Cologne, 15 February, 2008 – Ford of Europe is reinventing its small car range for a new generation of customers in 2008, starting with the stylish and exciting all new Fiesta.

First details of the three-door model are released today, and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

 

Designed and developed in Europe for sale in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010, the new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process. Its stylish and dynamic flair combines with all the traditional Ford small car strengths to create a confident, contemporary introduction to the next chapter of the Fiesta success story.

 

The new Fiesta opens another chapter in the story of the popular Ford small car that has sold more than 12 million units since its introduction in 1976 (165,000 in Ireland). Charismatic and individual, the new model makes major strides in craftsmanship, quality of materials and product choice while continuing to represent Fiesta’s traditional strengths of practicality, value for money, agility and safety. It also brings a host of big-car features to the small-car segment for the first time.

 

"This new car embodies the very essence of Fiesta – fun, vitality and emotion,” said John Fleming, President and CEO, Ford of Europe. “We know there isn't a better name for the new model, and we have over thirty years of investment in the Fiesta brand to consider.

 

"We’re confident that the combination of a dynamic new Ford kinetic Design exterior, great interior design and craftsmanship, and a host of new technologies and features will provide compelling reasons for a new generation of customers around the world to take a fresh look at the Ford Fiesta. I know they will be both surprised and delighted with what they see and feel," Fleming added.

 

The new Ford Fiesta is closely related to the exciting Verve concept vehicle that was revealed to great acclaim at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Ford designers and product development engineers in Europe have led the vehicle's global development process.

 

The new vehicle range will introduce several Ford firsts for a small car, including – from later in 2008 – another model in the new Ford ECOnetic range promising CO2 emissions of fewer than 100 g/km.

 

New Fiesta retains its predecessor's compact size, but is lighter and stronger. It also has an enhanced Intelligent Protection System which includes a new driver's knee airbag. The vehicle also has detailed enhancements to the acclaimed driving character of Fiesta which include Electric Power Assisted Steering (E-PAS) and reduced road, wind and powertrain noise.

 

Unlike key competitors in the European small-car segment which have grown in size and weight, the new Fiesta stands on virtually the same footprint as before. In fact, the new-generation Fiesta is actually lighter than its predecessor.

 

The new Ford Fiesta brings the radical Verve Concept exterior and interior styling to production reality and incorporates features and technologies normally found in larger, more expensive vehicles. It rejects the notion that an affordable small car has to be basic or boring.

 

The highlight of the Verve Concept interior – the futuristic, mobile phone-inspired, human-machine interface technology of the instrument panel centre stack – will be a core feature of the new Ford Fiesta when it hits the road.

 

Gone is the flat, upright centre stack of the instrument panel, a feature typical of many small cars driven by the need to package a large radio head unit behind the fascia panel. New technology allows Fiesta to separate the key elements of audio system – the control buttons, display and underlying electronics – in a distributed architecture that gives designers more freedom to create aesthetically pleasing, functional shapes.

 

The new Fiesta will arrive in Ireland during the 4th Quarter in 2008.