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2011 Ford Fiesta Review

August 18, 2008

 TCC Team's avatar TCC Team
TCC Team

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This is the face of Ford’s future.

For months, we’ve been teased with images of the troubled automaker’s Verve concept. Now, however, we’re getting a look at what Ford’s new global small car really will look like.

The three-door, shown here, is one of at least three different Verve variants that will begin fanning out to markets around the world, starting next year. European buyers will be offered this and a five-door hatchback, while a four-door sedan version is being styled up forChina and the United States .

There’s also a strong possibility that U.S. buyers could get this three-door, Ford marketing czar Jim Farley tells TheCarConnection.com, based on the results of a series of consumer clinics.

The European introduction is scheduled for later this year, hence Fiesta’s much-heralded reveal at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. China will get its subcompact about a year later, but the American debut is being held back until 2010.

“We need 24 months to figure it out,” concedes Farley, who joined Ford, last year, after a long stint with Toyota . He admits that there is a “thermonuclear war” underway for the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of the young buyers who will make up Fiesta’s core market.

There are several reasons to pay particular attention to Fiesta. For one thing, it marks the beginning of a worldwide transformation at Ford, which will now rely heavily on its European design and engineering operations to help craft its future products. Fiesta will be the first of these global models, though plenty more are in the pipeline.

For buyers, what will matter more is that this won’t be the typical, bare bones subcompact. Ford promises that Fiesta will be a surprisingly lavish and well-equipped model – and for that you should expect to pay at least a modest premium over some of the segment’s truly entry-level offerings. (But, Farley stresses, Fiesta should still come in at a sticker price under that of the bigger Ford Focus.)

This is the face of Ford’s future. For months, we’ve been teased with images of the troubled automaker’s Verve concept. Now, however, we’re getting a look at what Ford’s new global small car really will look like. The three-door, shown here, is one of at least three different Verve variants that will begin fanning out to markets around the world, starting next year. European buyers will be offered this and a five-door hatchback, while a four-door sedan version is being styled up forChina and the United States . There’s also a strong possibility that U.S. buyers could get this three-door, Ford marketing czar Jim Farley tells TheCarConnection.com, based on the results of a series of consumer clinics. The European introduction is scheduled for later this year, hence Fiesta’s much-heralded reveal at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. China will get its subcompact about a year later, but the American debut is being held back until 2010. “We need 24 months to figure it out,” concedes Farley, who joined Ford, last year, after a long stint with Toyota . He admits that there is a “thermonuclear war” underway for the hearts, minds and pocketbooks of the young buyers who will make up Fiesta’s core market. There are several reasons to pay particular attention to Fiesta. For one thing, it marks the beginning of a worldwide transformation at Ford, which will now rely heavily on its European design and engineering operations to help craft its future products. Fiesta will be the first of these global models, though plenty more are in the pipeline. For buyers, what will matter more is that this won’t be the typical, bare bones subcompact. Ford promises that Fiesta will be a surprisingly lavish and well-equipped model – and for that you should expect to pay at least a modest premium over some of the segment’s truly entry-level offerings. (But, Farley stresses, Fiesta should still come in at a sticker price under that of the bigger Ford Focus.) This is the face of Ford’s future. For months, we’ve been teased with images of the troubled automaker’s Verve concept. Now, however, we’re getting a look at what Ford’s new global small car really will look like. The three-door, shown here, is one of at least three different Verve ...

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Comments (10 total)

  1. By mike schlicht #1, Posted: 9/22/2008

    usa

    why is a U.S. car co. not starting in the USA with it release. It was the U.S. that started ford co. and its the U.S. that should get it frist.

  2. By Rob Davies #2, Posted: 10/28/2008

    usa response

    There are a few possible reasons why the new Fiesta is being released in Europe first. 1. The previous models of Fiesta have a proven track record in Europe since the first generation was released in the 1970's and there is therefore less risk associated with launching the car here, where small cars are normal. In the USA, such a small Ford has never been successfully tested. 2. Manufacturing facilities in Europe are already set up for this class of vehicle, North American facilities will require investment in flexible production before such vehicles can be considered. Again, this is a new class of vehicle for the US (from Ford, anyway) public acceptance is not a given and volumes may need to be ramped up slowly. So much better if the facility can also make another vehicle while this goes on. 3. There are additional regulatory considerations in the North American markets which may make modifications to the (European) design necessary.

