Ford UK has put on sale starting today the new Fiesta Van. On sale from £9,025, the new Fiesta will be offered in three different versions: Fiesta Van, the new "Trend" and "SportVan".
Under the hood there is a choice of two engines: 1.25-litre 82PS Duratec 16 valve petrol unit and a frugal 1.4-litre 68PS Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel. The top-of-the-range 1.6-litre 90PS Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel is standard in the Fiesta SportVan. The closed-loop coated cDPF is optional on the 1.6-litre 90PS Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel on all series.
New Fiesta Van is equipped with the acclaimed Ford EasyFuel capless refuelling system which is clean and easy to use and also has a mis-fuel inhibitor that prevents the wrong fuel filler nozzle being inserted. This feature is a major benefit to commercial customers, particularly for mixed fleets and vehicles that are used by multiple drivers.
With the new Fiesta proving to be a real success in every market around the world, except for the U.S., you would have expected to see a hotter version on the streets. But no, Ford decided to delay its launch and if times don’t get better, we will never see a ST version based on the current generation Fiesta.
"Now is not the right time for a Fiesta ST. We may have a better opportunity to make the ST later on in the car’s life, when Ford’s direct-injection petrol engines are ready and the range would benefit more from the extra interest surrounding such a car. But not until 2012 at the earliest.
For all the Fiesta fans outside of the U.S. the factory modified ST version of the Fiesta was supposed to deliver 37 HP more than a regular version and give the small economy car a top speed of 130 mph.
Ford presented the new Fiesta Sedan, a model that will be offered across Asia and North America from 2010. It will not be offered in Europe.
The dynamic all-new Fiesta sedan features Ford’s signature kinetic design elements – introduced to China first on the exciting Fiesta five-door hatchback at Auto China in Beijing in April – demonstrating the versatility of this unique design language and its consumer appeal in important global markets.
The Fiesta sedan will be manufactured in China using the same advanced technologies as does its European counterpart. The body structure is manufactured with extensive use of high- and ultra high-strength steels to significantly increase strength and rigidity, while also reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency. These advanced steels also provide Fiesta with an increased measure of occupant protection.
Ford unveiled at the 2008 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover the new Fiesta Van, a model based on the all-new Ford Fiesta car which is being launched in Europe from autumn 2008. The Van version will go on sale from early 2009.
The new Fiesta Van is available with a well balanced choice of engines to offering commercial customers excellent fuel economy and low cost of ownership.
Engines available include the 1.25-litre Duratec 16V petrol unit (82 PS/60 kW), a frugal 1.4-litre Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel (68 PS/50 kW), and a top-of the-range 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi (90 PS/66kW) turbo diesel with standard closed-loop coated DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter).
First the good news – as if in response to every American car owner’s prayers, Ford has developed a car that does an incredible 65mpg. Not only that. The 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic comes with all the bells and whistles to truly make the average driver’s day: a lighter chassis; curtain-, in addition to driver- and passenger- airbags; ‘Ford Power’ push-to-start ignition; and a navigation system, to name a few.
Slated for release in a couple of months, the car would most likely be item number one on everyone’s Christmas wish list.
But now the bad news- the 2009 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic will only be available for the European market. This came as a surprise since the car has the potential to compete in the small-to-mid-size market mostly dominated by Toyota and Honda. "We know it’s an awesome vehicle, but there are business reasons why we can’t sell it in the U.S." Ford America President Mark Fields said. The main one: The Fiesta ECOnetic runs on diesel.
For several decades, American motorists saw diesel as an industrial-grade fuel, used mainly for factories, heavy equipment and farm machinery. But now the latest diesel vehicles manufactured by companies like Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen come with pollution-fighting technology and are as clean as or even cleaner than their gasoline counterparts. Tests have also shown them to be more fuel efficient. These innovations have ensured the marketability of these cars in other parts of the world.
However, it is a different story with the American auto industry where less than ten percent of cars use diesel. Diesel costs 40 cents to $1 more per gallon compared to gasoline. This is attributed to higher taxes imposed on commercial trucks. Generally, motorists see diesel as old school; more so with the advent of hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius.
