Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta sedan prototype spotted, seems to indicate design tweaks for U.S.
Right at this moment, 100 people selected by the Ford Motor Company are getting an early sneak peek at the 2011 Fiesta, but, as likable as they may be, the vehicles that are being used as demonstrators for the Fiesta Movement aren't U.S.-spec machines.As you might expect, the car on its way to America will be modified a bit to comply with U.S. federal safety standards. As such, most of the changes are likely to center around the very front and rear of the car, as evidenced by the most recent spy shots of the sedan form out testing with a couple of Ford engineers behind the wheel.
The U.S.-spec Ford Fiesta's front fascia is likely to wear a slightly enlarged grille opening and a weightier bumper. Similar changes will be made out back, with a more prominent rear bumper. Here's hoping that these alterations don't impact the car's attractive shape or laudable driving dynamics.
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Yaroukh 5:21PM (4/11/2009)
now we'll see how/whether has Ford learned its lesson
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Harley Cook 11:12PM (4/11/2009)
Doesn't Americanise something mean make it cheap?
Beastage 8:43AM (4/12/2009)
I will jump the wagon and say NO!
If they had, they wouldn't even bother with sedan version, waste of resources.
Sam 3:01PM (4/12/2009)
But whats the point. The Euro NCap tests are perfectly acceptable and most likely enough for America, is it just because you can't be seen as conforming?
Nellydesign 7:44PM (4/12/2009)
I love hatches as much as the next guy but you guys are deluding yourselves into thinking the rest of the country shares our love. Ford would have been stupid NOT to make a sedan version. Sedans consistently outsell hatches in the US. Americans love a trunk.
Taglane 5:31PM (4/11/2009)
My GAWD. This thing has more overhang than the Equus.
I'll take the hatch. Now that's a good looking car. Proportions are just correct, while the sedan is....fat.
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Jim in Tampa 6:09PM (4/11/2009)
I agree, Taglane. The hatch is very attractive and what I would look for in a small car!
Mini-sized sedans make no sense to me.
Lar 6:50PM (4/11/2009)
"Mini-sized sedans make no sense to me."
Me neither, Jim.
ken_aisin 8:22PM (4/11/2009)
Unfortunately, the North American market prefers sedans over hatchbacks.
PJ 4:40AM (4/12/2009)
Ken, do they?
I know it's conventional wisdom after years of it being true, but sales of cars like the xB, MINI, and Fit suggest otherwise. Does anyone have the sales breakdown of subcompacts offered in both body styles, such as the Aveo, Versa, or Rio? I suspect the figures wouldn't show a strong preference for the four-door.
Nellydesign 7:49PM (4/12/2009)
If there were sedan versions of the Xb, Mini and Fit, people here would buy them more than the hatch versions:)
izorro 5:35PM (4/11/2009)
Please look the same. Please look the same. Please look the same....*crosses figners*
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The Luigiian 5:37PM (4/11/2009)
I don't know what I thought regarding U.S. crash regs.
I looked at the Patriot sold in Europe with a much bigger bumper and thought their crash regs were tougher, specifically for pedestrian hits. Meanwhile the US Patriot has a more angled bumper. Is that really just for the styling?
:/
I'm not sure if I like the US design tweaks on the Fiesta. The Euro Fiesta looks really nice. Any design tweaks for the US market... well, they'd better be careful with the looks.
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Mazda FTW! 5:38PM (4/11/2009)
Uh-oh.
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Smegley 5:50PM (4/11/2009)
The euro-spec model looks so good as it is that this makes me nervous for the Fiesta. Ford managed to hose the appearance of the US Focus, but the new Fusion and the new Taurus look great so maybe there is hope.
The hatch is what is attractive though. The sedan is sedate and bland. If they must mess with one, I prefer it be the sedan - and leave the hatch looking sexy as is.
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George 5:56PM (4/11/2009)
Did anyone notice that the taillights are different? The passenger side taillight has a clear part that is red in the same area on the driver side's light. I noticed this on the Chinese spec too. My only thought is a fog light. Does anyone else know?
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John 6:23PM (4/11/2009)
Wow! good eye!
Can anyone attempt an explanation?
Markus 6:37PM (4/11/2009)
I don't know about the rest of Europe, but here in Germany a rear fog light is mandatory, and oftentimes the way it's implemented is using the same spot in the light cluster for the (white) reverse light on one side of the car and the fog light (red) on the other side, so guess it's the same here.
80's Japanese cars used to have a sorry little aftermarket-looking fog light added underneath the rear bumper and during the 90's many had equally ugly afterthought cut-outs in the rear bumper to hold that mandatory fog light ;).
James 4:01AM (4/12/2009)
As Markus says, it's not uncommon for Euro spec cars to have a red fog light on one side and a clear reverse light on the other. These could just be Euro model light clusters.
Bloke 8:53AM (4/13/2009)
George: "Did anyone notice that the taillights are different? The passenger side taillight has a clear part that is red in the same area on the driver side's light. I noticed this on the Chinese spec too. My only thought is a fog light. Does anyone else know?"
It's a rear fog light. UNECE regulations in Europe demand that the passenger vehicles are equipped with at least one rear fog light, which has to be fitted to the nearside (driver's side) of the vehicle. In LHD markets, the light is on the left side if only one rear fog is fitted.
If the fog light isn't mounted in the bumper, many manufacturers simply use assymetrical rear lights, with a rear fog on one side, and a reversing light on the other.