The original Mondeo might have been described by Ford as its first 'world car' – one that's sold across the planet – but in reality it’s the new Fiesta to get that accolade.

That means the basic car has to be acceptable to every market – cheap to buy and run, safe, roomy and green, and building a sports version that will only sell a handful in a few countries simply doesn’t make financial sense.

Stuart Milne was disappointed Ford weren't going to make a hot Fiesta. Fortunately someone else did, and he’s put it through its paces.

As much as we love hot hatches in Britain, the unspeakable truth is, apart from Germany and Switzerland, few other nations understand their appeal. And in a time of financial crisis, there was no way Ford could develop a hot hatch to replace the much-loved ST.

So Mountune Performance stepped forward to develop a tuning pack for the 1.6 Fiesta Zetec-S and Titanium models to give them a bit more oomph.

There are plenty of companies who'll do that, but the unusual thing about the Mountune pack is it can be fitted by Ford dealers, doesn't invalidate the car's warranty and the aftermarket parts are guaranteed for 12 months/12,000 miles.

And if you've already got a standard car, Ford dealers can even retro-fit it for you; either way road tax is unaffected because the kit is fitted after registration.

Two seconds quicker to 62

The £1,299 pack comprises of a high-flow induction system, a stainless steel exhaust with high-flow catalytic converter and tubular manifold and an ECU remap which together with the other modifications takes power from 118bhp to 138bhp and torque from 112lb/ft to 125lb/ft.

That might not sound like much of an increase, but it's enough to shave two seconds off the 0-62mph time, dropping it to 7.9 seconds. And the fact it's been honed on the Nürburgring adds pub bragging rights.

As well as giving the Fiesta a badly-needed shot of speed, the Mountune bits feel as though they help the car to breathe more freely, and it’s a genuine joy to wind the car to the redline. Its mid-range feels stronger, and it really comes alive above 4,000rpm. The extra power means it's easy to enjoy the car on the limit, and the loud exhaust adds to the sense of occasion.

Loud and proud

In more than 600 miles, the boomy exhaust – which finish in a pair of Mountune-logo'd tailpipes – never became tiresome as even on the motorway, coasting under partial throttle, it's rarely more than a throaty background hum. Prod the accelerator, and it’s a different story and becomes a car shrinking violets should avoid.

Chassis-wise the Mountune'd Zetec-S we tested was standard, so it had wonderful poise helped by firm suspension. Titanium models will be slightly softer. The steering is delicate and accurate and makes the car a joy to pilot along winding lanes.

Mountune also offers a styling pack for the Fiesta, which comprises of a set of lairy decals, and lightweight alloys with a painted lip. The new wheels and tyres save two kilograms per corner, improving performance and handling.

The £1,299 kit doesn’t include fitting, and Mountune says it'll take a Ford dealer around four hours to install.

Mountune's kit has transformed the standard Zetec-S from a great car into a wonderful machine. It's the finest hot Fiesta yet.