2009 Ford Fiesta: Was Actually a Ka?

[YSSMAN]

Ford's next-generation Fiesta subcompact will arrive in North America in 2009, according to Ford officials speaking with Motor Trend. The redesigned model will first appear in Europe in late 2008 — a year ahead of the planned U.S. debut.

The U.S. version will be nearly identical to the European one, said Ford of Europe design chief Martin Smith. Rather than being styled around the "Red, White and Bold" design theme used for the Edge, Taurus, and Flex, the Fiesta will feature an exterior in Ford Europe's "Kinetic" design theme, also used for the new Mondeo and Iosis X.

It it will be "a Kinetic-design car, absolutely," said Smith. Expect a trapezoidal grille, pointy headlamps, and pronounced wheel arches. Arriving in America in late 2009, the car — based on the new Mazda2 — will be lighter than the current Fiesta and feature a 1.6-liter powerplant.

The next

Conflicting designs

For a few years, Ford will be stuck with two design languages: Kinetic and Red, White and Bold. However, For CEO Alan Mulally recently made it clear this will eventually change. Mulally said he has a vision for "one Ford" unified by a global design theme from North America to Europe.

While Smith has said the new Fiesta will be a Kinetic design, it's possible Ford might combine elements of both themes. In early 2006, Ford unveiled the Reflex concept (pictured) car based on the Fiesta platform. It featured a predominantly Kinetic design with a three-bar lower grille reminiscent of the "Bold" language.

Yay! Now we Americans can have something to actually compete against the Fit and Versa (Aveo is a no-go)!

I'm glad they're sticking with the Kenetic design. The "Red, White, and Bold" design theme is getting old quick, as it only works well on certain vehicles...

 

[JCE]

This is the best part of that statement:

The U.S. version will be nearly identical to the European one, said Ford of Europe design chief Martin Smith. Rather than being styled around the "Red, White and Bold" design theme used for the Edge, Taurus, and Flex, the Fiesta will feature an exterior in Ford Europe's "Kinetic" design theme, also used for the new Mondeo and Iosis X.

 

[ND4SPD]

If only they could say that about the focus.....

 

[JCE]

You're telling me. The Euro Focus is just too brilliant to be in the USA/Canada. Obviously Ford US doesn't think they can handle it. [/sarcasm]

 

[Wolfe]

The Euro Focus is brilliant, yes. It's also almost as ugly as the hellspawn that are the two american redesigns. Detroit should have hung onto the first-generation bodywork instead of the first-generation chassis.

Yay! Now we Americans can have something to actually compete against the Fit and Versa (Aveo is a no-go)!

Even if we're only pretending we designed it!

 

[YSSMAN]

Ha ha!

Spy photographers have snapped the first photos of the 2009 Ford Fiesta, photographed while taking a break from testing on North American soil. No longer just for fuel-conscious Europeans, this next-generation Fiesta will be sold in the U.S., as confirmed by Ford officials at the previous Geneva Motor Show.

The Fiesta's design follows Ford of Europe's kinetic design language, and this look is expected to be sold virtually unchanged on each side of the Atlantic.

Ford of Europe design chief Martin Smith recently told Motor Trend: "Cars with one design theme will be sold in the other market", meaning that the demarcation between Ford's U.S. and European design language will become more flexible, and will likely disappear altogether.

The next-generation Fiesta will be based on the Mazda2, and the silhouette of this three-door Fiesta prototype looks remarkably similar to the five-door Mazda2. But the styling similarities end there. The Fiesta's styling is more conventionally European, with prominent wheel arches at each corner. The C-pillar kicks ups assertively, adding a little strength to the familiar hatchback shape. The current Fiesta's Focus-inspired pillar-mounted tail-lamps will be replaced with rear lights that run along the car's belt line.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally has been eager to leverage the Blue Oval's global resources, and the Fiesta's planned entry into the U.S. market is a bold move in that direction. The appearance of a Fiesta prototype on the U.S. testing scene confirms that the globalization plan is more than talk, and is actually coming to fruition. A 1.6-liter gasoline engine is the only engine likely to be offered on the U.S. version, but Europe will certainly have diesel options, which could conceivably come our way if the U.S. market becomes more diesel-friendly.

Ford's ability to turn a profit on a sub-Focus model in the U.S. is still in question, so we would expect the Fiesta to be manufactured in Mexico, or possibly Brazil, and arrive some time in the 2008 calendar year as an '09 model.

