"The new Fiesta is one of the most stylish cars in the world. " That is the verdict of 28 leading designers and design experts from 19 countries who have awarded the eye-catching Ford model a prestigious 'red dot' award for international product design.

Design professionals, who make up the award jury, said the Fiesta's style was "innovative and dynamic". The red dot design awards are presented annually by Germany's Essen-based "Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen" - one of the world's largest design recognition programmes.

The independent jury assessed each entry against a series of criteria which includes innovation, design, functionality and quality. For the 2009 award, 3,231 submissions were received from 49 countries. The Fiesta was one of the products to be awarded a red dot for its outstanding design.

"This important award is now on the growing list of accolades given to the new Fiesta," said Martin Smith, Executive Design Director, Ford of Europe. "It is particularly encouraging to see that our new small car was singled out for its innovative, expressive design by some of the world's leading designers. Research shows that whether they are in Milan, Beijing or New York, customers put style at the top of their list. The new Fiesta delivers that style, together with outstanding quality."

Underlining the adage that good design is good business, 35,642 Fiestas have been sold in the seven months since the model was launched in Britain last August.

The red dot design award is the latest in a long line of accolades received by the new Fiesta. Among recent awards, the model was named as Car of the Year 2009 by Britain's What Car? Magazine, while in Germany, readers of Guter Rat and SUPERillu presented the new Fiesta ECOnetic with the Auto der Vernunft 2009 trophy, for value for money, economy and sustainability. Earlier this month, Fiesta was named one of the three finalists in the 2009 World Car Awards the winner will be announced in New York next month.