All New Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta one of Fords most popular cars, which over six generations has sold over 12 million vehicles, with UK sales last year of over 100,000. So it is with no surprise that the late 2008 launch of the all new model was of great significance to the car makers.
And it’s with a new-found confidence that Ford has launched the new Fiesta. Its ‘Kinetic Design’ styling has struck a chord with Brit buyers, and its products are built to a level of quality to rival the Germans.
Ford Fiesta means a lot to a lot... since the late 1978, how many of us learned to drive in one, bought a secondhand one for our first car, graduated to the rally derivative the famous XR2. The Fiesta sits comfortabley alongside that other hatchback icon the VW Golf.
Ford needed to pull something a bit special out of the bag if they were to ensure it stays ahead of the pack, and first immpressions of its sleek new body lines, it certainly cut it on the street.
The Fiesta is obviously based heavily on the Verve concept which has appeared at the important Europe’s motor shows over the past couple of years and follows Ford’s Kinetic Design ‘language’, bringing it in line with the stylish Ford Mondeo and recently facelifted Ford Focus. Ford’s research claims the Verve concept was the most photographed car at 2007’s Frankfurt motor show.
The new Ford Fiesta continues the Ford corporate look, with its signature lower grille, chrome accents and long, sweeping headlamps, though safety has been catered for with a pedestrian-protecting bar across the grille onto which the numberplate is mounted. The clamshell bonnet helps raise the bodywork away from the solid engine, protecting pedestrians further, while the shut lines at the front and headlights also help.
Turning from the front to the side lines, bulging wheelarches and a crease which stretches from the lower front grille, across the front wings, across the wheelarches and along to the back lights add distinction and an edgey look..
The sweeping windscreen and roofline run into a concave bootlid, framed by a pair of tall taillights. The new model is 3mm lower than the outgoing model; and car designers are adamant that 3mm makes a huge difference to the look of the car, and we agree.
Inside... built using the tactile materials and craftsmanship the Fiesta has the kind of flair most German manufacturers cannot match.
Ford say the centre console was inspired by a mobile phone, with a screen at the top which provides information on audio and climate controls, under which sit a circular arrangement of controls for the heating controls.
Ford has also dropped 40kgs from the car’s weight, and that’s despite adding an extra 10kgs in safety features and sound deadening, which means that even over rough surfaces, the inside remains as quiet as the very best in its class
The Fiesta sports a pair of wonderfully comfortable front seats, with plenty of head and legroom, Ford brag it has more front legroom than any other car in its class. The rear occupants are considered given plenty of space for an adult behind an average-sized driver.
A boot of 295-litres, which is the largest of any Fiesta, with Ford again claiming best in class storage the front doors, have ample space space to carry a 1.5-litre bottle or a road atlas. Although general space is good, there are few places to store mobile phones or sunglasses cases without them going on walk about at every corner..
Driver visibility is good, with slim windscreen pillars which leave clear views when pulling out of side roads..
The new Ford Fiesta is a superb driver’s car, with perfectly weighted steering, offering an excellent compromise between the lightness needed for tight urban manoeuvres and the weighty steering which helps offer feedback at speed.
Ford has also dropped 40kgs from the car’s weight, and that’s despite adding an extra 10kgs in safety features and sound deadening, which means that even over rough surfaces, the inside remains as quiet as the very best in its class.
A range of petrol engines are available including a 1.25 and 1.4 developing between 60 and 96PS, with the option of an automatic gearbox with the 1.4 after the car’s launch.
The diesel options comprise of a 68PS 1.4TDCi and a 90PS 1.6TDCi. The latter will also be available in a green guise when installed in the Ford Fiesta Econetic. An automatic version will be available with the 1.4-litre petrol engine early in 2009.
This model has the lowest CO2 emissions of any mass-produced car currently on sale in Britain, emitting just 98g/km. In fact, Ford claims the engines in the new Fiesta range could save a massive 11,000 tonnes of CO2 compared with the previous model.
Five star EuroNCAP rating is expected to follow as the Ford Fiesta hasn’t been put through the EuroNCAP crash test programme yet, but the company is certain of a full five star rating. Ford says the new Fiesta is 10 per cent stiffer than the previous car, and is loaded with safety kit. Up to seven airbags are available, including the first use of a driver’s knee ‘bag in a small car.
The Fiesta also packs in a whole host of ‘big car’ features. Electric mirrors are standard across the range, as is a CD player and central locking. Up from the entry-level Studio to the Style, which around 30% of buyers are expected to do, and the Fiesta packs body-coloured trim, electric windows and remote central locking. The Style + adds Ford’s clever Quickclear heated windscreen.
