Filed under: Frankfurt Auto Show, Spy Photos, Economy, Hatchbacks, Ford
Spy Shots: 2009 Ford Fiesta, now without tarps!
by Sam Abuelsamid on Aug 15th 2007 at 12:35PM 
The next generation Ford Fiesta mini-car has been caught on camera again, this time without tarps. The new B-Car inherits the "kinetic design" look of the latest Mondeo mated to the same platform that underpins the new Mazda2. Compared to the relatively upright and boxy look of the current Fiesta the new one looks far more modern and sleek. For the home market, a range of gas and diesel engines running from 1.3L to 1.8L will be available. Hopefully this design is the one we will see when the mini car comes to the US late next year, rather than the more upright one that has been spotted in and around Dearborn in recent months. That latter car is now reported to be a Brazilian market model. AutoExpress is reporting that the new Fiesta will debut next month in Frankfurt and go on sale in Europe in spring 2008.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
the marais 12:49PM (8/15/2007)
I can't wait to tell the Ford dealership when I turn in my Fusion lease in 2008 that I will not be leasing/purchasing another Ford product because Ford believes that Americans and Canadians are not entitled to its best global products -- that a 25-33 year-old with a real job needs to be driving a 10 year-old Focus, a dad-mobile (Taurus), or some kind of heavy CUV or pickup truck. Because I would obviously never be interested in a little micro car with a convertible option (Ka / Mazda 2), a fuel-efficient four-door hatch Honda Fit-killer (Fiesta), or a 25K refined and elegant Ford-branded-version of the Volvo S40 (Euro Focus).
I cant WAIT to tell them!
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Rambo 12:56PM (8/15/2007)
Ford believes most import-types won't pay a premium to buy a domestic car. Sure, I'd love to see top notch Ford products like the Mondeo, New Focus, New Fiesta, S Max... but I don't think they will sell to the masses.
We'll all see what happens in the next few years. Fords new CEO has promised a high quality global product line that will begin with the new Fiesta.
Reuben 12:58PM (8/15/2007)
This car is coming here marais, and it should look almost identical. So there's your little micro car
Robert 1:09PM (8/15/2007)
We are getting this car in 2009, about a year after Europe. Please check your facts before going all stupid on us.
You will probably also have a 2009 Fusion by the time you trade in that will be built on the CD3-2 platform with the new Mazda6. No, it's not EUCD, but it will be one hell of a car.
Nellydesign 1:12PM (8/15/2007)
Wow, you need to calm down. Does anyone read? These cars are coming. THIS CAR IS COMING. It takes time. You can't just throw a bunch of Euro Focuses on a boat and start selling them here. They don't meet the U.S. and Canada's (even more stringent) safety requirements. They also would BASE at around $25,000. That just won't fly here. People in Europe will pay more money for a Ford then people here. Period. It's not because Ford hates its American customers, it because there's NO BUSINESS CASE FOR BASE $25,000 FORD SMALL CAR.
If I hear one more person bitch about the Euro Focus not being here I swear I'm gonna snap.
Ford WILL be a global company that shares it's small cars across the pond but its not going to happen tomorrow.
the marais 1:25PM (8/15/2007)
Nellydesign, my lease is up in early 2008, about 8 months before 2009 models. There has been AMPLE time for Ford to get its operation in gear to cross-market global products. Case in point: Honda Fit / Toyota Yaris. When gas prices spiked, these global cars appeared here in a HEARTBEAT. Honda cannot produce the Fit fast enough to keep up with demand in NA. You do not see Toyota or Honda ever complaining, geez, you know how hard and expensive it is to engineer a car that meets European AND American standards?
When did the S40/Euro Focus/Mazda 3 come out? Hmmm... In 2004? Now, Ford is telling us, hey just wait until 2009/10 for our really exciting (and fuel-efficient) cars to come out? (Note, Ford Fusion hybrid not out until 2009!) Ford NA will have had no competitive sub-midsized car for at least five years by 2009. Simply put, Ford is slow and monolithic and cannot react fast enough to what the market wants. The Fusion had been in the pipeline for some time. It is a fantastic car and unbeatable value, but it will need at least five years of solid product to eat meaningfully into Camry / Accord territory.
