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Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - Frost__2001 - 04-26-2007

Next-gen Ford Fiesta subcompact set for N.A. in 2009; vehicle to mirror European model.
Source: Motortrend.com
By Paul Horrell
04-26-2007

Ford's next-generation Fiesta subcompact, due in late 2008 for Europe, is set to go on sale in North America a year later and will arrive essentially unchanged from the European model, according to Ford officials.

[Image: ford_fiesta_zetec_s_500.jpg]

The U.S. Fiesta project was confirmed by Ford prior to March's Geneva Motor Show. The struggling automaker's desperate need for a fuel-efficient subcompact (B-segment in Europe) clearly factored into the decision to bring the vehicle stateside.

Since Alan Mulally became Ford CEO, the ever-swinging 'world cars' pendulum has moved back toward selling some cars globally, rather than keeping the blue-oval model ranges separate in the U.S. and Europe.

Ford of Europe design chief Martin Smith explains. 'It used to be clear. I went to Detroit and gave a presentation about [the European design language] Kinetic Design. Peter Horbury [the U.S. design chief] gave one about Red, White and Bold [the U.S. language]. They were completely different.' But Smith says the demarcation is breaking down. Cars with one design theme will be sold in the other market.

The new Fiesta will look almost exactly the same in the U.S. as it will in Europe. It was signed off on before the decision was made to sell it here. Minor engineering changes, including a slightly longer nose, will be necessary to federalize the U.S. model, but it will be 'a kinetic-design car, absolutely,' says Smith.

So forget about Ford's sheer surfaces and rectangular three-bar chrome grille. Instead, the Fiesta will have a trapezoidal grille below the licence plate and pointy headlamps that run back to the front wheel arches. The vehicle will also feature pronounced wheel arches front and rear, an undercut crease beneath a strong side shoulder, a side-window graphic that kicks up strongly at the rear, and rounded rear glass.

Under the skin, the next-gen Fiesta uses the same vehicle architecture first seen on the new Mazda2, which was unveiled at Geneva and is scheduled mainly for the Japanese and European markets.

The package's main aim is light weight with strength, so as to be crash-safe yet return excellent fuel economy and decent performance from its 1.6-liter engine (likely the U.S.-spec block). So it uses a lot of high-strength steel in its structure. It will also be lighter than Ford's current Fiesta (pictured above), bucking industry trends.

While the Fiesta project was clearly directed from the top, one European executive told us not all the developments at Ford being done in response to Mulally requests are so certain. 'No-one wants to tell Mulally he's asking a stupid question,' he said. 'And people have interpreted lots of his "Why can't we...?" questions as assignments.' Our source believes once the dust settles there will be fewer new programs under Mulally than commentators - and indeed many insiders - currently believe.


Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - hardk0re - 04-26-2007

my next car :)


Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - oldeguy - 04-26-2007

Maybe there's hope for a 2nd Generation Focus from Europe coming here soon.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - habmann - 04-26-2007

Thats a nice looking car. And it'll be coming out right about the time i'll prolly be looking to get rid of the focus now.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - SL8RZZX3 - 04-27-2007

hardk0re,Apr 26 2007, 07:02 AM Wrote:my next car :)
[right][snapback]236366[/snapback][/right]

Werd

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - NOS2Go4Me - 04-27-2007

I smell a B-seg tuner car fest. Quick Steve, grab FiestaCanada.net :)

I think I'd love to mod the s*** out of one of those, too.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - NefCanuck - 04-27-2007

Well, if the Fiesta does make it over here, kiss any chance of a new Focus hatch adios, since I doubt that Ford NA would go to all the trouble to bring the Fiesta here and then turn around and bring a slightly larger car that would have the same bodystyles available.

NefCanuck

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - NOS2Go4Me - 04-27-2007

I guess I DO have one of the LAST hatch Foci then for the next 3-4 years at the very least. Based on the success of the Fiesta, they might NEVER bring it back. Which is a shame.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - oldeguy - 04-27-2007

When Ford had the Fiesta here before, it was a hatch, so was the Escort. Obviously, in the rest of the world, the Fiesta hatch and the Focus hatch are still being produced, and not affecting each others sales. I'm going to be the eternal optomist here and say that if they bring over the world Focus, it'll be available in a hatch. Car manufacturers tried to eliminate the Hatchback before, but customer demand has always been enough to bring them back.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - euro_zx5 - 04-27-2007

Damn... i'd love to get one of those! I loved how they looked in Austria, i'm sure i'd love how they look here in NA.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - scotiacustom - 04-27-2007

Wow it looks amazingly like... a ... focus. Lets hope the build quality is better then my 07 focus.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - 02SVTSEDAN - 04-27-2007

scotiacustom,Apr 26 2007, 05:27 PM Wrote:Wow it looks amazingly like... a ... focus.  Lets hope the build quality is better then my 07 focus.
[right][snapback]236429[/snapback][/right]


This car is ugly as s***! - Where's a stang when u need one. :rolleyes:


Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - meford4u - 04-27-2007

I hope we build that in Oakville. I doubt it, but here's to hoping.

And bring over the goddamn diesel engine.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - habmann - 04-27-2007

meford4u,Apr 26 2007, 06:46 PM Wrote:And bring over the goddamn diesel engine.
[right][snapback]236440[/snapback][/right]

Oh man that thing with a turbo diesel would be awesome.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - Frost__2001 - 04-27-2007

The Funny thing no one noticed in the Article was "(pictured above)" comment

[Image: ford_fiesta_zetec_s_500.jpg]

this Photo is the Current Fiesta, Motortrend dose not have the Fiesta concept's photo up, just the current Fiesta in red on their website, the Next Fiesta will look close to the all New Mazda 2 in certen design aspects, as K OS pointed out in his article a few months ago, it's a globally designed car, but no real photo's of it just yet.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - scotiacustom - 04-27-2007

02SVTSEDAN,Apr 26 2007, 07:48 PM Wrote:
scotiacustom,Apr 26 2007, 05:27 PM Wrote:Wow it looks amazingly like... a ... focus.  Lets hope the build quality is better then my 07 focus.
[right][snapback]236429[/snapback][/right]


This car is ugly as s***! - Where's a stang when u need one. :rolleyes:
[right][snapback]236434[/snapback][/right]

Might have to consider that as a my next car. Im only keeping this focus till 09.

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - NOS2Go4Me - 04-27-2007

I'm not sure about "build issues". I had one rear quarter window not seated perfectly. The bodyhouse fixed that in a hurry.

What kind of problems are you having, scotia? Better yet, PM me ;)

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - D-Dub - 04-27-2007

This is a small car, smaller then the yaris, so I wouldnt compare it to a focus.


Its a shame its so late though......


Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - dBlast - 04-27-2007

Frost__2001,Apr 26 2007, 06:54 PM Wrote:The Funny thing no one noticed in the Article was "(pictured above)" comment

[Image: ford_fiesta_zetec_s_500.jpg]

this Photo is the Current Fiesta, Motortrend dose not have the Fiesta concept's photo up, just the current Fiesta in red on their website, the Next Fiesta will look close to the all New Mazda 2 in certen design aspects, as K OS pointed out in his article a few months ago, it's a globally designed car, but no real photo's of it just yet.
[right][snapback]236443[/snapback][/right]

Here is a spy photo of a Mazda 2:

[Image: mazda2.jpg]

Ford Ups The Release Date Of The Fiesta, - oldeguy - 04-27-2007

I like the rims....
I would think it would be in the same group as the Yaris, Fit, Accent, etc. Sub compact. Do you think a turbo would fit?