GERMANY: Ford Fiesta steps on to global stage
Germany : 11 July 2008 : After numerous all-but-production-ready 'concepts' displayed at motorshows as far flung as Geneva, Detroit and China, Ford has finally taken the wraps off the production Fiesta developed in Europe - its new Global car.
Three- and five-door versions will come off European assembly lines this summer and "regionally-tailored" models will go on sale in Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas (North and South) by 2010.
First impressions are of a very attractive, well-specified and equipped little car that should give North American dealers, currently weighed down by stocks of unwanted large SUVs and trucks, something fuel-efficient to sell to customers who might otherwise cross the road for a Toyota Prius or Honda Fit, or even a GM Saturn Astra - a model consumer writers deemed a little pricey (that pesky euro) but little changed from its original Opel form and good to drive on US roads.
European buyers will get the Fiesta with a choice of four petrol and two diesel engines, a variety of transmissions, half a dozen trim packs and adequate standard equipment (eg range-wide power mirrors) and options (keyless entry, start button, automatic projector headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers, 3.5 inch display screen and cruise control).
Electric power steering is fitted and two new engines include an ultra-low CO2 'ECOnetic' version with target emissions of only 99 g/km and a top-line 120PS 1.6-litre 'Duratec Ti-VCT'.
Over 55% of the body structure made is of high-strength steel and the shell is about 40kg lighter.
The standard knee airbag is the first in a Ford small car - and there are also head-and-thorax side airbags, and optional safety curtains. The new model also has EasyFuel capless refueling.
European sales start in October. (based on an article in 'just-auto')
Reviews : UK Sunday Mirror : 13
July 2008 : "I can safely say this is Ford's best and most audacious Fiesta ever, a genuine Min
i-chaser gunning for a young and sophisticated buyer, bigger inside yet the same on the outside. It's also 40kg lighter than its predecessor and bristling with Ford's kinetic design cues.
Kicking off at just £8,695, the bold new Fiesta will be in perfect tune with its times, with sub-120g/km CO2 engines, and even 48mpg from the sporty Zetec S version, which is good for 60 in a smudge over nine seconds.
Next year we'll see the ECOnetic version, which returns an astonishing 73mpg and produces just 99g/km CO2. I look at this new Fiesta and I see absolute proof that the Blue Oval has turned the corner.
Ford have now got it dead right." (Quentin Willson)
