Fiesta supermini, which was unveiled at a separate event earlier this year.

Headline news for the new Fiesta ST, along with its brand-new engine, includes the addition of selectable drive modes for the first time and a revamped appearance.

To our eyes, the car looks less aggressive than the previous model, with a more rounded shape to match that of the new Fiesta, but with the addition of a subtle body kit and exclusive 18-inch alloys.

Under the bonnet lurks the new 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which generates 197bhp and 290Nm of torque and which Ford says can take the car from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.

Eagle-eyed fans of fast Fords will notice that this is exactly the same output as the current Fiesta ST200 and the same 0-62mph sprint time, which will surely disappoint those hoping for more power.

However, Ford stresses that although the car has the same output as the previous car, it does so a lot more efficiently, courtesy of various tweaks to the engine’s fuel injection technology.

It also features cylinder deactivation, which allows one of the engine cylinders to shut down at slower speeds, essentially turning it into a two-cylinder engine in order to save fuel.

Also new is the Drive Mode selector, with drivers able to switch between Normal mode or Sport, which sharpens throttle, steering and engine response and also intensifies the engine sound by pumping noise through the speakers.

Finally, there’ll also be Track mode, which Ford says has been created specifically to enable drivers to hit the fastest possible lap times and which disables both stability and traction control systems.

Ford’s Torque Vectoring Control is also standard, which aims to reduce understeer by subtly braking the inside front wheel during cornering to improve handling characteristics.

Inside, the ST will feature Recaro-branded seats and a sporty, flat-bottomed steering wheel, along with Ford’s latest SYNC 3 infotainment system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

Available in both three- and five-door variants, prices for the 2017 Ford Fiesta ST have yet to be announced, but Ford says that the car will go on sale in the UK early next year.

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