Its a cutesy-wootsie little Ford, isn't it?

I like it. Its a damn good thing that they're brining them here.

...But whats with the wait?

 

[Diego440]

so wait, the 2009 US-spec Fiesta will be the 2007 Euro Fiesta?

 

[MagpieRacer]

The 2009 US fiesta will be a 2008 Euro Fiesta.


I beleive..

 

[JCE]

Mmmmm, America is about to get pwnt by the Fiesta. Dear lord please give the US the ST hot version. As a former Focus owner (times 2) I believe the new Focus won't have the same ownership base as the last Focus. All the Focus faithful will buy this Fiesta.

 

[YSSMAN]

The new Focus is on the slow trail to its imminent death, I hope. Its already being universally panned by magazines that haven't even tested it, based on looks alone.

...And Ford wonders why they can't sell small cars...

The Fiesta, in my opinion, is the true successor to the origional Focus, which was a wonderful car in its heyday. No matter how much I love GM, I can always appreciate a good car, and the Focus was definitely one of them. As a matter of fact, I've always wanted a Focus wagon with a stick, preferably in white or beige, just to be the crazy person that I like to be...

Now what would be awesome would be if Ford throws a Fiesta for the Fiesta with Pinatas and Cervesa... Just a good time down in Dearborn!

 

[JCE]

I want some pinatas and cervezas. Pass 'em along amigo.

 

[TopHat]

Si, Me gusta los pinatas.

That 3 door fiesta looks really good.


So, they're offering the Focus in 2/4 door, but the majority sellers were the 3/5 door? What?

Oh well. If there is an "American" Hatchback to be found, Its this or the Astra.

 

[JCE]

So, they're offering the Focus in 2/4 door, but the majority sellers were the 3/5 door? What?

That is 100% correct. Which begs the question...WTF is Ford thinking when they ditched the true hatchback ZX3/ZX5 models.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I don't know if it's because those wheels are minute, but the bonnet looks considerably longer than the current model.

Perhaps for pedestrian safety etc?

 

[JCE]

lol Those wheels do look like they are 13". And now that you mention it...the bonnet does look rather "buldgy".

 

[Race Idiot]

I don't know if it's because those wheels are minute, but the bonnet looks considerably longer than the current model.

Perhaps for pedestrian safety etc?

Also it's got rear 'hips' kinda like the new corsa and i'm pretty sure those are the old 14 inch wheels that came on the last fiesta.

 

[YSSMAN]

lol Those wheels do look like they are 13".

There isn't anything wrong with 13" wheels as long as it looks porportional to the car, and they match the sizes with good rubber. I had 13" on my Fox, and it looked good, and performed well enough with the better tires I put on it...

...I would hope Ford would do the same...

 

[ExigeEvan]

Also it's got rear 'hips' kinda like the new corsa and i'm pretty sure those are the old 14 inch wheels that came on the last fiesta.

Damn that camoflauge, I never noticed the Vauxhall Hip!

 

[Johnny]

That disguised car is the new Ford Ka, made in Brazil.

http://www2.uol.com.br/interpressmotor/lancamento/item21044.shl

 

[Dave A]

I was going to say, that disguised car is nothing like the Fiesta, it's pretty ugly and out of proportion imo too. The Fiesta's not a bad car, doesn't set the world on fire but it's better than the Astra.

And YSSMAN the Fiest isn't a Focus replacment, it can't be, it's a smaller car. The Fiesta and Focus occupy different segments they're different class cars. from the look s of things over the next couple of years you're getting the Fiesta and the Focus, not one or the other.

 

[Sniffs]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA *continues laughing for five minutes*

americans won't TOUCH this...especially if they use the Fiesta nameplate. every target buyer of something this small is over 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and weighs 300 pounds. i MIGHT fit in that thing.

if you remember, when they decided to bring beamer's 1 series over here, they would only take a sedan version, cause, quoting Motor Trend writers "americans won't take no hatchbacks"
i think hatches, curves, and FWD's remind too many buyers of america's 20 years of slushboxes and piles of crap...like the Yugo

 

[TopHat]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA *continues laughing for five minutes*

americans won't TOUCH this...especially if they use the Fiesta nameplate. every target buyer of something this small is over 6 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and weighs 300 pounds. i MIGHT fit in that thing.

i think hatches, curves, and FWD's remind too many buyers of america's 20 years of slushboxes and piles of crap...like the Yugo

1) Not everyone is obese, so stuff it.

