New Five-Door Ford Fiesta Spied

We've already seen Ford's shiny new Verve Concept, which made its international debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last week, and hot on its heels, we bring you the third batch of next-generation production model Fiesta spy photos. Seen here undergoing testing on the winding mountain roads of the French alps, the next Fiesta, although heavily disguised in these snapshots, is - in all but its five-door guise - the Verve which adorns Ford's Frankfurt Show stand this week.

Adopting a radical departure from the more conventional styling of its segment counterparts and its predecessor, the next-generation Fiesta is to re-position itself as a new hatchback designed for younger buyers. The new B-segment Ford will be offered as a Verve-inspired three-door and, as seen here testing on European roads, a less sporting but equally stylish five-door version.

Sporting elongated 'feline' headlamps and belt-line rear lamps much like the Verve Concept and inheriting the concept car's sweeping lines, the Fiesta five-door appears to remain as close as possible to all the practical design workings of the Verve, although the concept's gaping front grille and rear exhaust features appear to have been ditched for production. Back-swept D-pillars seem to have been worked into the five-door's design, although it's unclear after seeing this photo as to whether the chunky upper rear spoiler is only a tease and reserved exclusively for hot hatch Fiestas or whether it will be available on all models.

Stay tuned for further information and photos.