The blue oval recently introduced a highly modified version of the Ford Fiesta that competed in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with rally aces Andreas Eriksson and Marcus Grönholm at a press launch in Colorado springs back on June 14. Neither driver was bashful about showing off what the lightweight all wheel drive Fiestas could do with their 800 HP turbocharged 2.0 Liter four cylinder engines.
Both the Finnish two time World Rally Champion Grönholm and the Swedish Eriksson then stepped out of their cars and took off their helmets to say a few words to the crowd, the conversation mainly focussed around the team’s tight 3 day training schedule. In a recent conversation with the Fiesta Brand Manager Sam de la Garza, he was most excited about the whole program came together so successfully in such a very short period of time. You can expect to see a pair of caged Fiesta’s competing in ESPN’s X-Games 15 a little later on this week.
The Ford Motor Company has decided to unveil a racing version of the compact Fiesta at one of the oldest automotive competitions in North America, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and created this short film in the spirit of the Ari Vatanen Classic "Climb Dance." The blue oval recruited a rally racing ringer, Marcus Gronholm for the nearly 13 mile, 156 turn course that ends at 14,110 feet above sea level. Although they were aiming to break into the record books the team was unsuccessful this time, but even still, it’s not a bad showing that the 800 HP 2.0 Liter turbocharged Duratec inline four cylinder engine powered Fiesta made it all the way up the hill on its first attempt.
Ford will be bringing the Fiesta Movement to the racetrack when a few of the European minded city cars are campaigned at X Games 15 at the end of this month. However the compact rally racer is slated to make its North American motor sport debut at the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado. The vehicle’s run up the hill is guaranteed to be more than just a shakedown run.
The Swedish Olsbergs Motor Sport Evolution (MSE) team has decided to prepare a pair of three door Ford Fiesta’s for the event that will be televised around the globe here in the U.S. on ABC and ESPN. It is fitting that they have chosen someone who speaks their language to get behind the wheel, Swedish driver Kenny Brack. The other driver has not yet been announced. All three Fiestas will compete in the Rally America Open Class. That should be no problem for the 1999 Indianapolis 500 winner who will be making his X Games debut. Brack retired from motor sports in 2006, but has decided to come back in a Ford Fiesta. Could we see the 17 year old rally phenom, Markus Eriksson sitting in the other car?
Recently TopSpeed had a chance to chat with the 2011 Ford Fiesta’s brand manager, Sam De La Garza. The 2011 Fiesta won’t appear in American showrooms until the Summer of 2010, but Ford is taking a very unique approach to building up interest in its new subcompact. In addition to the usual website that most manufacturers setup for future models, Ford is making a social media push in the hopes of getting the Fiesta noticed by prospective customers and also finding out what those customers like and dislike about the car. Click on through to find out more about the car, its features and where Ford sees the Fiesta fitting in the marketplace > More
Even if the Ford Fiesta hasn’t been properly introduced to the American market, the blue oval brand is planning on sending a few of its rally based machines to compete in the classic American test of man and machine, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Taking place in Colorado on July 19th, completing the Race to the Clouds is just as much of an accomplishment as setting a record around the Nurburgring, and just as difficult.
In order to reach the summit, drivers must negotiate 12.42 miles of winding mountain road, there is imminent danger awaiting just around each one of the course’s 156 turns and while rising the 4,721 feet to the peak, drivers will have to adapt to everything from paved highways surrounded by pines to loose gravel surrounded by nothing more than wide open blue Colorado skies.
The vehicles will be heavily modified rally cars based on the Fiesta hatchback, and will be powered by 2.0 Liter Duratec Ford four cylinder engines, capable of putting out over 800 HP each. Ford will bring Swedish Rally Champion Andreas Eriksson and World Rally legend Marcus Grönholm to try and conquer the mountain.
Yesterday we were pretty bummed out to report that the Focus RS was definitely not coming to the U.S. However, after seeing this video from Ford showing the rally version of their new Fiesta in action, things are going a little better. The rally inspired Fiesta is called the R2. Although there are no turbos under the hood of this sporty little subcompact, the naturally aspired, 2.0 Liter engine looks like more than enough to make a party out of the Fiesta.
Let’s just hope that Ford doesn’t decide to make it another one of those Europe only deals.
Didn’t become an agent for the Fiesta Movement? Fear not, you still have a chance to get behind the wheel of the new Ford Fiesta well before its official launch. Ford is aiming to log 100,000 test drives by the time the North American version of the Fiesta is revealed later this year.
The events are starting this month, so head on over to Fiesta Movement to find dates for your area.
Ford has launched a new special edition of their compact Fiesta model for the European market. The Ford Fiesta Sport will be available as a three door hatchback powered by either a 1.4 Liter or 1.6 Liter four cylinder engines producing 96 and 120 HP respectively. For the alternative fuel conscious the blue oval will also offer a 1.6 Liter TDCi turbo diesel making 90 HP.
The new Ford Fiesta Sport Edition is also modified with 16 inch alloy wheels, a lowered suspension, a leather wrapped steering wheel and complimentary shift knob and the addition of ESP, electronic stability program. But the upgrades don’t stop there; the exterior receives a unique grill, tinted headlamps, and a full aero kit. The aero package is made up of a lower front lip, side skirts and a rear apron with integrated diffuser. All this adds up to make one sporty factory tuned hot rod.
Cue the German pop music...The Ford Fiestas are coming. Ford is bringing it’s pint-sized hatch and sedan back to the U.S. after an almost 30 year absence. Since deadbeat dads stay away for less time then the Fiesta, Ford is holding a contest to spread the word about the little car with the German accent.
Ford will hand over the keys to 100 Fiestas for six months, including free gas and insurance, so that winners can help do their marketing for them. There still is time to go on the website and sign up to be one of the “agents of fun”.
Ford intends to bring the it’s new little Fiesta to the U.S. But some may think there is little to celebrate, considering the hottest version Zetec S has a 1.6-liter engine that only makes 118 hp. Ford may already be working on this because although it decided not to make an ST version of the little car, it is allowing tuner Mountune to upgrade the Fiesta on the European market with the manufacturer’s blessing.
Mountune brings an extra 20 hp to the party by adding a high-flow air induction system, a high performance exhaust (including high-flow catalyst and tubular manifold), and re-calibration of the engine. The 0 to 60 time goes from 9.9 seconds to a more respectable 7.9. The extra power does come at a decent price: £1,299 (about $1,800) before installation, but unlike some tuner parts, the warranty is not affected.
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