2008 British Motor Show
Ford Launches The All-New Fiesta
One of the world’s best loved cars has been reinvented – it is of course the all new Ford Fiesta.
Over the past 32 years, the Fiesta has consistently been at the top of the list of Europe's best-selling cars. Over 12 million Fiestas have found homes with customers over that time and by the looks of this new car it is set to find even more homes.
Ford claims the new Fiesta is stronger, safer and more comfortable, yet lighter and more fuel efficient than the car it replaces. An exceptionally rigid body structure means a robust crash protection, even before you include up to seven airbags available as part of new Fiesta’s Intelligent Protection System.
The all new Ford Fiesta wears the distinctive, bold Ford ‘face’ including the signature lower grille and large, centred Ford oval badge that characterises both the Verve Concept and other modern Ford vehicles. Its details make it stand out from the crowd such as the chrome and brightwork accents, sleek, wraparound headlamps, bold, pronounced wheel arch lips and a strong bodyside beltline create a dynamic look.
The car has a distinctive rear which has been formed by a sweeping roofline that finishes in a small spoiler, with dramatic, honeycomb tail lamps. Executive Director of Design, Martin Smith comments: “This is the most complete, expressive and exciting Fiesta Ford has ever produced, inside and out. To me, it is a car that evokes an instant emotional response – ‘I want one’ – before you even get near it.”
An all-new Fiesta Zetec S model will be available at launch, with a new, 120 PS 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine bringing performance to the heart of the Fiesta range.
At the same time, a new level of driving refinement echoes all-new Fiesta’s visual sophistication and is set to raise the standard for small cars for road, powertrain and wind noise isolation.
Ford’s commitment to driving quality will feature in all-new Fiestas, whether built in Cologne, Germany, Valencia, Spain, or Nanjing, China, but with each tuned to suit regional driving conditions and customer preferences, under Ford’s global engineering approach.
“We wanted to make sure that driving quality remains at the heart of all-new Fiesta – we had to ensure that the driving experience delivered on the promise made by its dynamic kinetic design”, says Dieter Schwarz, Vehicle Engineering Manager for global Fiesta development. “I am confident we have fulfilled that promise.”
The new Ford has Fiestas' Intelligent Protection System, offering up to seven airbags, including the first use of a driver’s knee-airbag in a small Ford car. This intense focus on safety extends to those outside the car, with an array of pedestrian protection features, from the shape and structure of all-new Fiestas' front bumper, bonnet and windscreen, to small details such as the shape of its headlamps and wiper blades.
The car has a Keyless entry, this is combined with a ‘Ford Power’ start button, which adds to the all-new Fiesta premium experience, with other ‘surprise and delight’ options available including automatic, projector headlamps, automatic windscreen wipers, Ford’s sophisticated Human Machine Interface with large 89 mm (3.5 inch) screen and cruise control.
The driving position is given a ‘cockpit’ feel, with improved position and adjustment to both the driver’s seat and steering wheel, while passengers receive more personal and luggage space overall than the previous Fiesta, despite the stylish, sweeping exterior profile. Stowage space abounds from a boot capable of swallowing 295 litres, to ingenious storage areas throughout the cabin, including charging points for mobile phones and MP3 players. A simple six-series range provides maximum choice from the affordable and well-equipped Studio and the popular Style and Style Plus, or the modern, techno style of Zetec, Zetec S and Titanium.
All-new Fiesta’s engine range comprises of four 16-valve Duratec petrol and two Duratorq TDCi diesel engine choices.
A key development is the new Fiesta ECOnetic, offering the impressive torque of the 1.6-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi engine with target CO2 emissions of just 99 grams per kilometre (g/km), achieved through careful engine calibration, lowered suspension and aerodynamic improvements and a no-maintenance, coated Diesel Particulate Filter (c-DPF). The sub-100g Fiesta ECOnetic joins the sub-140 g/km Ford Mondeo and sub-120 g/km Ford Focus ECOnetic models as Ford achieves its commitment to deliver a range of ultra-low CO2 models at the heart of its product portfolio.
Driving enthusiasts are not forgotten, thanks to an all-new, 120PS, 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, 1.6-litre engine in the previous Fiesta. The Fiesta Zetec S can accelerate from zero to 0-62 mph in 9.9 seconds, while still achieving a combined fuel economy of 47.9 mpg and CO2 emissions of 139 g/km.
Three other 16-valve Duratec petrol engines are offered for all-new Fiesta, in 1.25- and 1.4-litres and outputs from 60 PS to 96 PS, with an automatic transmission option available on the Duratec 1.4-litre.
An added feature on all-new Fiesta is Stall Prevention, designed to assist in low speed manoeuvres by altering the engine’s ignition profile to increase the amount of available torque and tuned for each individual powertrain.
Insurance premiums and repair costs are kept low by an intelligent approach to manufacturing. Bake-hardened steel on front wings offers better resistance to low-speed bumps and scrapes, while headlamps and tail lamps are positioned high, away from potential impacts and specially shaped ‘crash cans’ are designed as sacrificial parts, collapsing predictably in an impact to prevent more extensive damage and higher repair costs.
Simon McBride