New Ford Fiesta Spotted in the Wild
Ford's developing their new compact car, the Fiesta, all over the world. America will be getting a sedan version (huzzah!) and, hopefully, at a later date, a hatchback or two. While ours is still covered in camo in test, the European hatch version is already out in the wild. And even in a hideous color, I think it looks great. Keep in mind that we're talking about a B-segment compact car here, While the European market for this car category is as crowded as Camden Lock on a sunny Sunday afternoon, stateside, the Mexican-built Fiesta will go head-to-CAFE against the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Chevy Aveo and [sort of] Nissan Versa in the US. Even from a distance, the new Fiesta looks set to be the new class-leader (a Flexible Flyer would beat the crap out of the Aveo ). With Honda Fit sales up over 50 percent and even the not-so-wonderful Focus up 30+ percent, Ford's new Fiesta can't fail– or appear in the U.S. soon enough.
Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.
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I bet Ford will launch it with a 1.6 engine, because a 1.0 or 1.2 or 1.4 lt like the ones used in Europe would be considered "punny" by the Americans. Maybe it will be the Zetec Rocam (brazilian) used down here. It has between 90-100 HP. But you will not get for sure the diesel engines. Tons of torque, excellent fuel economy. As someone pointed before, european cars are expensive... and to sell them in a price people would buy in the US, they would have to be decontented... I in this case, would say stripped.
@Stingray: As someone pointed before, european cars are expensive… and to sell them in a price people would buy in the US, they would have to be decontented… I in this case, would say stripped. Ford could always consider retooling one of their less then profitable factories in the US and making Fiesta here. The original Focus hatchback (3-door) was also just about perfect size and utility. I saw lots of them around here. The new one, the nondescript sedan? Barely one a day. Maybe. BTW, I drove that early model Euro Focus with 1.4l, 5 sp, through the Alps and back in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Did not need one more whiff of power. It was just fine the way it was.
Retooling takes time and is expensive. And don't forget that USA manpower is more expensive than Mexico's or Brazil for example. And they have to make a profit, and small cars have a smaller margin than big cars or trucks. To this point adds the fact that less expensive labor means bigger/better profits. Also, I'm pretty much sure the car will be sold also in Mexico, and costs have to be compatible with that market too. Bigger volumes, better scale, better economics.
I'll take a Fiesta hatchback with the smallest Duratorq engine available, which it looks like is the 1.4. I'd also like it to be factory equipped with 3 pedals. What's that, you're not going to sell a diesel powered Fiesta hatchback in North America? Well then, screw you too Ford. It looks like a nice car, but they could at least offer a gas powered hatchback, if nothing else.