‘08 Geneva: Fiesta’s the Word for Ford’s 2009 Subcompact
How much is a nameplate worth? We're not sure, but for its new subcompact range, which debuts at March's Geneva Motor Show, Ford's sticking with the Fiesta moniker. Although we'd been teased with a trio of concepts named Verve, the production cars will be sold globally - even here - with the Fiesta label.
Although the name's changed, we're thankful in that precious little seems to have changed between the new Fiesta and the Verve three-door concept from last year's Frankfurt show. Although the headlamps are toned down and the wheels slightly smaller, we're hard pressed to find any major changes between the two - a good thing, as we think the concept looked quite striking.
The similarity continues through to the interior, where most of the cues from the Verve again make their way into production. We were unsure of the commercial viability of the cell phone-esque center stack, but the control arrangement and display screen are found in the production Fiesta. Although we're sure it will vary depending on trim level, photos provided by Ford also show geometric-patterned inserts in the door panels and seats, something previously assumed to be a conceptual fancy.
European Fiestas will be available in both gasoline and diesel variants, with petrol motors including a 59- and 79-horsepower 1.25-liter I-4, a 90-horsepower 1.4-liter I-4, and a range-topping 1.6-liter four-banger, delivering 113 horsepower. Diesel offerings include 1.4- and 1.6-liter I-4 common-rail turbodiesels, rated at 67 and 89 horsepower, respectively. A five-speed manual is standard on all offerings, although a four-speed automatic is optional with the 1.4-liter gasoline motor.
Sales of the Fiesta begin in Europe this fall, but consumers in Asia and North America will be forced to wait until 2010 for the Fiesta to migrate to their markets. Ignore the color - do you think what you see is worth the wait? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
FORD RELEASE
COLOGNE, 14 February, 2008 - Ford of Europe is reinventing its small car range for a new generation of customers in 2008, starting with a stylish and exciting all-new Fiesta. First Details of the three-door model are released today, and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.Designed and developed in Europe for sale in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010, the new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process. Its stylish and dynamic flair combines with all the traditional Ford small car strengths to create a confident, contemporary introduction to the next chapter of the Fiesta success story.The new Fiesta opens another chapter in the story of the popular Ford small car that has sold more than 12 million units since its introduction in 1976. Charismatic and individual, the new model makes major strides in craftsmanship, quality of materials and product choice while continuing to represent Fiesta’s traditional strengths of practicality, value for money, agility and safety. It also brings a host of big-car features to the small-car segment for the first time.
New Fiesta clearly embodies the hallmarks of 'kinetic design', which has so convincingly infused emotion into the core of the Ford range in Europe. The Geneva debut confirms that new Fiesta will bring the most appealing elements of Verve, a trio of concept cars shown recently around the world, to production reality.
It also ends speculation surrounding the name of Ford’s new-generation small car for global markets.
“This new car embodies the very essence of Fiesta – fun, vitality and emotion,
Comments
94 taurus taurus owner
I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!
Cicero
I actually perfer the Sedan they showed, but it could just be the color that is turning me off
Aaron
hot damn, us yanks are finally getting a fiesta! And a real looker, too. Way to go Ford (Europe).
Scratch
I really liked this car until they brought back memories of that piece of crap they used to sell by putting the "Fiesta" moniker on it. "Verve" was such a cool name, why couldn't they have stuck with that?
Peter
Canadians will hopefully receive the hatch. Although Ford have managed to axe both it, and the wagon from the Focus range. Big mistake.
Now just bring in the diesel versions in both model lines and Ford will have huge sales success.
Texan_as_well
Wow! This is badass! What's the est mpg?
Oollyoumn
It needs a true high tech diesel for the US. It is surely a waste of enthusiasm, but I am hopeful.
seeker
Wow, it's nice. That's the closest a head lamp has gotten to an A-Pillar. We might be able to change bulbs from the passenger's seat!
Jeb
Can't get here a moment too soon, but please, GOD, get the the dealers on board and fired up about this thing. Nothing kills a good Ford product like dealerships that just want to sell SUVs. If sales staff approach this as the "economy car, but wouldn't you like to move up into an Escape?", it's shot.
hwyhobo
It needs a true high tech diesel for the US. It is surely a waste of enthusiasm, but I am hopeful.
If Ford bring the hatch (I could not care less about the sedan) with the diesel to California, I may well be back with Ford after years apart. I drove the previous version of Fiesta diesel in Europe last year, and I got combined 42 mpg (US) in 50/50 driving (that 50% in the city involved serious and ugly traffic).
hwyhobo
Oh, I should have mentioned, it was two people with luggage, and I am seriously lead-footed.
