Ford’s hot-selling Fiesta – sold in all areas of the globe – can now add “world traveler” to its growing list of firsts, following more than 15,000 miles of travels in just over two months to about every continent on the planet.
- Teams of drivers in all-new Ford Fiestas have wrapped up Fiesta World Tour 2010, traveling more than 15,000 miles from Hollywood to Sydney, the long way
- Highlights include having Fiestas washed by an elephant in Malaysia, participants getting to put their driving skills to the test at the Formula One track in Abu Dhabi, and spending time with aboriginal artists in the Australian outback
- Over two months, Fiesta World Tour 2010 made stops in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia before ending up in Australia
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 20, 2010 – Ford’s hot-selling Fiesta – sold in all areas of the globe – can now add “world traveler” to its growing list of firsts, covering a total of 15,210 miles of travels in just over two months.
“The culmination of Fiesta World Tour shows just what a worldwide wonder this car is,” said Sam De La Garza, Fiesta brand manager. “People raved about Fiesta everywhere it went, and it was a perfect fit for the outrageous adventures that were experienced along the way.”
Fiesta World Tour 2010 was a road trip like no other, and was created to celebrate the global nature of one of Ford’s most fun-to-drive vehicles while traveling around the globe and enjoying all it has to offer. The tour kicked off in Southern California, headed east across America, through a section of Canada, and wandered about Europe before heading to the Middle East and Asia. The journey wrapped up in Sydney after touring through the wide-open Australian outback. With a group of journalists behind the wheel, the two-car road trip became more of an experience than a drive. Along the way, the following fun facts were logged:
Ferry rides: Three
Total crew and participants: 15
Top speed: 210 km/h, in Germany
Hotel rooms booked: 262
Average time of travel each day: 14 hours
Number of languages and dialects encountered: 28
Vehicle damage: Two incidents (one in valet park in Middle East, one in car park in Australia)
Best food: Thailand
Best hotel: Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi
Flat tires: One, in China
Average fuel economy: 35 mpg
Highlights of the adventure included:
- A car wash like no other, with an elephant in Malaysia using river water to give the Ford Fiestas a scrub down
- A heart-pounding ride around the Formula One track in Abu Dhabi that made its debut in 2009, where challenging turns and twists keep drivers on their toes
- A visit to the immense cliffs of the Grand Canyon, which show what a few Ice Ages can do to a little bit of land
- A little lesson in ancient Chinese medicine at Fulintang Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Store, which first opened its doors in 1857
- A spin around Bangkok in a solar tuk tuk, which is a green way of hauling people around the city
- A different look at art. Participants spent time in the Australian outback with aboriginal artists who use different mediums, such as cars, to share their talents
- An adrenaline rush courtesy of the Nurburgring in Germany, a historic racetrack considered one of the most challenging courses in the world
“We’ve traveled upward of 1,000 miles in one day. And at the other end of the spectrum, we’ve also spent time just cruising around cities like Singapore,” said Jeremy Hart, expedition leader. “We even visited the first international airport in Australia, which used to take 34 days to reach from London. We drove to it in the same time. That made us realize that even in 2010, you can still have an expedition, and you can feel like you’re exploring. We didn’t want to just fly somewhere – we wanted to experience everything along the way.”
Want to see for yourself? Check out the journey at:
http://www.facebook.com/fordfiesta
http://twitter.com/fordfiesta
http://www.flickr.com/fordmotorcompany
Road to 1 million
Ford Fiesta has reached its 1 millionth sale around the world, and Fiesta owners can get in on the fun by submitting photos of themselves with their car to the Ford Fiesta Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fordfiesta. Fans can vote on their favorite images, and the most popular will be chosen to be included in the “Fiesta: Road to 1 Million” collage on Facebook.
About Inc
Fiesta World Tour 2010 was organized by Inc, the world’s largest freelance content agency. Based in London and New York, and made up of 300 writers, filmmakers, photographers and designers, Inc has made the world’s fastest 3-D car movie, initiated a charity tour with musical instruments created from Ford Focus parts and created behind-the-scenes content for Hollywood productions.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
