Ford Fiesta

Car Auto Online | Ford Fiesta | Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive super mini / sub-compact manufactured and marketedBy Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Thailand, SouthAfrica and Venezuela.The current generation of Ford Fiesta is marketed all over the world.

By2010,The 6th generation (mark-VI) Ford Fiesta was introduced around the world,including in the United States and Canada — making it the 1st model Ford Fiesta to be sold inNorth America since1980. Fiesta has sold over 12,000,000 units since1976.

The Ford Fiesta was originally developed underThe project name "\\\Bobcat\\\"(later to be used on a badge-engineered version ofThe Ford Pinto called the Mercury Bobcat)and approved for developmentBy Henry Ford-II inSeptember1972.Development targets indicated a production cost US $ 100 less than the current Ford Escort.The car was to have a wheelbase longer than that of the Fiat 127,but with overall length shorter than that of Ford///'s Escort.The final proposal was developed by TomTjaarda at Ghia.The project was approved for production in autumn1973,with Ford///'s engineering centres in Cologne and Dunton(Essex)collaborating.

Ford estimated that 500 , 000 Fiestas a year would be produced,and built an all-new factory nearValencia,Spain;a trans-axle factory near Bordeaux,France;factory extensions for the assembly plants inDagenham,UK,and Saarlouis,Germany.\Final assembly also took place inValencia.

When Ford ofEurope began to design the car,the design proposals were named Iris,Beta,TheDeutschlander(from Ford///'s Cologne studios),Mini-Mite,and theBlue Car(from Ghia).Codenames for the Ford Fiesta prototype included Torino,but it became ProjectBobcat.

The shortlisted names for the new car designed by the project Bobcat team(headed by Mr.TrevorErskine)were Amigo, Bambi, Bebe, Bravo, Bolero, Cherie, Tempo, Chico, Fiesta, Forito, Metro, Pony and Sierra.Despite more board votes for"Bravo",HenryFord-II personally overruled them and namedThe car "///Fiesta///".Several of the shortlisted names were later used on other cars,including "///Sierra///",which was introduced on theCortina replacement in1982,and Tempo which was used on a Ford small car in the United States market.Ironically the "///Metro///" nameplate was introduced by rival manufacturer British Leyland for the similar sized Austin Metroin1980.

The name Fiesta belonged to General Motors at the time;however,it was freely given for Ford to use on their new B-class car.After years of speculation by the motoring press about Ford///'s new car,it was subject to a succession of carefully crafted press leaks from the end of1975.A Fiesta was on display at the Le Mans 24Hour Race inJune 1976,and the car was launched and on sale in France andGermany inSeptember1976:to the frustration of UK dealerships righthand drive versions only began to appear in theUK in January1977.

Ford Fiesta Generations

Ford Fiesta Mark I

Ford Fiesta Mark I first launched in 1976. The car was available in Europe with a 957 cc (58.4 cu in) I4 (high compression and low compression options), either a 1.1 L and 1.3 L OHV petrol engines and in Base, Popular, L, GL (1978 onward), Ghia and S trim, as well as a van. The U.S. Mark I Fiesta was built in Cologne, Germany but to slightly different specifications; U.S. models were Base, Decor, Sport, and Ghia, the Ghia having the highest level of trim. These trim levels changed very little in the Fiesta///'s 3 year run in the USA, from 1978 – 1980.All U.S.models featured the more powerful 1.6 L(98 cu in) Kent inline-4 engine(fitted with a catalytic converter and air pump for lower emissions),energy-absorbing bumpers,side-marker lamps,round sealed-beam headlamps,improved crash dynamics and fuel system integrity as well as optional air conditioning(a / c was not available in Europe).In the U.S. market,the Ford Escort replaced both the Fiesta and the compact Pinto in1981.

Ford Fiesta 1600 Mk1 Fiesta XR2, 1982

In1982,coach-builders Crayford produced the Ford Fiesta "///Fly///"—a convertible version of the Mk 1 Fiesta 1300 Ghia,and a total of just 15 vehicles were produced.The following year the more powerful 1600 Mk 1 Fiesta XR2 was the donor car,and a further seven convertibles were produced.The conversion involved welding the boot shut.

Ford Fiesta Mark II

Ford Fiesta Mark II appeared towards the end of summer 1983 with a revised front end and interior, and a bootlid mirroring the swage lines from the sides of the car. The 1.3 L OHV engine was dropped, being replaced in 1984 by a CVH powerplant of similar capacity, itself superseded by the lean burn 1.4 L two years later. 957 and 1117 cc engines continued with only slight alterations and for the first time a Fiesta diesel was produced with a 1600 cc engine adapted from the Ford Escort.

