LA show: US-spec Ford Fiesta

The first official pictures of the US-spec Ford Fiesta have been released.

The car, which is due to be unveiled at today's Los Angeles show, will be sold in in America as a five-door hatchback and a four-door saloon.

Only one engine option will be available: a 1.6-litre petrol four-pot with 119bhp and 109lb ft of torque. It can be mated to a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed dual-clutch automatic unit that is operated via a standard gear lever.

Ford claims the automatic will hit 36mpg in town and 48mpg on the motorway - not high by European standards, but class-leading in the US.

Although Ford says the US-spec car is 40 per cent different from the European car, the visual changes are minimal.

The front grille is a new design - particularly noticeable on the the saloon - and the foglamps have been replaced with an LED strip.

Inside, the seats are said to feature more bolstering, the dash shape has been mildly altered to meet crash test regulations (including the inclusion of a knee airbag) and there are styling changes, with less chrome trim on some models.

Standard kit includes a four-inch LCD display, an MP3 socket, push start button, Bluetooth capability and climate control.

Options include heated seats and side mirrors, powered seats, a sunroof and leather upholstery.