Click the image above for high res images of the new Ford Fiesta
When it comes to the 2010 Fiesta, Ford has promised the buying public the moon and stars, with great fuel economy, expensive-looking sheet metal, quality interiors, and a rewarding driving experience. That formula is already a smash hit overseas, where customers are willing to pay a premium for a quality small car. Here in the States, however, we pay for our cars by the pound, and word on the street is that Ford will comply with a starting price under $15,000.
A lot of amenities that make a car exciting for the next generation of car buyers puts a dent in the MSRP, but Ford is working with suppliers to create great looking, high-quality materials that don't break the bank. The Blue Oval will also likely offer a full range of options that can push the price-point over $20,000 for those of us with a bigger budget and a strong desire to achieve 40 mpg on the highway.
Right now the B-segment isn't exactly bursting with great products, and only the sporty Honda Fit and more expensive Mini have stood out in the crowd. The Fiesta will surely add some soul to the competition, but even at a mere $15,000, it'll be priced at top of the segment. If Ford can deliver on everything it has been promising, however, we're sure there will be more than just 16-29 year-olds that will be more than happy to pay $15k and more.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
John P. @ May 21st 2008 10:08AM
I'll definitely be putting that on my list of cars to test drive for my next purchase, if it can give 40+mpg and look like that, it'll be a winner for ford. They sure could use one.
naggs @ May 21st 2008 11:02AM
i think 40+ is a little optimistic. maybe high 30s on the freeway, mid 30s average depending on your freeway/city mix and how you drive it.
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 21st 2008 12:30PM
I figure it to pull in alongside the Cobalt XFE, just a hair higher. It could do better due to being smaller, but the slightly higher wind profile will knock it back like it does the Fit.
pacman @ May 21st 2008 10:15AM
Please dont ugly it up Ford! This will be a big hit for Ford if it comes just like that, gets good MPG and costs less than 15k! Now just translate that design to the other NA models and Ford could be on to something.
Jared @ May 21st 2008 10:16AM
That's my big worry -- that Ford NA will insist on putting the chrome-razor grill on it and thus destroy its lovely styling.
Tagg @ May 21st 2008 12:49PM
They have pretty much said that it will look just like the NA Verve concept. That concept look very much like the one on the picture minus the gapeing lower grille and a little large upper grille.
Mullaly has said Ford will have a more unified global look and this is the first NA vehicle to see this. The next Taurus will look very similar to the Euro Mondeo but will still be a large family sedan. So I think they get it now.
Dave @ May 22nd 2008 8:58AM
At $15,000, it had better be a loaded model otherwise it should start around $11-12,000.
Not to many attractive cars in the sub-compact class and this looks descent.
Jared @ May 21st 2008 10:15AM
I'll pay that much, but it has to get well over 40 mpg. If not, then no sale.
pacman @ May 21st 2008 10:24AM
your critera for a car purchse does not leave you many options. Well over 40mpg is a small club of autos right now, I can think of only a few...Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and CNG. Your measuring stick is pretty high for the little Ford.
Jared @ May 21st 2008 10:39AM
Pacman: agreed. But unless I can get 40 mpg+, then the economics just don't work for me.
If Ford can get bring it in with EPA 40 mpg combined and a sticker in the 15-18k range, then it will greatly undercut the Prius and HCH and will sell like gangbusters.
naggs @ May 21st 2008 11:04AM
not gonna happen
just curious, if you need at least 40 mpg for "the economics" to work out for you, what do you drive now?
chrisdavis @ May 21st 2008 11:45AM
If you want the economics to work out, you could buy a used Versa right now. The difference in sales price will keep you in gas for years.
why not the LS2LS7? @ May 21st 2008 12:35PM
40mpg combined?
The Diesel Jetta does about 34mpg combined and you want this car to do 40?
I think you aren't even familiar with combined scale for current cars. I believe if this did 40mpg combined, it'd be the 3rd most fuel-efficient car on the US market of any kind. It'd be higher than anything but the Prius and Civic hybrid.
Jared @ May 21st 2008 1:04PM
The Jetta is an overweight pig of a car, almost 3300 pounds. It is also a C-class car. The Fiesta is a B-class car, quite a bit smaller.
Avinash machado @ May 21st 2008 10:17AM
So will it be called the Verve or Fiesta? I hope they retain the Fiesta name.
Disgruntled Goat @ May 21st 2008 12:21PM
NO!
To your average Joe, Fiesta means cheap POS. The last thing Ford should do is saddle a great car with a nameplate with that kind of baggage.
John @ May 21st 2008 10:18AM
Considering how well liked this car is across the pond, then if it returns a real world 39+mpg and is still got enough pep to get out of its own way, I'd gladly consider it. Again, FORD if you're reading any of these comments, DO NOT PUT YOUR UGLY ASS NORTH AMERICAN GRILL ON THIS CAR! I guarantee they'd sell twice the number of Focus' if they were on the Euro platform and with out that damned grill.
chrisdavis @ May 21st 2008 11:45AM
If Ford were to read this for marketing reasons they might want to ask you to explain their booming Focus sales in spite of its ugly looks and meager performance. Maybe your take is that it only has two bars on the grille and if it had zero it would sell even more. But then with your guarantee, what have they got to lose.
John @ May 21st 2008 11:51AM
I'm asking them to not try and maintain their current "design Language" because the european cars look and perform so much better than the watered down crap that we get. The big selling point for the Focus here is that its a 4 wheeled MP3 player and it gets 35mpg. Great, so its a moderately fuel efficient stereo...wow. Have you looked at the euro focus and mondeo's? They look great! They drive great! Whats so hard about bringing them over here like that? They can't say retooling. They make right and left hand drives of everything, so its the usual, US guages and what not. Nothing too wierd. That and why don't we have a Focus Hatch anymore?
Landy @ May 21st 2008 12:00PM
Ford monitors autoblog.com daily!
Lot's of Ford related autoblog posts are mentioned in the internal "clip sheets" from Ford!