Infinihertz 1:44PM (8/15/2007)
the marais, I think you mean "Note, Ford Fusion hybrid not out until 2008!" (not 2009). Ford has repeatedly said it'll be out next fall. Maybe you meant 2009MY, but it didn't seem like it. I agree with your frustration over how long things are taking (I'd love a Euro Focus but will likely be looking at a 2009MY Fusion or Mazda6), but at least it's happening.
As a side note, I think it's kind of stupid the way hybrids are working out. They probably won't save a ton of gas for me because I do a lot of highway driving, but if the hybrid Fusion comes with close to the current $3000 many hybrids get in tax credits, I'll be tempted to buy it because the base features will probably be better. I just hope it doesn't turn out like the 2008 Escape/Mariner hybrids - you can only buy them in pastel colors, because apparently no one would like a "bold" colored one.
Don 3:38PM (8/15/2007)
Nice post, Marais...but I honestly don't think Ford gives a damn.
Nellydesign 3:52PM (8/15/2007)
I will totally agree that Ford is in desperate need of small cars. And the Fiesta may be getting here too late. The time issue IMO is due to a historic lack of cooperation between Ford of Europe and Ford of North America. it's almost like they are two completely different companies sometimes. Toyota probably had the forsight to design their car for both markets in the first place.
One things for sure, Volvo and Mazda do not need to deal with as much in terms of costs that Ford has to, and therefore were able to bring their C1 platform cars to market and make a profit on them. As far as I know, that wasn't possible for Ford and all the wishing in the world won't change that.
So I guess you're right. Ford needs help and they will lose out on customers until they change the way things have been handled in the past.
dave 12:59PM (8/15/2007)
Now all they have to do is get rid of the Fiesta name...it's so cheap sounding.
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Steve 1:07PM (8/15/2007)
This car looks really exciting! Give it some good safety ratings and a nice interior and I'm in. It should be coming to the US right when I'm looking to buy my new car. Perfect!
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Hamud 1:12PM (8/15/2007)
It looks very similar to a 206 or even a 307 from Peugeot, it isn't a bad thing anyway.
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Greg A. 1:46PM (8/15/2007)
"For the home market, a range of gas and diesel engines running from 1.3L to 1.8L will be available."
Since when is the UK or Europe Ford's home market?
And to all of you who eagerly await this car's arrival here: Ford North America may be bringing over the same *platform* that is available in Japan and will soon be available in Europe, but they are designing (or have finished designing) a complete car around that platform. Don't count your chickens before they hatch; maybe they've managed to screw up the platform for this market.
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Compy386 3:02PM (8/15/2007)
Not true. Reports are that Ford will be releasing the same car in the US. The only differences will be minor (bumpers and such) to meet US regulations. Also since the vehicles are almost identical, Ford will be able to change it's engine offerings on a model year basis rather than complete rehaulling the vehicles.
Yaroukh 5:44PM (8/15/2007)
And what do you think is the home market for Fiesta and other Euro Fords? The (non-profitable) US?
Greg A. 6:52PM (8/15/2007)
Compy386: I hope you're right.
Yaroukh: Not to sound sarcastic, but that's the first time I've heard of a specific model from a major manufacturer having a different home market than the parent company. Plus, a Fiesta was once sold in the U.S.
Anyway, I was just criticizing Sam Abuelsamid's choice of the words "home market."
db25 2:03PM (8/15/2007)
Ford engineers are trying to figure out where they are going to put the ten cup holders required for the NA market. ;)
I like the car and hope it is available with a clean diesel. I wont hold my breath though.
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Calebe 2:08PM (8/15/2007)
First of all, you can not use European prices in a conversion to American dollars. It just doesnt work. Price a US build F-150 or Mustang in Europe, You will see what i mean. Second of all, On the Euro Focus, it uses the same chassis as a Mazda3. Mazda has no problem selling their version of this car for between 13-18 grand. The whole excuse that Ford couldnt build the Euro Focus here and sell it for reasonable dollars is total BS.
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justin 3:46PM (8/15/2007)
amen Calebe, many sheeple do not understand simple economics.
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Nellydesign 3:57PM (8/15/2007)
Yeah because in "Simple Economics" three different car companies with different operating costs can create the same car at the same cost and profit from it. Oh wait...
And I know they are all Ford owned, but that doesn't change the fact that they are run differently and have different cost structures. Just to name one difference, Mazda and Volvo do not have the overhead in terms of legacy and unions that Ford does.
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