  3. By poland #3, Posted: 3/3/2009

    pawel ignasiak

    Ford Fiesta is projected and made by ford of europe, this is why we got it first ;)

  4. fb_578726561 avatar by Kelly Cytron #4, Posted: 6/22/2009

    Testing facebook

  5. fb_578726561 avatar by Kelly Cytron #5, Posted: 6/22/2009

    Wow - forgot all about the Fiesta.

  6. By FORDGUY #6, Posted: 6/22/2009

    LOL, the new fiesta for the Americas will be built in Mexico. Europe has had a fiesta for years but Ford is aligning their Global market so that there is not differing platforms between countries. Building in mexico so they don't have to pay tarrifs on the vehicles they sale to south america. If it was built is the USA they would have to pay export taxes to the countries in south america.

  7. By Richard Jordan #7, Posted: 7/21/2009

    I'm hoping the United States gets the cabrio version of this thing! I've only heard that the four door is the only one coming, but please Ford send the Cabrio over!

  8. By Bob L. #8, Posted: 7/22/2009

    The Fiesta hatch is looking a lot like a wagon, and perhaps they should call it a Sport Wagon, just to begin rehabilitating the wagon concept. Ford was largely responsible for promoting SUVs, the scourge of American highways, and it would be a public service to begin undoing the damage.
    Unfortunately, they made the Fiesta 57+ inches high, and pandered to the booster-seat, crossover crowd. Toyota's Camry and Corolla have been nudging upwards in height, to attract drivers with ego-issues seeking "commanding" views. (Their added height makes them look "chubby".) Other things being equal, for a given width, greater height increases drag and reduces highway fuel economy, so it's a good thing to stigmatize booster-seat vehicles like SUVs, crossovers, and their wannabe imitators.
    Since 1991, the earliest year for which kbb.com has records, the height of the VW Golf/Rabbit has grown 2.5in.(63.5mm), the Mazda 323/3 3.4in.(86.4mm), the Civic 4.9in.(124.5mm), the Corolla 5.3in.(134.6mm), and the Sentra 5.6in.(142.24mm). I wonder how much fuel has been wasted to pander to weak egos. Only a marginal amount, perhaps, but multiplied by the millions of these cars sold, not negligible, either. Of course, the situation is far worse with regard to pickup trucks, the smallest models having disappeared in the U.S. altogether, and the numbers of taller 4x4 pickups having increased, but the trend toward taller cars ought to be frowned upon.
    And then there's the obnoxious road behavior that booster-seat vehicles seem to evoke in their drivers. Their crankiness is likely a reaction against the guilt of taking their commanding views at others' expense. Likely, there's a marginal effect with regard to boosting smaller cars, too.
    Fortunately, SUVs are likely to die a well-deserved death, but we'll still be stuck with some lingering effects in virtue of the increased height of the rest of the fleet. So discourage CUVs and stigmatize booster-seat vehicles. Go sleek.

  9. By teldar #9, Posted: 8/12/2009

    Bob,
    You talk as if you're less than 6'0". I'm not. I have a midsize sedan and my head rubs the ceiling unless i lay back in the driver's seat. I would love to have one of these small and fuel efficient vehicles that actually *gasp* has enough height to accomodate me.
    And perhaps you didn't take into account that the height of the average american has been increasing, not just their weight, and that this may have something do to with increased car height as well.
    Just a thought.

  10. By Mike Prairie #10, Posted: 11/1/2009

    It appears that Ford is castrating any levels of testosterone from this vehicle. This Fiesta is lame. Ford doesn't get it! This vehicle needs a 175-205hp naturally aspirated engine as an inexpensive option with a tuned exhaust. A thousand dollar option not a $12k option; Ford. I just received the new Fiesta brochure from Ford and it reads like a teenage fashion accessory catalog. Ford needs to fire the metrosexuals in there Design concept department and hire real men or women like Danica who have some mojo.

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