But this has not stopped other automakers that see the potential of diesel-powered vehicles eventually flooding the U.S. market. Nissan and Honda, for example, plan to introduce new diesel models in America within a couple of years.
And although the Fiesta ECOnetic fares as a very good contender in its market segment, Ford stands firm on its decision of abstinence. The company further explains that, because the engines being built in Britain, high labor costs would make importation unfeasible. For the U.S. market though, Ford plans to make a gas-powered version of the Fiesta in its plant in Mexico. Would it consider manufacturing diesel engines there, as well? The logistics of such a venture do not sit well with company officials. A new plant would have to be built and it would have to produce at least 350,000 engines a year for the project to become profitable. The bottom line according to Fields, “We just don’t think North and South America would buy that many diesel cars.”
Now that we’ve brought you pics and info about the 2009 Ford Fiesta, here’s a full look at the car out driving. This little car will be out in the U.K. by the end of this year, but it should also be in the U.S. by 2010 as part of Ford’s plan to sell it’s smaller, fuel-efficient European cars here.
Ford revealed at the British Motor Show the new 76.3mpg Fiesta ECOnetic – Britain’s greenest family car with CO2 emissions of 98g/km. The car will go on sale at the end of the year at a price of £11,845 for the three-door version and £12,445 for the five-door version.
The Fiesta ECOnetic becomes the most fuel efficient new five-seater family car in the UK. With CO2 emissions at under 100g/km, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is zero rated both for road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and for the ’showroom tax’ element of VED introduced for the first year of ownership in this year’s Budget.
The car features: aerodynamic rear air deflectors, lowered suspension, optimised rolling resistance tyres (175/65R14) and low friction oil, green shift indicator light, modified engine calibration, transmission final drive ratio changed from 3.37 to 3.05.
The Fiesta is already a very successful model on the European market, and with the launch of a convertible version Ford will give a lot of head aches to models like Peugeot 206 CC.
According to Auto Express a Fiesta convertible will be launched in 18 months’ time and will take inspiration from the Fiat 500 Cabriolet.
The open-top version of the fiesta will have a fabric roof that will help keep weight gain to a minimum and mean performance, emissions and economy aren’t hampered.
The Fiesta Convertible will keep the current model’s engine line-up. More details will follow. Stay tuned!
Although the new generation of the Ford Fiesta was recenltly launched, the American manufacturer hurried and unveiled the Zetec S edition of the small vehicle. Being powered by a 1.6 liter engine capable of developing 120 hp the new car hits 100 km/h in just 9.9 seconds which is a good improvement if we consider that the current version of the Fiesta sprinted to 100 km/h in 10.7 seconds.
Also an improvement comparing to the old version is the fuel economy: the new Fiesta achieves a fuel economy of just 5.9 liters/100 km while the old version had a fuel economy of 6.5 liters/100 km.
The Ford Fiesta Zetec S includes a new bodykit consisting in a front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a re-designed roof spoiler and new alloy wheels. Also the interior the dashboard includes new aluminium accessories, while the steering wheel, gear level and handbrake received new leather trim.
The appeal of the exciting Ford Fiesta line-up continues to expand with the debut of a new sporty, feature-packed special edition – the Zetec S Red. Just 400 new Zetec S Red special editions, representing 10 per cent of all Zetec S models, will be available, priced at £13,000.
The "Red" edition follows the success of the popular radian yellow "Anniversary" and lime green "Celebration" models which sold out within weeks of their launch last year. Ford Fiesta has been in the top three best-selling vehicles in Britain every month this year with 42,895 models sold up to the end of May - almost 20 per cent of the British small car market.
With the zesty yet thrifty1.6-litre, 100PS petrol engine, Zetec S Red features Colorado red paintwork with chequered flag roof decal. Dark privacy glass on the rear windows and panther black features: door mirrors, door handles, bodyside mouldings, roof spoiler and tailgate handle, all add to the stylish look. Also standard are Quickclear® heated front windscreen, ebony leather seats, 16in alloy wheels, air conditioning and heated electrically-operated door mirrors.
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