FORD gave a world debut to its Fusion Concept car at Frankfurt which will be launched in the UK in a year's time as the Fiesta Fusion urban activity vehicle.

The concept will be the third model in the new Fiesta range which will initially go on sale next March in five-door form, with a three-door hatchback version being launched late next year.

Ford has underlined that while the vehicles will be 'distinctively Ford' each version of the Fiesta will be very different - as underlined by the show debuts of both five-door and UAV versions.

Unveiling the Fusion Concept, Martin Leach, vice-president product development, Ford of Europe, said: 'There is a demand for a different kind of small car. Fusion is a small hatchback with the styling and ride of a sports utility vehicle. It also showcases new developments on the way forward for Ford. It's tough; it's urban and it's cool. It shows the near future of Ford.'

Fusion, like the remainder of the Fiesta range, will be powered by a choice of petrol engines - 1.3 8v, 1.4 16v and 1.6 16v - as well as a 1.4 TDCi diesel unit, the result of Ford's engine collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Preliminary data reveals that the 1.4 TDCi returns fuel consumption of 62.8 mpg on the combined cycle and has a CO2 figure of 119g/km, putting it in the 15% tax bracket - plus 3% for the diesel penalty. Diesel sales are expected to account for more than 10% of fleet business and 8 - 10% of total Fiesta sales.