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Fuel-efficient Ford the U.S. needs now, still two years away
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After only two months on the European market, the Ford Fiesta is already giving its parent company to smile about.
A sporty subcompact that will pioneer Ford’s new global small car platform, the Fiesta was Europe’s second-best selling car in November with 42,200 units hitting the road. The Fiesta was bested only by its sibling the Ford Focus and according Ford, is attracting a much broader range of buyers. The newly reintroduced Fiesta also led the United Kingdom in sales, with a 6.2 percent of the overall market – its highest market share since 1998. Overall, Ford has now established itself as the number two brand in Europe. Volkswagen is number one.
Once a popular car that fell out of favor as American’s gravitated to bigger, more powerful vehicles, the new Fiesta represents a new direction for the world’s first mass production automaker. Since its introduction in 1976, the Fiesta has sold more than 12 million units worldwide. According to Ford, major improvements in build and material quality are a hallmark of the new Fiesta, accompanied by the Fiesta’s traditional strengths of practicality, value for money, agility and safety.
Despite its small stature, the Fiesta is big on style. The upper level “Titanium” and “Ghia” versions of the car are in high demand and like all Fiestas, offer amenities like Bluetooth capability, leather-wrapped steering wheels and privacy glass. The Fiesta’s design is also exemplary of the dichotomy between domestic automaker’s vehicle built for the U.S. and European markets.
On a recent trip to Europe, my wife and I rented a Ford C-Max , a European model which was sort of a mini-van-agon. The vehicle was solid, quiet, and although a diesel, emitted no visible exhaust, even under heavy acceleration. Overall, I was very impressed with the C-Max, but was struck by how un-Ford like the vehicle was – at least by U.S. standards. The European market is different, with standards set by tight handling, firm riding, and performance-oriented vehicles from Mercedes, BMW and Peugeot. The Fiesta follows this trend with sharp lines, sporty angles and contemporary interior.
Unfortunately, the U.S. market will have to wait for the Fiesta. Currently on sale in Europe and South Africa, it will go to China, Australia, New Zealand and other major Asian Pacific markets before going on sale in the U.S. in early 2010.
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Photos courtesy the torquereport.com; autoindiaforum.com
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