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“Welcome to Fiesta – the new Ford.
This
vehicle is very special to us in Ford of Europe and to our
customers. Over the past 32 years, Fiesta has consistently been at the
top of the list of Europe's best-selling cars.
Over 12
million Fiestas have found homes with customers over that time and the
Fiesta name continues to carry an overwhelmingly positive image in all
its markets, standing for style, efficiency, driving quality and value
for money. Our new model is set to continue this success story and carry
Fiesta forward to a new generation of car buyers.
But this
completely new model marks something of a departure for Ford of
Europe. In contrast to previous generations of Fiesta, this car has been
conceived and developed by the European arm of Ford's global product
development team to meet the demands and expectations of our customers
around the world.
It is also
the blueprint for future Ford global product development, bringing
together Europe, the Americas and Asia where it will be tailored for
each region and go on sale progressively between now and 2010.
I believe
this is the most dramatic Fiesta since the very first model and it is
the most complete and expressive interpretation yet of our kinetic
design philosophy, echoing both inside and out the major elements of the
exciting Verve Concept vehicles that inspired such a positive reaction
around the world.
Of course,
you would expect a new Ford to be great to drive and our engineers have
worked hard to ensure that new Fiesta will deliver excellent driving
quality. This is one of our core vehicle attributes, and one we have
developed and applied consistently throughout the Ford of Europe range.
One of the
development team’s greatest achievements is that it has been able to
make the new Fiesta stronger, safer and more comfortable, yet lighter
and more fuel efficient than the car it replaces. An exceptionally rigid
body structure means a robust crash protection, even before you include
up to seven airbags available as part of new Fiesta’s Intelligent
Protection System.
Increased
fuel efficiency and lower emissions are two qualities that our small car
customers are looking for on a daily basis and new Fiesta will not
disappoint. Chief amongst a range of efficiency improvements is the
extension of our acclaimed Ford ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 range, with a
new 1.6-litre ECOnetic Duratorq TDCi offering CO2 emissions of less than
100g/km, while each and every engine in the range has been revised and
enhanced for greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
We’re also
introducing an all-new 1.6-litre Ti-VCT engine and a Zetec S model for
driving enthusiasts, while a host of comfort and convenience features
you would normally expect to find on our much larger vehicles combine to
make new Fiesta truly a compelling choice.
We’re
immensely proud of the new Ford Fiesta, as the latest addition to Ford’s
increasingly successful line-up of new models for Europe, and as the
template for future generations of vehicles developed from the outset
for our customers around the world.”
John Fleming, President and CEO, Ford of Europe |