Please spotlight the hatch… PLEASE

The hatchback will be there, and so will I. I will be doing a thorough comparison of the Euro and US spec cars and of course sharing it with you all here.

Nice. I’m curious to see the damage federalizing the Euro spec model caused. I hear it’s just so so. The conversion to US spec left a lot of “cool” on the table.

Let’s see if the make the interior with inferior electronics and materials. Ford likes doing that to the US models – especially at the price point this is at. Heck, VW does it for their models, or at least takes some of the nicer options off the table to lower costs.

Do we really need climate control in a Fiesta? No, but I’d like the option to have it.

When I saw the Verve concept I wasa actually pretty excited about this car… Not so much any more. I think Ford really mesed up on this car. I could be wrong, but from what I have seen in the spy shots, Ford pulled too far away from the Verve

By the time that Ford is done buggering Fiesta for the US market, Fiesta will be as exciting to drive as Ford Transit.

The MINI set the bar for a “premium” small car. It has succeeded because it is unique in its appearance and overtly sporty in its nature. From what we’ve been shown thus far this new Fiesta exhibits neither of those qualities. And no one is saying much about the pricing, but if it’s going to be in the showroom right next to the larger, more powerful Focus and have a higher sticker the “premium” had better be very tangible even to the uninitiated.

I think they’re going to end up with the same situation as Chevy has with the Malibu and the Impala, where the former may be everyone’s favorite son but the latter still outsells it.

I thought Mark would have written this article

It would be interesting to see the difference between the US and Euro versions of this car. Shame it’s taken so long to get this far!

the focus can die a swift death once the fiesta is introduced, imo…voila, no more within-market competition…

kingston- I think you will actually find the US Spec Fiesta more akin to the Verve than the Euro spec model in terms of looks.

howsmydriving- Ford actually already said in writing that they did not change ANY of the driving dynamics of the vehicle. The only change to suspension was to counter the very minimal change in weight due to federalization of the car.

johnnycanuck- The Fiesta has won more awards for design (Kinetic) than any car that I know of since its release, including the prestigious Red Dot award. You park a Fiesta next to a Fit, Yaris, or Versa and tell me the Fiesta doesn’t have a unique and sporty style- especially the headlamp housings.
As for the sporty nature, this car is incredibly sporty. I auto crossed the car and was blown away with how well it hung with “better” track cars. Another major auto news outlet tested the Fiesta on a slalom and found it ran faster than the SS Camaro with the ESC on.
Also, the Focus will be getting a price bump as the Euro Focus arrives as well, so the pricing won’t be a long-term issue.

I haven’t cared for Fords US styling in the part 10+ years, so a Euro design on our shores is welcomed. I saw a pre production model at the State Fair last month and it was a dream. We’re finally starting to see inspired car designs on productions that we can buy in our country.

Ford: Now it’s time for the Euro Focus, Mondeo and Kuga.

MarkKleis, thanks for the update. I sat in one of 100 Fiestas roaming US roads and actually was impressed, but I am easily impressed by European designed little cars. My impression was that A-pilar was very similar to next standing Fit.

Couple of questions, based on your answers to all of boy’s concerns. Since, car will gain some weight and suspension will be adjusted, how it will possibly not affect driving dynamics? With weight gain, will engine get extra tuning even from software? Lastly, what do you know (if you do) about actual mix of cars to dealers with manual vs. automatic transmissions, and what kind of automatic transmission Ford is planning on using? I am sure they have to have slush box to sell 50K cars in US, there aren’t that many drivers left to want or able to row by hand.

Borat- The weight difference I was told was less than 50 pounds, and it was more about where the weight was located. I also think it was either the front, or the rear that had incredibly minimal tuning, but I forget which. I do know though that the change was so small I can guarantee no one will notice.

The tuning of the engine I do not have specifics on, but I do know that European “at idle” emissions and US at idle emissions are different, so some minor tweaks are likely in order to address that.

I do not know the mix of automatics bs manuals being shipped to dealers since that is up to the dealerships to individually decide. They put in the orders for the options they think are best for their own dealership.

As for the automatic, this will hardly be a “slush box.” Ford is introducing a 6-speed, dual clutch, dry transmission with paddle shifters as well. From what I have heard, it is about 9% more efficient than the MANUAL in the current Focus, and lighter too!

Contrary to some of the doubts listed above, this car will be coming to US soil with even more features than the European market.

howsmydriving, i just drove a transit connect yesterday and it was miles better than my previous ride (e series). if ford can keep bringing these types of products to the american market then they will have a huge hit on their hands

this ford fiesta is going eat toyota’s for lunch.

This thing is taking longer to get to the market than the damned Camaro. It wont be here till next summer… 22 months after its release in Europe? I like it but what the hell. It won’t be anywhere near fresh any more by then. Man will land on Mars before this thing is released.

I’ll get a Mazda 2 instead.

Smegley, and chances are they’ll also have the Fiesta before we will.

Three 5-door hatches were traveling around here in Austin, TX. Smaller that it looks in photos…better looking in person, too.

One of the trio was a lime green model – looked identical to the one featured in the Top Gear segment racing the Corvette in a shopping mall.

Johnny, I’d LMAO if it were so true. Nevermind, I’ll laugh anyway.

Why? Pick up a Saturn Astra if you want a car like this.

GM. AN American Revolution

The Astra wont exist when this goes on sale.

Oh NMOFGM, you’re so funny!
Astra’s are/were made in Antwerp, BELGIUM!

Very excited about this car. I owned a MINI Cooper for awhile and want to see an American hot hatch with similar content — climate control, available leather, sport suspension, etc. I saw a Fiesta hatch in Australia this summer and loved the design. Trust Ford will not hang cladding and giant bumpers and such all over the US spec car to “make it look bigger,” etc. People loved the old, circa-1979 Fiesta because Ford didn’t do any of that stuff to it.