click above image for more spy shots
Brenda Priddy & Co. caught a Euro Fiesta mule filling up its gas tank in North Sweden, and the car can already be seen wearing a few cues inspired by the Verve Concept that debuted in Frankfurt. First and foremost is the large front grille that punctuates the cladding this mule is wearing. This car's beltline also sweeps up dramatically from front to back, and the rear taillights are mounted on the C/D-pillar just like the Verve's. Of course, we're interested in the European Fiesta because after it debuts over there next summer as a 2009 model, it will arrive in the U.S. virtually unchanged the following year as a 2010 model. Expect both three- and five-door hatchback models to be offered, which makes the loss of those model types in the larger Focus lineup a bit easier for us to swallow.
[Photos: Brenda Priddy & Co.]
Coming to the States: Ford Fiesta!
While the shiny Verve concept-car was one of the highlights at September's Frankfurt Motor Show, engineers and designers of Ford's Cologne-based development centre are currently busy putting the production-version Fiesta through its paces on the lonely and cold stretches of roadways in northern Sweden. But even the Fiesta needs to fuel up once in a while!
Our spies managed to get few new photos out in the open of what's to become the darling of the road (as the Europeans view it) when it hits European dealerships in the summer 2008 – and America roadways in 2009 (as a 2010 model). Although these pictures are of the European version – the 2010 U.S.-spec Fiesta will look nearly the same.
The newcomer was developed to be radically different – in design and handling – from Polo, Corsa and Clio, and Ford wants to give it a look and feel to attract younger buyers of the iPod-generation. Nonetheless, the Fiesta will come in 3- and 5-door guise and will feature a solid B-post and smaller wheels than the Verve concept.
The North American model will be built in Mexico.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rick Lyon @ Dec 15th 2007 12:39PM
To me, the rear sweeps up like the Mazda2, not the Verve, sense this and the Verve are based on the Mazda2. Just weird to see a Ford based Mazda2 and read how it takes design cues from a Ford concept modeled after a Mazda. Seems odd.
Dazza @ Dec 17th 2007 2:07AM
Actually both the latest Mazda 2 and the forthcoming sixth-generation Fiesta are based on Ford's B2xx platform - the Mazda version just happened to make production earlier.
huis @ Dec 15th 2007 12:49PM
Even if this does come to the US as a hatch, I would still hope to see a Focus hatch back here when the next gen Focus arrives in a few more years too. They'd be dumb to not do that.
fm @ Dec 15th 2007 1:06PM
I appriciate the huge watermarks on the pictures. Not like they're in the way at all. I see the hood just fine.
Apart from that the car looks good. Wish it'd get here sooner then 2010. Ford needs better cars imo and this atleast styling wise is a great start.
Sandeep @ Dec 15th 2007 5:17PM
Autoblog does have to protect their investments (they clearly bought these spy pics).
Nearly every mag does this- this was just slightly sloppy (and batch processed) so it ended up on top of the car :(
fm @ Dec 15th 2007 7:18PM
Yes I understood that. That's why I just mentioned it quickly and I'm not really holding it against them. I just want to point it out. Maybe I was sloppy in the way I went about it.
Well in the end the way it was overlayed did accomplish the goal :)
Now lets get back to the new Fiesta :)
Austin @ Dec 15th 2007 2:03PM
Looks great. Also the Focus will be back with hatches next time. The reason why they quit them is because it was to expensive to reenginer the back end with 2008 and Ford wanted to see how a coupe would match up without competion from its hatches.
Robert @ Dec 15th 2007 3:12PM
So, I don't think the 3-door is coming. The 5-door will be here as will a sedan (that debuted at Guongzhou). I haven't heard plans to bring the 3-door hatch.
The Mazda2 and this share a platform cooperatively developed by Mazda and Ford. However, there are some differences between the underpinnings we'll see on this car what the Mazda2 has. Most of this car is completely different from the 2 - from the sheetmetal to the interior to much of the driveline and suspension components. This is a Ford creation - not a Mazda - no matter how much you might hate to admit that Ford can build a good small car.
If the timeline that I last heard stays on course, Ford should have it here by late-spring of 2009. Although, I'm sure Ford will be more open about it at/around NAIAS when they launch the five-door "concept" here.
rwcmick @ Dec 15th 2007 4:00PM
Yeah, all I've heard about is the sedan and maybe the 5-door for the USA market. Nothing on the 3-door for us.
I'll just be happy if we get any hatches at all.
RicardoHead @ Dec 15th 2007 3:55PM
Seeing all that snow reminds me of why I left Europe.
Nice cars, crappy weather.
AlexP @ Dec 15th 2007 4:42PM
You left Europe because of the weather? Hah.
thedude3389 @ Dec 15th 2007 6:50PM
Ford Festiva..........2 worst words in the english language...............its nice, but not very "appetizing"...if they were to release it under another name (or even better, another brand), id prob buy it, other than that, no sale.
lovice @ Dec 15th 2007 7:02PM
it's been called fiesta since the 70's!
MemphisNET @ Dec 15th 2007 9:48PM
Finally a strong competitor. The Focus was great when it launched, but they let it sit on the counter too long. Not getting the current Euro-spec one here was a mistake, but at least Ford is trying to right it now.
SVT please? :D
stang fan @ Dec 15th 2007 11:24PM
As much as I really want another 3 door hatch, my guess is Ford will follow GM/Chevy and bring us the 5 door and the sedan. More original thinking/Bold Moves?
As far as the '08 Focus not having a 3 door or a 5 door due to engineering costs.......you gotta be kidding? What person would believe that lame excuse? Ford switched from the 3 door hatch to the 2 door coupe to boost sales numbers. That it can cut costs was the kicker. Ford figures that if Honda tried a 3 door and it didn't sell, but the Civic 2 door is a huge seller for Honda, then what's good for Honda is good for Ford.
Ford really needs to do what the Japanese carmakers do, or used to do. That is, get guys (and gals) that understand the market niche for a particular model, and keep them on that model as it matures. Ford's small car stategy has been reasonably good, to a point. In 1980 they introduced a nearly identical Escort in the U.S. and Europe. The big differences? The U.S. market Escort had mega doses of LTD added to it. They did the same when it came time to re-engineer the Focus in late '03.
I don't wish ill for Ford, but I believe the current Focus will be a sales "also-ran". Let's hope the Fiesta/Verve doesn't fall into the same trap.
Das Boese @ Dec 16th 2007 12:50AM
Heh, no need to worry. Being subcompact cars, all Fiestas are hatchbacks. There will be no sedan.
Luis @ Dec 16th 2007 2:36PM
Fiesta=party in spanish.This party was over last time this car was out.