Autoblog

Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta is so pimping, so sexy

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Videos, Hatchback, Ford

Ford Fiesta "You so Pimping, You so Sexy" ad by Film Riot - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Ford may have its own ad campaign for the Fiesta, but we're mildly amused by this one-off, three-minute-long ad created by the folks at Film Riot, an online how-to show about filmmaking. The Blue Oval currently sponsors the Film Riot crew, so it makes sense that the funky new Fiesta hatch (in Lime Squeeze, of course) would be the star of their ad spoof.

One part Swagger Wagon rap and one part Sprockets, the Euro-inspired dance track fits the Fiesta perfectly. Note to Ford: Edit this down to a 30-second television spot posthaste, or keep it in its entirety for next year's Super Bowl. Follow the jump to see Film Riot's ad for yourself.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta is so pimping, so sexy

Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta is so pimping, so sexy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tanner Foust wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video]

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Ford, Racing

RallyCar Rallycross at New Jersey Motorsports Park - Click above for high-res image gallery

Tanner Foust took the top spot in the first-ever Rallycross competition in the United States this past weekend, piloting an all-wheel-drive Rockstar Engergy/Etnies Ford Fiesta.

Rallycross has existed around the world for years, but the sport officially debuted in America at the 2010 X Games, where it was called Super Rally. Foust just happened to win gold in the inaugural X Games competition, too. Rallycross mixes circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition on a short course, featuring jumps, hills, unbanked turns and quick transitions between different road surfaces. Two more Rallycross events are scheduled to take place this year, all of which will be held at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Foust has been participating in European Rallycross events for quite some time, and he's also gained exposure by competing in Formula Drift and previous X Games competitions. What's more, Foust is one of the hosts for the U.S. version of Top Gear. Somebody get this guy a vacation.

Look for the next U.S. Rallycross event to take place on October 2-3 and follow the jump for the full release about Foust's win along with a brief video of Tanner ripping down the front straight with his rear bumper flapping in the wind.

Gallery: RallyCar Rallycross at New Jersey Motorsports Park

[Source: Tanner Foust]

Continue reading Tanner Foust wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video]

Tanner Foust wins first RallyCar Rallycross event in U.S. [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford offers $50 gift cards to customers facing late Fiesta deliveries

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

Due to circumstances reportedly beyond Ford's control, many customers are having to wait a bit longer to receive their new 2011 Fiesta sedans and hatchbacks. After Hurricane Alex and Tropical Storm Bonnie rolled through Northern Mexico earlier this summer, railroads were damaged that provide shipments to the factory where Ford builds the Fiesta.

Customers may have to wait up to two weeks longer than expected to receive the hot new subcompact, and as a token of appreciation for being patient, Ford will be giving these customers a $50 MasterCard gift card. That's a free tank of gas and a smattering of delicious coffee drinks... or a fancy dinner for two!

In speaking with Automotive News, Ford sales analyst George Pipas says that Ford has "about 6,500 to 7,000 [Fiestas] in transit to dealers" and that the cars should start to be fully stocked within the next couple of months. For now, customers will have to wait patiently and take solace in the extra $50 in their pockets when it finally comes time to take delivery.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Ford offers $50 gift cards to customers facing late Fiesta deliveries originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, Mazda

In case you missed it, we just published our First Drive of the brand-new Mazda2 today. If your attention spans is anything like ours, allow us to remind you that we've also driven the Ford Fiesta once or twice. Since both cars are built atop the same platform and will be competing for your hard-earned bucks in short order, the natural question is: Which one would you choose?

If you don't have time to read both of our drives, here's a quick glance at some of the more salient details:

	2011 Ford Fiesta	2011 Mazda2
Base Price	$13,995 (four-door sedan), $15,795 (hatchback)	$13,980 (hatchback)
Engine	120 horsepower, 112 pound-feet of torque	100 horsepower, 98 pound-feet of torque
Transmission	Five-speed manual, Six-speed dual-clutch auto	Five-speed manual, Four-speed auto
Base Weight	2,537 pounds	2,309 pounds
Efficiency	29/40 (auto), 28/37 (manual)	27/33 (auto), 29/35 (manual)

Naturally, there's more to the equation than the tale of the tape. For instance, if you're in the market for an automatic transmission, the six-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the Fiesta seems to be a much more attractive option than the old-school four-speed automatic in the Mazda. Also, the Fiesta can store more cargo and has more comfortable seats.

It would seem that the scales are tipping in the Blue Oval's favor. Consider too that the Fiesta is available as both a sedan and a hatchback while the Mazda2 is a hatchback only. Add in an available navigation system, leather interior, SYNC infotainment system and heated seats - none of which are available on the Mazda - and we've got a slam-dunk win for the Ford. Right?

Perhaps not. Our man Steven Ewing, the only member of the team to have driven both U.S.-spec models, tells us that the Mazda2 is notably more fun to drive than the Fiesta. Plus, he claims the 2 looks better in its specific shade of green, if that kind of thing is important to you. So, is the promise of an added dose of driving enjoyment worth the significant loss in comfort, convenience and economy? That's up to you to decide.