2) The Yugo was... Yugoslavian! Also, where did you find "curves" on a 20 year old car?

Is your car a manual?

 

[Sniffs]

1. neither am I, but everybody I grew up with that isn't female fits those particular dimentions...and that's not FAT in their case...it's muscle.
2. it was a Slavic copy of a Fiat/how about an 88 taurus?
3. never had a stick in my life

haven't you ever heard people complain about the over-regulated cars that came out after the second Oil Crisis?

 

[YSSMAN]

over the next couple of years you're getting the Fiesta and the Focus, not one or the other.

Clearly, some of the origional people got the cars confused on the ol' automotive websites...

Anyway, we'll get the Fiesta/Mazda2 soon enough. We're due to get the MKIII Focus, not the MKII, but this of course depends on how much cash Mullaly wants to spend.

 

[JCE]

I want to see the Fiesta over here as well as the Fiat 500. I'm stoked in antisipation of the Fiat 500 being sold here. But count on the name to change since Ford will no doubt sue because of the "500" nameplate.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

if you remember, when they decided to bring beamer's 1 series over here, they would only take a sedan version, cause, quoting Motor Trend writers "americans won't take no hatchbacks"

First off, MT's garbage. Second, even BMW said they'd wait for the sedan for North America, because Americans think hatchback = cheap, and they didn't want that image. Mercedes on the other hand...

North America is seeing a hatch revival, so I'm wondering where this is coming from. Hell, the US had to wait to get the Smart compared to us, and it has a huge list of potential buyers. All the big companies brought in sub-compact hatches (Jazz, Yaris, Versa, now Fiesta)

...

I'm curious if the Ka will make it over here as well. If it does, I see no reason why the 500 won't as well. And does Ford own "500", or just "Five Hundred"? It's a dead name now anyways...

 

[Gashlycrumb]

So is North America not getting this Fiesta?

I can't wait for it to arrive here, particularly if it is anywhere as fun to drive as the Mazda 2.

 

[JCE]

So is North America not getting this Fiesta?

I can't wait for it to arrive here, particularly if it is anywhere as fun to drive as the Mazda 2.

Wow, that mother ****** is hot! Holy ****, that's the best looking hatch I've ever seen.

 

[Dave A]

It's nearly as nice looking as our new Focus.

Thats right YSS, I'm teasing you .

 

[Sniffs]

First off, MT's garbage. Second, even BMW said they'd wait for the sedan for North America, because Americans think hatchback = cheap, and they didn't want that image. Mercedes on the other hand...

North America is seeing a hatch revival, so I'm wondering where this is coming from. Hell, the US had to wait to get the Smart compared to us, and it has a huge list of potential buyers. All the big companies brought in sub-compact hatches (Jazz, Yaris, Versa, now Fiesta)

...

I'm curious if the Ka will make it over here as well. If it does, I see no reason why the 500 won't as well. And does Ford own "500", or just "Five Hundred"? It's a dead name now anyways...

1. I thought you had your own Auto mags up there? I'm sick of the reader Temper Tantrums in C/D, and prefer the test coverage in MT. CR doesn't count with me and automobiles, anymore...too much Honda Bias.

americans think hatchback=cheap because the Golf 1 rotted away, the Yugo was crap to begin with, the Omni/Horizon were only So-so (i don't know what name you guys got up there), then there was the CHEVETTE (and the lemon T1000 clone we bummed from you guys) and the toyota hatches were thin as paper in my experience. it also belongs to our "econbox" era.

in a nutshell...we got the bad quality ones...even our own.

2. wishful thinking. we have our own tastes down here, and the money makes the rules

3. the KA allready IS...Ford of Mexico sells the Ka...american's won't buy it, that's all. that's why I don't think Smart has much of a chance...outside of big cities.
ford owns botht the numeric and spelled out names. we used the five hundred nameplate untill ford revived the Taurs/Sable names and put them on the five Hundred.
the other half of the name, Galaxy, is currently being used by ford on minivans, and since minivans now have the same reputation in the US as a Sytation wagon/Estate does...only the US mother of alls (caravan/Town and Country) have survived.