The most popular model in the range is predicted to be the Zetec, which comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, leather steering wheel, chrome bits and Ford’s aesthetic lighting, which is a strip of ambient lighting along the passenger side of the dash.
The Fiesta Zetec S, comes with 16-inch alloys, sports suspension and front and rear spoilers come as standard. The rear spoiler is big enough to please young, image-conscious drivers, but discreet enough not to be an eyesore, petrolheads though may be disappointed, no hot Fiesta ST is planned for the new model.
The range-topping Titanium adds climate control, tinted glass, cruise control, automatic headlamps, and power folding mirrors.
Other clever features available include a start button and a USB socket into which can be connected a cheap memory stick loaded with MP3 tracks. These can then be searched via the car’s standard audio controls from the steering wheel, and avoids the security issues of carrying an iPod in the car. Ford’s EasyFuel system is also fitted, which makes it impossible to fill up with the wrong fuel.
Fiesta running costs: The 1.25 Studio model with a 1E insurance rating - the lowest ever for a Fiesta, while used values are expected to be around eight per cent higher which should make the same model worth around £1,000 more after three years/36,000 miles.
Range price: £8.995 - £13,695
Insurance group range: 1E - 6E
Company car tax %: TBC
EuroNCAP result: TBC
We test the Fiesta in the world of the working woman
The Ford Fiesta one of Fords most popular cars, which over six generations has sold over 12 million vehicles, with UK sales last year of over 100,000. So it is with no surprise that the late 2008 launch of the all new model was of great significance to the car makers.
And it’s with a new-found confidence that Ford has launched the new Fiesta. Its ‘Kinetic Design’ styling has struck a chord with Brit buyers, and its products are built to a level of quality to rival the Germans.
Ford Fiesta means a lot to a lot... since the late 1978, how many of us learned to drive in one, bought a secondhand one for our first car, graduated to the rally derivative the famous XR2. The Fiesta sits comfortabley alongside that other hatchback icon the VW Golf.
Ford needed to pull something a bit special out of the bag if they were to ensure it stays ahead of the pack, and first immpressions of its sleek new body lines, it certainly cut it on the street.
The Fiesta is obviously based heavily on the Verve concept which has appeared at the important Europe’s motor shows over the past couple of years and follows Ford’s Kinetic Design ‘language’, bringing it in line with the stylish Ford Mondeo and recently facelifted Ford Focus. Ford’s research claims the Verve concept was the most photographed car at 2007’s Frankfurt motor show.
The new Ford Fiesta continues the Ford corporate look, with its signature lower grille, chrome accents and long, sweeping headlamps, though safety has been catered for with a pedestrian-protecting bar across the grille onto which the numberplate is mounted. The clamshell bonnet helps raise the bodywork away from the solid engine, protecting pedestrians further, while the shut lines at the front and headlights also help.
Turning from the front to the side lines, bulging wheelarches and a crease which stretches from the lower front grille, across the front wings, across the wheelarches and along to the back lights add distinction and an edgey look..
The sweeping windscreen and roofline run into a concave bootlid, framed by a pair of tall taillights. The new model is 3mm lower than the outgoing model; and car designers are adamant that 3mm makes a huge difference to the look of the car, and we agree.
Inside... built using the tactile materials and craftsmanship the Fiesta has the kind of flair most German manufacturers cannot match.
Ford say the centre console was inspired by a mobile phone, with a screen at the top which provides information on audio and climate controls, under which sit a circular arrangement of controls for the heating controls.
The Fiesta sports a pair of wonderfully comfortable front seats, with plenty of head and legroom, Ford brag it has more front legroom than any other car in its class. The rear occupants are considered given plenty of space for an adult behind an average-sized driver.
A boot of 295-litres, which is the largest of any Fiesta, with Ford again claiming best in class storage the front doors, have ample space space to carry a 1.5-litre bottle or a road atlas. Although general space is good, there are few places to store mobile phones or sunglasses cases without them going on walk about at every corner..
Driver visibility is good, with slim windscreen pillars which leave clear views when pulling out of side roads..
The new Ford Fiesta is a superb driver’s car, with perfectly weighted steering, offering an excellent compromise between the lightness needed for tight urban manoeuvres and the weighty steering which helps offer feedback at speed.
Ford has also dropped 40kgs from the car’s weight, and that’s despite adding an extra 10kgs in safety features and sound deadening, which means that even over rough surfaces, the inside remains as quiet as the very best in its class.
A range of petrol engines are available including a 1.25 and 1.4 developing between 60 and 96PS, with the option of an automatic gearbox with the 1.4 after the car’s launch.