FORD is celebrating the success of its best seller with the fastest production Fiesta ever.

The limited edition Fiesta ST-200 boasts 200bhp - 215bhp on overboost - and rockets from standstill to 62 miles per hour in just 6.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 142 miles per hour.

Owners of the standard Fiesta ST with its 182bhp, 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds and top speed of 136mph can only look on in envy.

And in the words of Henry Ford you can have this latest model in any colour as long as it's - no not black - but grey.

The unique storm grey body colour won't be seen on any other model of Fiesta - so enthusiasts will know immediately you are driving the best of the best.

Powered by a 1.6-litre EcoBoost turbo engine this is one of the hottest of the hot hatches around and it certainly lets you know.

The sporty exhaust note can be heard well before the car comes into view and when it does the full body styling kit, large rear spoiler and 17 inch matt black alloys with low profile tyres ensures its not a car you will miss.

Inside too there's an overriding sports theme with alloy racing pedals, a back headlining, illuminated tread plates and special Recaro seats - with silver striped seatbelts - which hold you firmly in place on the tightest of tight bends thanks to body hugging bolsters.

Both front seats are heated and, for the first time in my experience, actually get warm without the need for someone sitting on them. A small point perhaps but it does mean that having started the engine you can get the passenger seat warm before your fellow traveller joins you.

On the road the slick short throw gearbox is a delight to use and no matter which of the six gears you are in there is power aplenty, but the third gear acceleration in particular is mind blowing.

The overboost function allows you to push this little car to the limit for 20 seconds in each gear taking the power to another level.

The grip on bends and tight corners is superb but the ride is firm and you really notice bad road surfaces with those low profiles not helping.

But if you are going to buy a car like this it's unlikely to put you off - although not to all passengers will feel the same.

The Fiesta ST-200 provides real seat of the pants motoring, however, and is an enthusiasts delight, always tempting you to put your right foot down that little harder to get the most out of it.

Having said all that if you really want to you can drive it very gently changing up as soon as the arrow on the dashboard indicates you should and you will get generous fuel consumption and good mannered motoring.