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By now you'd know everything there is to know about the Malaysian-spec Ford Fiesta ST. It was first previewed at KLIMS13, and we then spotted it going through the system at JPJ Putrajaya last October. Following that, its RM149,888 pricetag was announced, a day before the shiny new hot-hatch went on display at Asia Klasika 2014.

Now, the red-hot B-segmenter has officially gone on sale in Malaysia, arriving at select showrooms nationwide. Just in case you didn't know, the three-door-bodied Ford Fiesta ST is powered by a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine with 182 PS and 240 Nm of torque, and it'll get to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds through a six-speed manual gearbox.

Nope, no autos here. At a shade under RM150k (OTR with insurance, or RM145,842 without), the tuned-up Fiesta will go up against the RM139,888 Peugeot 208 GTi (200 hp and 275 Nm, six-speed manual, 0-100 km/h in 6.8 secs) and Renault's RM172,888 Clio RS 200 EDC (200 hp and 240 Nm, six-speed dual-clutch auto, 0-100 km/h in 6.7 secs).

Other than the obvious difference (two less doors than standard Fiestas) the ST adds on distinctive front and rear bumpers, halogen projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, plus a tasty set of 17-inch Rado Grey alloys (shod with 205/40 tyres) and red-painted brake calipers. There's no mistaking it for anything other than an ST, that's for sure.

On the kit front, Fiesta ST gets Silverstone grey/charcoal black fabric seats (Recaros in front), leather-wrapped sports steering wheel (with ST badging) and gearknob, manual air-con, keyless entry and start, auto lights and wipers, as well as a standard SYNC-based CD audio six-speaker system with multi-function matrix display.

Standard safety equipment consists of ABS with EBD and brake assist, ESC, hill start assist and seven airbags (driver/front passenger, front side, curtain and driver knee). Fully-imported from Cologne, Germany, the Ford Fiesta ST comes in three colours - Molten Orange, Spirit Blue and Panther Black – is packaged with a three-year/60,000 km free maintenance plan.