Ford Introduces the All-New Fiesta

Ford introduced its all-new global small car, the Ford Fiesta, at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. The new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford's new global product development process. The Fiesta was designed to attract a whole new generation of small-car buyers, whether they are in Britain, Spain, China or California. The European arm of Ford's Global Product Development team led the design and development of the Fiesta, which will be sold in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas. Sales will begin in these regions between 2008 and 2010.

The Fiesta creates a new global standard for small-car quality, design and comfort in a vehicle that is both exciting to look at and exciting to drive. A small, fuel-efficient vehicle, it does not require customers to compromise quality, safety, style or features. For example, the Fiesta makes extensive use of ultra-high-strength steels to reduce weight and improve safety and fuel efficiency. The Fiesta will also feature the Intelligent Protection System of safety technologies that includes a driver's knee airbag and Electric-Power Assist Steering, which improves fuel efficiency. The vehicle will use a range of fuel-efficient engine options for different regional variants. In Europe, the Fiesta will use a new Duratec 1.6-liter Ti-VCT engine that provides 15 PS, a commonly used European measure of power, or 14.79 more horsepower, than the outgoing engine without boosting fuel usage. Later in 2008, Ford of Europe will also introduce a lower-CO2 version of the Fiesta as part of its ECOnetic lineup.

The Fiesta is the production version of the Verve concept, which received accolades for innovation and design at auto shows from Detroit to Guangzhou, China, to Frankfurt, Germany. It uses Ford of Europe's "kinetic design" language, which expresses energy in motion.

The Fiesta aims to take advantage of strong growth in small-car sales, which are projected to grow by up to 25 percent through 2012. It is also designed to appeal to "Millennials" or "Generation Y" – those born between 1980 and 1995 and the fastest-growing segment of the population – by using sophisticated technology and expressive design. For example, the Fiesta has premium interior features, including futuristic, mobile phone-inspired, human-machine interface technology on the instrument panel and center stack. It also has a convenient cap-less refueling system.

Based on its innovative design, no-compromise approach to the fuel-efficient small car, and leveraging of global corporate resources, the Fiesta was named the "most significant" new vehicle at the Geneva Auto Show by AutoWeek magazine.

The Fiesta will be introduced in Europe first, where production will begin in the autumn of 2008 at the Company's Cologne, Germany, plant. Later, as production ramps up, the Valencia Assembly Plant in Spain will bring additional Fiesta capacity on line in 2009. It will be introduced globally by 2010.