View Poll

Poll: Mazda2 versus Ford Fiesta originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2011 Ford Fiesta rated at 40 mpg highway

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 17 May 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

The EPA has finished calculating the fuel economy of the 2011 Fiesta and as Ford projected, its new baby has hit 40 miles per gallon. The official numbers from the Feds are 29 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway for Fiestas with the new six-speed dual-clutch Powershift gearbox. Those highway numbers top the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit by four and five mpg, respectively.

Fiestas with the base five-speed manual gearbox get a rating of 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. All North American Fiestas for now are equipped with a 120 horsepower, 1.6-liter inline four regardless of which gearbox is selected. The first batches of Fiestas should be on their way to dealers in the coming weeks now that production has started.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford Fiesta

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Ford Fiesta rated at 40 mpg highway

Officially Official: 2011 Ford Fiesta rated at 40 mpg highway originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Fiesta gets another early reveal

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Fiesta Movement, Ford's campaign to introduce the little global Fiesta car to the U.S. market, kicked off at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year and will end this week during the LA Auto Show with, what else, a party. Oh, and the official unveiling of the 2011 North American version. We got a sneak peek of the Fiesta earlier today that it now seems was incorrect, based on these new pictures found buried on Ford's website.

The U.S.-style three-bar grille is thankfully not present in these official pics, though the hatch and sedan do wear different grilles (we like the hatch's version better, for what it's worth). The rest of the car remains as good-looking as the Euro-spec version ever did, and the interior will be a big draw for this car - along with solid MPG numbers, of course. For those of you who hoped Ford would bring the Fiesta over from Europe pretty much intact, it appears your wishes have been granted. We'll have all the details from LA right soon.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta Sedan

[Source: Ford]

2011 Ford Fiesta gets another early reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta sedan caught in The D

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Ford

It shouldn't be entirely uncommon to run across a Ford Fiesta here in the United States now that the Blue Oval has handed the keys to a hundred of 'em to various "agents" all across the country as part of its Fiesta Movement program. What is unusual, though, is seeing a Fiesta sedan, but that's exactly what Domino Vitali, a spy shooter for our friends at WebRidesTV Blog, managed to snap a few shots of just north of the Motor City in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Though the Ford Fiesta Sedan is already available in China, the American version of the car will differ slightly to conform with U.S. regulations. We'll likely get revised fascias front and rear along with bumpers that offer a smidgen more protection in low-speed impacts. Fortunately for those of us who prefer the utmost in practicality, FoMoCo is also expected to send the hatchback (in both three- and five-door configurations) to America in addition to this new sedan when the Fiesta finally goes on sale as a 2011 model.

[Source: WebRidesTV Blog]

Spy Shots: Ford Fiesta sedan caught in The D originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fiesta snapped in the wild

Dan Roth — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click above to visit FoMoCoNews for more pics

For once, we don't have to stare at shots of an attractive compact Ford and wistfully complain that it won't be available here. The production Ford Fiesta hatch has been spotted in the wild, and with Ford's confirmation that we're getting the hatchback and sedan for 2010, the potential is there for this vehicle to be a common sight on U.S. roads. The Fiesta is a stylish domestic offering for a segment where the Fit beats all and the only domestic offering is the Aveo. A bigger choice of small cars is a good thing, and while the Fiesta's backlight looks a little pinched in a function-follows-form kind of way, it's still more handsome than the Yaris. Those hoping for a high performance SVT version should start making noise now. It wouldn't even have to be fast, just make it handle like the original Focus SVT and we'd be happy with that.

[Source: FoMoCoNews]

Ford Fiesta snapped in the wild originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What say you? Should Ford sell Fiesta hatchbacks in U.S.?

John Neff — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Ford

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford Fiesta hatchbacks

Though Ford has stated that it will only sell the new Fiesta in the U.S. as a sedan, the debut of two hatchback versions at the Geneva Motor Show this week, a three-door and a five-door model, apparently has the Blue Oval boys and girls reconsidering. Ford's new marketing chief Jim Farley told Automotive News that a decision about whether to sell the hatchbacks in the U.S. as well will come in 12 months. The company will be watching consumer reaction to the Verve hatchback concepts at second-tier U.S. auto shows this year to see if they resonate with young buyers (It may also show the production Fiesta hatchbacks in the U.S., as well). Hatchbacks have traditionally been a tough sell in the U.S., which is what prompted Ford's initial decision not to sell them here, as well as, we presume, the decision cancel the Focus three- and five-door hatchback models when that car was redesigned this past year.

Of course, we think the new Fiesta looks like a winner based on what we've seen this week in Geneva of the production models. But whether or not the hatchbacks will sell in the heartland of America depends more on what they will cost than anything else. And there's the rub. Since the Fiesta was designed to satisfy European tastes that demand quality small cars, they will likely be more expensive than the economy car fare we're used to in the U.S. Would you pay a few bills more for a Fiesta hatchback knowing it was a direct port from Europe? Our answer is yes.

Gallery: 2009 Ford Fiesta

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

What say you? Should Ford sell Fiesta hatchbacks in U.S.? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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