The all-new Ford Fiesta is the coolest kid at the small car party

Ford today launched their all-new Fiesta at their Go Further event in Cologne, Germany. And it is, after skimming through the kilometre-long press release, bringing the ruckus to the small car segment. To meet a wide range of customer taste the popular hatchback will be offered in four trim lines.

At the top of the heap is the upmarket Vignale model that comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, exclusive exterior detailing as well as hexagonal-quilted, tuxedo-stitched leather seats. We don't know exactly what tuxedo stitching is but it sounds awesome in the '70s cocktail lounge sense so we'll take it.

Next up is the Fiesta Active, which is basically a pseudo crossover with slightly raised ride height and lots of protective black plastic body cladding. If that's not sporting enough for you then you'd probably be sweet on the ST-Line model that looks like an ST but doesn't go like an ST because the new ST hasn't been built yet. Then lastly, of course, there's the evergreen Titanium model that has long proven to be the most popular Fiesta variant by some margin.

Whatever model or trim line you pick you can be sure that the new Fiesta will be an absolute peach to drive. Ford hasn't screwed with the recipe much as the new car rides upon a slightly updated version of the old Ford B-car platform that's been around for awhile now. Expect even sharper handling, keener steering response and considerably more grip. Also, on models packing more than 70-kilowatts, rear brake discs are now standard. As is Electronic Torque Vectoring Control.

A number of engines will be on offer but the ones we're most likely to get here in South Africa are the familiar 1.0 EcoBoost and 1.5 TDCi. The former comes wedded to a five-speed manual gearbox while the latter gets a six-speed.

Yet perhaps the most exciting news about the new Fiesta has to do with the amount the technology you can pack it with. Depending on the model and your budget you can spec or expect the following kit: Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection; Active Park Assist with Perpendicular Parking; Traffic Sign Recognition; Traffic Sign Recognition; Cross Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control; Adjustable Speed Limiter; Blind Spot Information System; Distance Indication; Driver Alert; Lane Keeping Aid; Lane Keeping Alert and Forward Collision Warning.

On the entertainment side of things Ford has blessed the new Fiesta with their new Sync 3 infotainment system that offers the ultimate in connectivity be it Bluetooth, USB or good old-fashioned radio. Owners can also choose to put in a 675-watt B&O Play audio system for the ultimate in mobile sound reproduction. The options are seemingly endless. Basically the more you read the more you realise that Ford is offering drivers a chance to customise and tweak the Fiesta to suit their tastes more than ever before. And who won't put their hands up for that? – Thomas Falkiner