2009 Ford Fiesta First Steer

Ford’s all-new Fiesta light car is funky, fashionable and fuel efficient and finally Ford thinks it may have found the secret to posting real sales numbers in the growing and competitive end car market. The current Ford Fiesta is a good car, but the company and particularly its dealers have struggled with shedding the ‘Falcon Car Company’ image and making real inroads into sales in the light and small car segments.

With monthly sales of just under 500 units the Fiesta has not kicked the goals for Ford that it should have, but with a rejuvenated marketing team, led by recently appointed Vice-President of Sales and Market, Beth Donovan, a small car expert from the US, the company is now aiming to double that figure.

Ford believes that potential buyers will crossover from the bottom end of the focus market into the top end of the Fiesta market and while Ms Donovan was clear that no firm decision had been made on re-introducing the Ka, sub light segment car, this too could see a crossover between Fiesta buyers and those opting for the even smaller vehicle. Ford says the dramatic, eye-catching design of the new model is an extension of its acclaimed kinetic design language. Clean, sharp angular lines instantly differentiate the new model from its competitors, while a space age-like interior introduces an easy-to-master suite of operational controls.

A 1.6-litre engine with manual transmission is standard across the range, while an automatic transmission, matched to a 1.4-litre engine, is available as an option on all models except the three-door Zetec. The 1.6-litre engine with manual transmission delivers 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 152Nm of torque at 4050rpm. Fuel consumption is a frugal 6.1L/100km and carbon emissions are contained to 143g/km.

The slightly smaller 1.4-litre engine mated to the automatic transmission generates 71kW of power at 5750rpm and 128Nm of torque at 4200rpm. Fuel consumption is 6.9L/100km, carbon emissions are 164g/km, and all Fiestas are Ethanol-10 compatible. Fiesta will be available in both three-door and five-door body styles. The CL will be available in three-door or five-door guise, with manual transmission or optional automatic, and rides on 15-inch wheels.

© Source: caradvice
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Geneva '08 Preview 2009 Ford Fiesta is filled with Verve!

With two and a half weeks to go before the Geneva Motor Show, Ford has finally released details on the production version of its new global small car. After the Verve concept debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, the speculation began about what it'd be called when it arrived in showrooms. Ford's marketing team decided that more than three decades of brand equity was too much to throw away, so this car will be called the Fiesta everywhere in the world that it's sold, including the United States. US fans probably shouldn't get too attached to the 3-door hatchback shown above, though, as it's all but certain that we'll be getting a four-door sedan instead.

Fiesta stays remarkably true to the Verve concept. Aside from some detailing of the light clusters and framed side glass replacing the concept's flush glazing, the production car is virtually identical to the concept on the outside. This good news continues when you open the door, as the basic interior design is the same as the concept's, but with slightly less flashy-looking switchgear. Underhood, the Fiesta gets a range of five gasoline and diesel-fueled four-cylinder engines. Like the new Mazda2 with which it shares its architecture, the Fiesta is the same size as the car it's replacing, but high-strength steels allow it to be lighter.

Production kicks off this fall in Cologne, Germany, to be followed by a second assembly plant in Spain. An Asian facility will be announced at the Beijing show in April, while a site for North American models will be announced later.

© Source: autoblog
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