New Car: 2011 Ford Fiesta Sport SE

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Ford Fiesta nameplate in Europe. To celebrate, the Blue Oval has released a commemorative version of the compact hatchback, called the Fiesta Sport Special Edition.

The Fiesta Sport offers a choice between gasoline and diesel engines. The former is a 1.6-liter inline-four with 132 hp and 118 lb-ft of torque; coupled to a close-ratio manual transmission, it reportedly propels the Fiesta Sport from rest to 62 mph in 8.7 seconds, almost as quick as the Europe-exclusive Fiesta S1600. The 1.6-liter Duratorq diesel engine returns 94 hp and a claimed 57 mpg.

Like the S1600 model, the Fiesta Sport Special Edition also gets a more aggressive body kit, as well as chrome trim for the grille, headlight surrounds, fog light housings, and exhaust tips. The three-door hatchback comes with special Panther Black wheels, measuring 16 inches for diesel models and 17 inches for gasoline-fired versions. Black leather sport seats, gloss-black instrument cluster trim, a leather shift knob, metal pedals, and unique door sill plates dress up the interior. We think the matte-black paint and dark interior treatment look pretty mean.

The upgraded Fiesta is only destined for sale in Europe. While Ford has previously promised higher-performance Fiesta variants for the U.S. market, none have materialized yet. So tell us what you think — do you want to see a warmed-over hatchback like the Sport Special Edition in U.S. dealerships? Or are you willing to wait for the long-promised, 180-hp Fiesta ST? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Thanks to: Motor Trend