Indian Autos blog

The Ford Fiesta is celebrating its 35th birthday. More than 15 million units of the iconic compact car have rolled out of production lines around the world and here in India, the new generation model in the sedan outfit, was presented last month.

The Fiesta is in its sixth generation and is showing no signs of a mid-life crisis with sharp styling and benchmark handling. The fuel efficiency is at its peak as well, the class leading figure here in India reflects its not only about fancy wheels, muscular styling and funky lamps.

Over a million examples of the latest generation model have been made around the globe.

Click through to read about the Fiesta in Ford’s words.

As you read this, the launch of the Fiesta is rolling. Prices have been announced. The Fiesta range starts at 8.23 lakh rupees and ends at 10.42 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end model loaded with voice-activated controls, steering-mounted controls, semi-automatic climate control, etc.

The new Fiesta is the first of 8 products from Ford by mid-decade. Right from today, the B+ segment sedan is offered with both petrol and diesel variants. Both variants will come in four trims – Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium+ details of which can be viewed in the brochure snaps appended below.

Standard equipment on all Fiesta variants -

• Body colored door handles, mirrors and bumpers
• Turn indicators on ORVMs
• Tilt adjustable steering wheel
• Front and rear power windows
• Rear armrest
• Electric boot release
• Keyless entry
• Rear defogger/demister
• Electrically operated rear view mirrors
• 6 speakers with audio controls on steering wheel
• ABS and EBD
• Dual front airbags

Ford Fiesta prices (ex-showroom Delhi by variant)

Fiesta Petrol

Style – 8.23,500
Trend – 8,77,200
Titanium – 9,17,200
Titanium+ – 9.42,200

Fiesta Diesel

Style – 9,27,200
Trend – 9,77,200
Titanium – 10,17,200
Titanium+ – 10,42,200

What do you think about the prices? With a gamut of equipment even on the base variant along with class leading fuel economy, aren’t they justified?

click through for the press release

In the recent past we’ve brought you variants and equipment of the new Verna, Etios Liva and the to be launched VW Jetta well before their launch.

With the help of Akhil, who just attended the Ford Fiesta dealer preview, we’re showing you the brochure of the new Fiesta today. This is another IAB exclusive.

Both petrol and diesel cars will have four variants each – Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium+

Standard equipment across the new Fiesta range (equipment by default) – Body colored door handles, mirrors and bumpers, turn indicators on ORVMs, tilt adjustable steering, front and rear power windows, rear armrest, electric boot release, rear defogger/demister, electrically operated rear view mirrors, 6 speakers, audio controls on steering wheel, ABS and EBD, and dual front airbags.

Ford is not going to offer a skimped variant. The Style variant has manual AC and body colored fitments while leather wrapped steering, Bluetooth and Voice control are available only on the Titanium and Titanium+models.

We’re expecting all variants new Fiesta to be priced between 7.99-10.99 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Delhi). Ford, will you pop a surprise?

In a mass mailer reaching out to Ford customers, Ford has spilled the beans on the Fiesta’s launch date. The following image, cut out from the mass email gives you the details.

Ford is holding the launch on the 14th, but four days prior to that privileged customers get a chance to experience the car’s features in comfort at the local dealership.

The new Fiesta comes with a pair of new 1.5-liter engines paired to 5-speed manual transmissions. You can learn everything about the new Fiesta using the following links.

Ford Fiesta – Everything technical you ever wanted to know
Ford Fiesta – Indian Fiesta vs European Fiesta
Ford Fiesta AT not coming in 2011
Ford Fiesta – Voice activated controls at work [video]
Ford Fiesta – First impressions

Now that the Fiesta has come back into focus, make sure to check back later for our review.

Sources have told Indian Autos Blog that the Fiesta could be launched in the beginning of July if everything goes well. Ford has said that the Fiesta will come in the second half of 2011 and production began at Chennai two weeks back.

Ford conducted a preview in April, a fashion show last month and a deep dive during the beginning of this month. A formal launch is the only event left unchecked. The Fiesta will be offered in both petrol and diesel right from the start.

Newly developed 1.5-liter petrol and diesel engines will be paired to 5-speed manual transmissions. The 1.5 TDCi (diesel) produces 90bhp/204Nm and returns 23.5 kmpl. The Duratec Ti-VCT (petrol) produces 108bhp/140Nm returning 17kmpl. Ford is tight lipped about prices, but our hunch is that it will start at 7.99 lakh rupees (ex-showroom Delhi).

Ford might not offer a stripped-down variant as it will clash with the Fiesta Classic. We’re expecting to see two petrol and two diesel variants. The top-end model will have features such as voice-activated controls, cruise control, rear parking sensors, semi-automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port for iPods.

Ford is clear about the Fiesta’s ambitions. It is not looking for outright supremacy. It will present the Fiesta to driving enthusiasts who are not looking for stretching their legs at the back seat passing on the driving responsibilities to another person. The Fiesta diesel is a great car to drive. Learn about it in our detailed drive report coming up next month.

As Ford prepares to launch the new Fiesta in July, more information on the vehicle has been shared to Indian media. Before we post the full review we’ll share some interesting facts on the new Fiesta -

- India gets a convex-edged rear view mirrors while America has a dual mirror arrangement

- Ford has changed the horn for India as they believe drivers in India “communicate more.” The tone and clarity has been upgraded for heavy duty cycle. Europe and America have less powerful horns

- Ford has planned to upgrade the display on the dashboard in the future. The backlight could be changed to blue from red. The Indian Fiesta has a display screen between the two dials showing fuel consumption in liters/100km and liters/hour which are absurd to the layman. Regionalization of the Fiesta is being looked into. The Fiesta refresh is a long time away, but these changes are expected.

click through to read more

Day one of Ford Fiesta deep dive program has drawn to a close and a cosmos of information was unleashed by Ford representatives flown in from America, Australia and Germany who’ve held key positions in the Fiesta project. These experts shared their knowledge on the new Fiesta and a sneak peek into what’s in store for Ford globally. As the event wore on into the late hours, topics shifted from B-Platform vehicles to global products and what experience has taught these skilled individuals in developing not only everyday cars but concept cars, alternative propulsion systems and the like.

I’m going to post photographs of the presentation slides shown from the evening. They contain all possible details and facts of the Fiesta from an engineering angle. IAB brings this to you first!

We’re the first market in the world to receive the new 1.5-liter petrol and diesel engines.

click through for the full report

One top Ford official earlier this week confirmed that the new Fiesta will be launched in July. At the product unveiling in Delhi in mid-April, Ford told IAB that diesel and petrol variants will come with class-leading fuel efficiency.

Now a source with direct knowledge on the matter tells IAB they are likely to introduce them paired to manual transmission in 2011. As they are in possession of the automatic transmission technology, the company only has to decide when it is appropriate to put it on the market.

Once the demand for the mainstay variants are met, the Fiesta AT can be introduced. This could happen sometime in 2012.