Jeb
Hwyhobo, that's the kind of story that sells me. I'd love that kind of mileage for my daily driver if it was a fun drive.
hwyhobo
Jeb, it is certainly a practical drive. For two plus luggage it offers a lot. Up front it has the same room as the Focus. In the back Focus had a little more luggage space in the hatchback version, but that version is now gone, and even the sedan is not offered in fuel-efficient diesel (God only knows I will never understand Ford).
For four plus luggage Fiesta would be a frugal fit. However, I am looking for a commuter car, and an occasional weekend getaway vehicle for two. In both cases it would be just fine.
To be honest, Europeans have so many choices for that type of vehicle, it is shameful when you look at our dealerships. If I had these choices, I doubt Fiesta would be my first pick, but when you're starved, everything is a feast.
Trinks
Now if only SVT was still in the hot hatch market...
Ducati Minor
Putting doubts about a diesel aside (I and two hundred million Americans could care less), I like what I am reading about the Fiesta. This is a car that will be tackling the sub-compact class, led by the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris. I have my concern about the 1.4 L Duratec engine and the 4 spd. automatic transmission being a weak combo, but maybe that's not valid.
Ramsey
Ducati has a hate for the diesels. If 200 million don't care that leaves 100 million that do. I hope they offer a manual (5spd minimum) with a small diesel (1.9L and about 200+ lb ft sounds good)
You do yourself a disservice by dismissing diesels out of hand. Look for the Thunderstar motorcycle and try to keep yourself from drooling (540lbs, 105 HP, !!!244!!! lb*ft of torque.)
When you have that much torque there is no need to rev to 14000 rpms, saves wear, parasitic power loss, and pumping losses in the engine. Let the tranny do the work.
Jonathan Fung
It's very nice. So when they say North America is that just Canada, or will we be lucky enough to see these nice hatches on our American shores too?
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Kees van Schalkwijk
Just got off a German web-site (Auto, Motor und Sport)and looked at Ford's (their) new Focus etc. Whow! No wonders Ford / other NA manufacturers are having problems here. Except for a very few new NA designs (i.e. Malibu), I haven't seen any decent designs coming out of Detroit since the late 60's. The question here obviously is not what the public wants, but rather, how can we satisfy the shareholders! Quick, cheap re-freshens, infrequent redesigns / reskins, old fashion platforms, pushrod engines, cheap 4 speed transmissions, cheap, cheap, cheap! This is not just happening now ....... they've been doing it for Got knows how long! And now they're worried about the "lost generation" of car-buyers - People who've bought Japanese for many years and who are very happy due to excellent reliability, operating costs, residuals and innovative product! So what are NA manufacturers and their unions now contemplating ......... yes, "import restrictions". Restrictions in support of what?. If you're not viable, profitable, go away. If I am not working out in a plant or an office, they're the first to fire me! Besides, haven't we seen that in the early '80's as well. It didn't work then and it will not work now! Why than, do we have to support their inadequacies with our hard earned tax $$? Why do we have to live with their "brand-new '08", lumpy looking Focus, while Europe gets a real "brand-new" gorgeous looking car, with ultra modern engines incl. diesels etc.! No wonder Toyota is rapidly becoming #1, with other Japanese / Europeans and Koreans following in hot pursuit. It's because of their product! Their reliability! Their innovative product, Their residuals! The thing is, these guys are investing in the future, they do research and much, much more, obviously something quite novel to NA manufactures. It seems to me, that NA manufacturers couldn't design themselves out of a wet paper bag! Or can they? If you can't afford to design it here, why not bring it from Europe? They've got it! Look what Saturn is doing. Most / all of their current products are Opel designs! Chrysler has to go to China, yes you read it correct, they've got to go to China to get a new small car! Is there not a single warm-blooded designer in Detroit who can design a small car? Cost? Give me a break! Why is it than, that Toyota, Honda and Subaru are all designing and building cars / vans / trucks in the US and Canada and making tons of money? By the way, Toyota is the best well capitalized (car) company in the world. And .... the Japanese / Germans were the ones who lost WW2! Remember! Don't try and pull the wool over my eyes! Anybody?
hwyhobo
**Kees**, fish rots from the head. It is **always** the fault of inept management. I've seen it in the corporate world over and over again. There is a magic circle of professional executives who destroy one company after another and still get hired to yet another by their friends and admiring fans. Many of those people are clueless, but once they get a critical mass into power, they just play musical chairs. As long as they can rip huge chunks of the fless off in form of enormous compensation packages, it's all good to them.
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