Switzerland: Ford Fiesta world premiere at Geneva motor show
Friday, February 15, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
Ford says the first production variant of its Verve concepts will be badged 'Fiesta' when it has its world premiere at the Geneva motor show on 4 March. The name will be used globally, the company adds, with versions due for launch in Asia and North America between 2008 and 2010. The first versions will be built in Europe from Q4, 2008.
The Demio (Mazda2) introduced the forthcoming Fiesta's Ford B2E architecture when it was launched in Japan in May 2007. Nevertheless, Ford says its new small car was designed and developed in Europe.
The Fiesta will be introduced to markets in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010 and is the first major product of Ford's new global product development process, the OEM notes.
The model name has been used in Europe and elsewhere for more than 30 years, with the OEM noting that the badge was also used in the US from 1978 to 1980. In the latter market, the model will give Ford a rival for the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit - a sector in which it does not currently compete.
The look for this global family of small cars was previewed in three Ford Verve Concept cars which made their debuts at the Frankfurt motor show in September 2007, the Guangzhou show two months later and more recently, at the North American International Auto Show in January.
In Europe, the car will go on sale in the autumn in three- and five-door hatchback forms while Ford's statement notes that "by 2010, the new Fiesta will be on sale in markets across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America in a variety of regionally tailored models derived from a common platform."
Starting in the early 1970s, the Fiesta project, eventually launched in Europe in 1976, became a personal mission of the company's then chairman, Henry Ford II. An enthusiast of small cars, Ford became personally involved in every step of the long process that led to the grand opening of the new automotive assembly plant in Almusafes, Valencia, with the attendance of the newly crowned King of Spain, Juan Carlos.
In Europe, the new Fiesta will be built at the Valencia manufacturing facility beginning in early 2009 alongside the Cologne manufacturing plant, which starts production in autumn 2008.
A production announcement for the Ford Fiesta in Asia will be made in April at the Beijing motor show. A North America announcement will come "at a later date".
The only images issued thus far are for the three-door bodystyle, with a top-spec variant featured. There is as yet no news on powertrains, with only a brief statement of "fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines" issued.
As the announcement of the new model has been made by Ford Motor Company, the measurements for the car are listed according to the system used in the US. Exact metric conversions will follow once these are released by Ford of Europe.
- Overall length: 145.35 in.
- Wheelbase: 97.99 in.
- Overall width: 65.12 in.
- Overall height at curb: 54.33 in.
- Front track width: 58.03 in.
- Rear track width: 57.32 in.
- Front overhang: 32.05 in.
- Rear overhang: 57.32 in.
- Front headroom: 37.8 in.
- Rear headroom: 35.83 in.
- Front legroom: 42.09 in.
- Rear legroom: 32.76 in.
Published on Friday, February 15, 2008
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