DISTINCTIVE deep orange paint jobs helps mark out a new limited edition of Ford's fast and fun Fiesta ST, on sale from June.

Just 600 examples of the Fiesta ST Performance Edition will be produced and they'll cost "at least £3,000" more than the £22,245 asked for the standard version, says Ford.

The extra cash brings no more straight line performance than the 200 horsepower of the current car - capable of 144mph and 0-62mph in 6.5 seconds.

Instead, the modifications to produce the Performance Edition concentrate on the car's suspension, wheels and drivetrain; all aimed at making the car still more engaging on the road.

For instance, new 18-inch Ford Performance alloy wheels shave seven kilograms of weight from the standard wheel set - and the upgrade also incudes a Ford Performance coilover suspension pack with stainless steel damper housing and powder-coated Ford Performance Blue springs.

The coilover suspension pack lowers the ride height by 15mm at the front and 10mm at the rear, and has been extensively tested at the Nurburgring Nordschleife by Ford Performance engineers.

The suspension can be adjusted manually, with 12 bump settings and 16 rebound settings for a personalised, finely-tuned driving setup.

Other standard equipment includes LED headlamps and B&O premium audio system, in addition to the ST's signature Performance Pack, comprising a specially-designed Quaife limited slip differential (LSD), launch control and performance shift light indicators.

The latest-generation Fiesta ST went on sale in the UK in May last year, and more than 5,000 examples have been sold in that time.