Spied: 2011 Ford Fiesta EcoBoost

The Ford Fiesta is perhaps the Blue Oval’s most anticipated and most important launch of an all-new product in years. But the biggest news to hot-hatch hounds is the arrival of the EcoBoost model, which will be powered by a turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder. Ford will be introducing both 1.6- and 2.0-liter versions of the engine. While we’d love to see the 2.0 and its expected 230 horsepower appear in the Fiesta, that’ll probably be reserved for a hot Focus, with the 1.6 doing duty in the smaller car. We’re not too upset—we expect about 185 horsepower out of the smaller engine, and combined with a feathery curb weight of around 2400 pounds, it should make the EcoBoost Fiesta a demonic little car.

Today, our spies captured the first sheetmetal evidence of the EcoBoost Fiesta, prowling the streets of Dearborn. Adding to the anticipation is the fact that the car spotted is the mean-looking three-door hatch, a body style we’ve been told we won’t get here in the U.S. Maybe this is hope that Ford’s product planners realize how successful the Volkswagen GTI is here in that configuration? For now, we can only hope that the hot three-door won’t be reserved for elsewhere in the world.

Whether or not the three-door appears, the visual mods should carry over to the five-door and the sedan, the two layouts that have been confirmed for the U.S. Those include a new lower front fascia tweaked for more open area. Behind that fascia hides the intercooler, the big tip-off that this is the EcoBoost car. This Fiesta wears more-aggressive rockers, too, with a sharp rib adding a little bit of visual beef. Around back, there’s a mondo roof spoiler and a pair of wide-set tailpipes in a revised rear fascia. The wicked, matte-gray Speedline wheels are another question mark, but we can see them making the cut, since Ford otherwise has plenty of wheels it could fit to mules for around-town testing.

We still don’t know when the EcoBoost Fiesta might arrive in the U.S. Sales of the regular 118-hp Fiesta begin in April, and the turbo 1.6 should first appear in Europe late in 2010. That probably means a spring 2011 arrival for a U.S.-market hot Fiesta, and we can’t wait to drive it.

Thanks to: Car and Driver