Pricing for the rest of the lineup begins at €12,000 ($17,965) for the five-door, while the top-of-the-line 'Titanium' trim level will cost at least €14,250 ($21,333), according to Sweden's Auto Motor & Sport. The diesel version of the Fiesta will start at €14,500 ($21,700) for the three-door and €15,250 ($22,800) for the five-door. It too will be available in several trim levels, including Titanium, starting from €16,250 ($24,300).
The 40kg lighter all-new Fiesta sporting two completely new engines, the ECOnetic and the 120hp 1.6L Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine for the Zetec S model, which gets the car from 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 9.9 seconds - not blisteringly fast, but with fuel efficiency of 40mpg (US) (5.9L/100km) and CO2 emissions of just 139g/km, it's not slow either.
Due to start rolling off the factory floor later this month, with the first customer cars delivered in October, Ford is betting heavily on the small car. A huge range of trims - Studio, Style, Style Plus, Zetec, Zetec and Titanium mean there's a configuration for most tastes, ranging from bare-bones econo-car to luxurious mini-hatch. A range of three other petrol engines, climbing in size from 1.25L to 1.4L and in power from 60hp to 96hp, the biggest of this lot is also available with an automatic transmission.
To help the little engines get off the line with a minimum of incident, Ford has added a feature called 'stall prevention' that enhances low-end torque by altering the ignition maps at take-off. A 1.6L Duratorq TDCi engine offers the power for the ECOnetic, with a lowered suspension, coated particulate filter and tuned ECU helping the car deliver it's 99g/km CO2 rating. A 1.4L Duratorq diesel is also available.
The result of these new engines and features is a 22% improvement in 0-100km/h (0-62mph) times and 14% improvement in in-gear acceleration for stronger passing performance. The gains are aided by the lighter weight as well.
The stiffer body structure, up-rated power and aggressive styling are a combination to make the Fiesta a prime buy for those interested in a fun-to-drive hatch. Enhanced safety and a wide range of features usually reserved for larger, more upscale cars such as a capless fuel filler, keyless entry and the 'Ford Power' start button are all standard. Storage space is good for a small car, with the boot capable of swallowing 295L of cargo. Power door mirrors are also standard across the range. Special features on the Zetec and Titanium packages include an aesthetic lighting package that provides interior accent lighting in a red glow. Available options on all cars include automatic projector headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers, Ford’s Human Machine Interface computer system with an 89 mm (3.5in) screen and cruise control.
Designed in Europe but intended for the global market, the new Fiesta is being heralded as one of Ford's most important models ever. According to Marin Buela, executive director of small cars for Ford of Europe, "[The] all-new Fiesta is a landmark moment for Ford. It’s our most significant global vehicle project since the Model T and heralds the future for Ford product development.”
Original: After a string of concepts cars and rumors of a possible name change Ford has finally revealed its new compact hatch in production trim and confirmed the car will carry the Fiesta nameplate. This is the version that will sell in Europe, Asia-Pacific and South Africa and will first enter production at Ford’s Cologne manufacturing facility in Germany at the end of the year. The Fiesta is in fact the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process and it will eventually be sold in China and North America, where it will be styled as a sedan.
The car will be on display next month at the Geneva Motor Show and will go sale in three and five-door hatchback body styles by fall in Western Europe. By 2010, the new Fiesta will be on sale across the rest of Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America in a variety of regionally tailored models derived from the same platform.
As predicted the car gets most of its styling cues from last year's Verve Concept including the trapezoidal grille, angular headlights, raked windshield and fastback profile. But the new Fiesta isn’t just a pretty picture. Blue Oval engineers have worked hard to enhance the ride comfort and isolate road, wind and powertrain noise from the cabin to give the car a more upmarket feel.
One of the key goals during the Fiesta’s development was to maintain the size and weight of the previous model but increase comfort and safety levels, a near impossibility in the auto industry. However, utilizing the same weight saving techniques used by Mazda for its Mazda2 compact, including the use of two different types of steel for the chassis, Ford was able to reach all its original targets.
The Fiesta will initially be available with a range of petrol and diesel engines. Entry-level models will come with a 60hp 1.4L petrol engine and will be followed by a 115hp 1.6L unit. Diesel fans will get two 1.25L units developing 60hp and 80hp respectively. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or the new Durashift automatic. The cars also come with Ford’s new EPAS electronic steering to help save fuel.
Ford Fiesta Euro-spec
New Ford Fiesta S
2009 Ford Fiesta five-door
2009 Ford Fiesta three-door
Reader Comments
Thu Feb 14 2008 7:02 PM
Roy says
I think it looks good. I don't understand why Ford does not launch it as a hatchback in the US. The VW Golf/Rabbit sells fine over here, and the Honda Fit (Jazz) has taken off in some markets. They were struggling to meet demand...
