Ford Takes Wrapping Off All-New Fiesta, Exposes a Stunning Fuel-Efficient Car
Ford Motor Co. today unwrapped the production version of the Fiesta developed in Europe for the world. If it is a sign of things to come from Detroit's No. 2 automaker, Ford dealers must be thrilled.
The all-new fuel-efficient, low-emissions Fiesta -- the first product of Ford's new Global Product Development System -- has been designed and developed to meet the differing needs of customers as diverse as Western and Eastern Europe, North America, China, Australia and South Africa.
The model brings the dynamic Ford of Europe family look to the small-car segment. It wears the signature lower grille and large, centered Ford oval badge that characterizes the Verve Concept. Details such as chrome and brightwork accents, wraparound headlamps, pronounced wheel arch lips and a strong bodyside beltline create a bold look.
The rear view features a sweeping roofline that finishes in a small spoiler with attractive honeycomb taillamps.
The interior is just as nice, with an ambience that's both sporty and classy -- words not often used to describe Ford economy cars. Design director Martin Smith calls the all-new model "the most complete, expressive and exciting Fiesta Ford has ever produced, inside and out." No argument there.
Three- and five-door versions are scheduled to go on sale in Europe this October and "regionally tailored" models should be on on sale in Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas by 2010.
European buyers will get the Fiesta with four gasoline- and two diesel-engine options, a variety of transmissions and trim packs from which to choose, excellent standard equipment and lots of options, including keyless entry, start button, automatic projector headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers, cruise control and Ford's sophisticated Human Machine Interface with a 3.5-inch display screen.
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 refuelling.
Over 55 percent of the body structure made is of high-strength steels, making all-new Fiesta roughly 10 percent stiffer torsionally than its predecessor for added occupant safety -- and, remarkably, more than 70 pounds lighter.
This Fiesta, with a claimed combined fuel-efficiency of about 50 miles per gallon, must be nothing short of a godsend to Ford dealers having trouble moving gas-chugging sport-utility vehicles, pickup trucks and over-powered sedans -- which would be nearly all of them.
The all-new Fiesta's engine range comprises four 16-valve Duratec gasoline and two Duratorq TDCi diesel engine choices, all refined to lower the carbon-dioxide emissions of previous Fiesta models.
Driving enthusiasts will appreciate the new 120 PS (118.3 hp), 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine available in the new Fiesta Zetec S and Titanium models. Despite its feisty character and 20 extra horsepower, the new Duratec Ti-VCT is even more fuel-efficient than the 100 PS (98.6 hp), 1.6-liter engine in the previous Fiesta.
The Fiesta Zetec S can accelerate from zero to 62 miles per hour in 9.9 seconds, the automaker says, while still achieving a claimed combined fuel economy of 47.9 mpg and carbon-dioxide emissions of 139 grams per kilometer.
Three other 16-valve Duratec gasoline engines are offered for the new Fiesta, in 1.25 and 1.4 liters and outputs from 60 PS (59.1 hp) to 96 PS (94.6 hp), with an automatic transmission option available on the Duratec 1.4-liter.
An added feature on the new Fiesta is Stall Prevention, designed to assist in low-speed maneuvers by altering the engine's ignition profile to increase the amount of available torque and tuned for each individual powertrain.
Overall, the all-new Fiesta achieves a 22 percent improvement in 0-62-mph acceleration and 14 percent better in-gear acceleration in passing maneuvers versus its predecessor, thanks to its reduced weight and improved powertrain calibration.
This Fiesta is cause for a fiesta.
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett July 11, 2008, 2:22 PM
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- Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy
Wow...
I hope they really deliver on what they promise. This car looks fantastic. I'd like to see Ford offer an ecoboost version of that 1.6 in a hot hatch version of the Fiesta. A car like that could chase a lot of Mini Cooper sales.