Ford Fiesta Mk2, 1984

Ford Fiesta Mark III

The 3rd generation Ford Fiesta Mark III, codenamed BE-13 was unveiled at the end of1988 and officially went on sale in the February of the following year. Although it was essentially a reskin of the Mk.II (which in turn was a facelift of the 1976 original),it looked radically different, and did address the principal weakness of the previous generation – the lack of a 5-door derivative,something that was by then available in its major rivals such as the Fiat Uno, Peugeot 205 and Opel Corsa.The other main change was to the running gear – the improved HCS(High Compression Swirl) version of the Kent / Valencia powerplant. The CVH units from the Mk II were carried over largely unmodified. The diesel engine was enlarged to a 1.8L capacity.

Ford Fiesta Mk3, 1990

Ford Fiesta Mark IV

The all new Ford Fiesta Mark IV (internal code name was BE91)was launched in1995 and became Britain///'s best selling car from 1996 – 1998.The model used the chassis of the Mk 3 car,but most components were heavily revised,including a new suspension system,which gave the Fiesta one of the best handling abilities in its class.

Ford Fiesta Mk4, 2007

The model featured a range of new Zetec engines, available in 1.25L and 1.4L forms, the 1.8 diesel engine was slightly modified for the Mk4,now marketed as the "///Endura DE///".The 1.3L OHV engine was carried over from the Mk 3.As well as the major changes to the chassis, the Mk 4 also benefited from a new interior and exterior styling, including a soft painted instrument panel for the first year of production, albeit maintaining a similar dimensions to the Mk 3.The RS1800 and RS Turbo models were not carried over to the updated Fiesta range.

Ford Fiesta Mark IV Facelift

In 1999, the Ford Fiesta received a minor facelift aimed at giving the car a New Edge look,with a Ford Focus-inspired face, new bumpers and wheel designs. Ford Fiesta Facelift known as Mark V in UnitedKingdom and elsewhere.

2007 Ford Fiesta Mk4 Facelift

Other changes include 1.6i16V Zetec engine,fitted to the new Zetec S model,and later available inGhia and Freestyle trims.New features such as side airbags and(after launch)the reintroduction of leather trim.An environmentally-friendly E-Diesel model for2001,with CO2 emissions of 120 g/km.The Lynx 1.8TDDi engine(also introduced after launch).

The Mk-IV facelift was the last generation of Fiesta to be built at Dagenham in England.Its internal code name was still BE91.TheUK trim level line-up consisted of:1999, Encore,Finesse,Zetec,LX,Ghia; 2000,Zetec S added;2001,E-Diesel added at bottom of range,Flight andFreestyle respectively replace Finesse andZetec.

Ford Fiesta Zetec S

The Ford Fiesta Zetec S was the highest Fiesta trim, and although its 1.6 L 16v Sigma engine was available in other Fiestas(such as the Freestyle)the Zetec S pushed out 101 bhp(75 kW; 102 PS),and had major alterations to the suspension,with stiffer anti-roll bars and uprated brakes shared with the Puma.

Ford Fiesta Zetec S, 2009

The Fiesta Zetec S Mk 5 facelift has a sizeable following, with many websites dedicated to the vehicle. There is also a tuning culture devoted to this model, with reputable companies such as Milltek Sport and Shawspeed developing performance parts solely for the Sigma engine.

Ford Fiesta Mark V

On 1April2002,the all new 5-generation car was unveiled.Of this Fiesta Mark V,most engines were carried over from the previous Fiesta,but renamed "///Duratec///",as the "///Zetec///" name was now solely used for sportier models.The previous push-rod 1.3L engine was initially available in the UK,but this was quickly replaced with a Rocam 1.3L,both under the name Duratec8V.Trim levels available initially were Finesse, LX, Zetec and Ghia,with limited edition variants soon following.The Mk 5 was also the first Fiesta to feature the AntiLock Braking System and passenger airbags as standard. The 5th generation was known as MarkVI in UnitedKingdom and elsewhere.This generation became the best selling Ford Fiesta generation to date.

Ford Fiesta MK5, 2002

Engines available include 1.25L,1.3L,1.4L,1.6L, 2.0L petrol, plus 1.4L 8V and 1.6L 16V Duratorq TDCi common-rail diesels built in a joint venture withPSA.

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