Since the development work is already done, launching it here in the midst of relatively high gas prices seems like a no-brainer to me.
Thu Feb 14 2008 7:07 PM
admin says
Because Americans aren't capable of paying a reasonable amount for a high quality small car.
Thu Feb 14 2008 9:47 PM
L says
well if it only comes as a sedan in the states then i won't be buying it. i love my four door hatch focus because its a hatch...a sedan only like they have now is stupid. Not all americans have bad taste..wake up Ford!
Fri Feb 15 2008 4:56 AM
a car specialist says
the range of engines is wrong.....they will have a 1.2 litres petrol and two diesel units of 1.4 and 1.6....be more carefull please
Fri Feb 15 2008 8:09 AM
Duane Walzer says
"....eventually be sold in China and North America, where it will be styled as a sedan"
As "sedan" it's now called Focus here in USA. This "Fiesta" is really/will be a Focus hatchback - whenever it gets here.?????
I loved my '79 Fiesta (208k miles), and my 94 EscortGT (150K miles). I like the 2.0L in my 2007 Focus hatchback. Fortunately I was able to get it recently as a "left over", otherwise I'd have to settle on a Toy Matrix with it's anemic 1.8L. (Supposedly a Matrix 2.0L is pending???)
For me, hatchbacks are the most versatile econo/passenger/truck/SUV. (Does that make it a "cross-over" from SUV to reality?
Hatchbacks forever...
Fri Feb 15 2008 8:26 AM
MrRoadrage says
Duane,
The Fiesta is a class smaller than the Focus. In Europe, both models are sold, though the European Focus is rather different from the American one. Why they wouldn't sell the Fiesta as a hatchback in America is a bit hard to fathom. Perhaps they should go all the way and make it into a pickup truck.
Fri Feb 15 2008 8:43 AM
chris says
yep,, road rage is right... fiesta is a sub compact and the rest of the world has had both models since inception. I think that the first gen focus sold well in all forms and in all countries. the sales figures were pretty evident of that.. i believe it was this site that reported just as many 3 doors, 3 doors, 5 doors, and station wagons were sold for the old gen.. they all had 25% market share... then ford redesigns the focus as just a sedan.. hey i love my 2008 sedan focus.. its awesome... much better than the last one.. but in the sub compacts... u cant sell JUST the sedan. hell... how many sedan yaris do you see? how many pontiac waves?
in this segment you REALLY need the hatch.. and why ford wouldnt offer the hatch.. i dont know.
heres the problem though.. all the other sites ive seen this article on this morning are not reporting anything about USA not getting the hatch... so i question where this came from???? its a good guess, considering all the stupid decisions ford has made.. but is there any proof of it?? ADMIN??? HELP!??!?!
anyways.. if they didnt bring the hatch here.. i would be really saddened... i told the ford rep at NAIAS that i would only consider the hatch fiesta.. not because of the styling but simply because of the size of the car. I've gone from a focus hatch to a focus sedan and im already missing the cargo area... i wont downsize further... but i WOULD definitely buy the hatch when my lease comes due in 2011...
thats why i say a hatch is essential in this segment... the difference in cargo room is enough to make people like me want the hatch... but completely not buy this car BECAUSE the sedan just isnt enough.
oh.. yeah for sure... ECO BOOST THE FACK OUT OF THAT 1.6L.... 110 hp isnt enough LOL
Fri Feb 15 2008 8:43 AM
admin says
A car specialist , this was the information received in the official press release. Different markets will get different engines.
Fri Feb 15 2008 9:03 AM
chris says
car specialist... admins right... other sites are specing the same.....
but i know what you mean.. those are the engines going into the mazda2 (same platform) so it would make sence.. but in europe... fords got other engines available... better ones....
what we will get here.. who knows
Fri Feb 15 2008 9:30 AM
admin says
Ford will develop a sedan version of the Fiesta for the U.S. We've already seen it in the form of the Verve 3 Concept. Ford has not revealed whether the hatch will go to North America, however given that it's not set to appear there until 2010 there's still a chance it could.
Fri Feb 15 2008 10:31 AM
chris says
thanks for the clarification. the article made it sound that it was only going to be in sedan form. i hope you understand the confusion.
I must say, of all the car sites that i subscribe to... this one is the best. you guys really do put together a nice site and clearly review it constantly. good work. and thanks for reading what we write. ....and then reply to it.
