Spied: 2011 Ford Fiesta

What you're looking at are the first spyshots of the U.S. version of the 2011 Ford Fiesta, which was spotted recently prowling around Ford's Dearborn mothership.

The subcompact Fiesta is the first of a number of new global cars coming from the Blue Oval under the watch of Ford CEO Alan Mulally. The automaker is switching gears toward a smaller, more fuel efficient lineup, and the Fiesta is a major cog in Ford's future North American plans.

The Fiesta will be similar in appearance to the Ford Verve Concept shown at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and should go on sale sometime in 2010 as a 2011 model, about a year after its European counterpart debuts.

Although it will be offered in Europe as a three- and five-door hatchback, the U.S. version will initially be offered only as a sedan spied here, though Ford has indicated it may bring the hatchbacks here as well if the demand arises.

"Take the five-door Fiesta," says Ford global design chief J Mays, "and graft on the trunk of the Verve sedan concept, and you'll be 99 percent there." Mays' team has reportedly put extra effort, and dollars, into the cabins. The I.P. designs are sweeping, with deep, pod-like gauges, and the center stack has a "personal electronics" feel. "I believe this is one B-car that has C-car amenities," adds Mays.

There's no talk of U.S.-spec powertrains yet, but the Euro Fiesta, which shares front-drive chassis architecture with the Mazda2, runs a 1.6-liter four with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. It's also possible that the 2.0-liter four from the Focus could a part of the U.S. powertrain mix.