Like i said before; i hope that ford really puts all they have into this car.... it looks like theyve used more "palatable" materials on the interior, but kept the entire design intact... which i think says a lot for their commitment to the car..... i just hope they follow through with giving us all the body styles and a good selection of engines. the diesels... not really necessary....
question though; we complain that we might not get the hatch, but does euro ford get sedans? i mean, did they have a sedan version of the first gen focus? cause im certain they dont have any kind of sedan version of the current mark II focus... just like we dont have a hatch of the mark II focus.... will europe only get a hatch of this? no sedan?
Fri Feb 15 2008 6:49 PM
MrRoadrage says
Chris,
There's no saloon version of this car for Europe because nobody would buy it. European small cars are always hatchbacks. Even medium cars with boots sell slowly. The VW Jetta sells in miniscule numbers compared to the Golf. There's certainly no Yaris saloon in Europe.
Sat Feb 16 2008 8:26 AM
Sir Yappie says
mazda 2 with a ford badge...i know that there is tech sharing etc but the shape should be at least a bit different !
Sat Feb 16 2008 12:45 PM
NaBUru38 says
Oh, I found pictures of the Indian Ford Ikon, ie their Fiesta sedan: http://es.autoblog.com/2007/09/24/sudafrica-llega-el-ford-ikon/
Wed Apr 16 2008 7:01 AM
Gingafungus says
If Ford decides to market only a sedan who will want it ? Maybe the same people who buy all their gigantic trucks and SUV's. Ford better get on the stick or join Oldsmobile !!!!!!!
Mon Jun 9 2008 3:23 PM
Carl says
@ Chris, Yes current Focus is offered in sedan, 3 dr HB, 5 dr HB, wagon, and hard top cabriolet..
Sedan http://www.ford.de/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_4_31_0_28302.jpg&filename=focus
If Ford N.A. offers the 1.6L Ti-VCT powerplant I think this would be very sufficient to move this car along very nicely, plus good FE (fuel economy). This is a super engine with a very good powerband.
Fri Jul 11 2008 7:03 PM
chris says
carl.. yeah i saw that shortly afterwards...
yeah the 1.6 would be great.. just dont forget my ecoboost. to hell with a 2L
Sat Jul 12 2008 12:59 PM
CK says
Congrats to Ford for hauling a really basic design element over nearly more than a decade. I think the knob for the electric sidemirrors was used in Fords already 13 years ago :D
Sun Jul 13 2008 3:54 AM
Soupie says
OK....enough is enough. "they" are saying this is the most important Ford release since the Model T....GEESUZ!!!...and yet there is even a rumor that they are not going to offer this thing as a hatch in the States? What the deuce? Ford would not be that stupid.....surely they realize by now they it is not what they are trying to push on us (BORING sedens) but infact what we want (funky hatchbacks) that will save the FoMoCo. NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You partially own Mazda. Wake up and smell the coffee. In summary...in North America...we WANT Hatches....is it that difficult to understand?
Sat Aug 9 2008 9:20 AM
chris says
Soupie; as much as I love ford, some times I don't understand the decisions they make. this thing should be offered in 2, 3, 4 and 5 door versions. 2 and 3 door versions for single bigger guys like myself that want a street legal gokart (dont forget to make those seats so that i can get my 3 foot legs under the steering wheel please) and 4 and 5 door versions for teenie bopper sweet 16ers who just got their first car and want to load up their car with the friends and go for a road trip to the mall.
I don't think ford will ever top the release of the model T or the mustang, unless they were to drop a bombshell in one of the auto shows with some crazy plug in gas/electric hybrid with an all electric or all fuel cell option that costs 20 grand, and get it to market the next day. now THAT would be impressive.
but you can't deny how much buzz there is about this car. it's got people all around the world (even the US of A) screaming for compact cars. specifically, this one.
there's about 5 ongoing threads on this site alone about this car and every one of them has at least 20 comments on it.
I'm serious, when my lease is up in 2011, i'm going to lose sleep over what im going to get,.. focus... or fiesta.
Sat Aug 9 2008 10:58 AM
Dane says
CK-
I love the knob for my mirrors in my Focus.... It is very clean looking and straight-forward...
To all-
Ford has said yes already to the 3 door Fiesta... I bet anyone we will get an ST version too....
Ford has promised 6 new Ford of Europe here in the land of (no)choices.....
1. Fiesta 3 door
2. Fiesta 4 door salon
3. Transit Connect
4. Focus 4 door salon
5. Focus 5 door
6. Ranger/F-100 - Dropped as of last week.....
I think they get it (Ford)... Now to buy some of their stack at junk levels.....
Sat Aug 9 2008 11:00 AM
Dane says
Look up Ford Mexico..... They have had the new Focus for almost 3 years and they can get the ST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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