At a special event in Germany, Ford has pulled the wraps off of one of its most popular cars in its history, the Fiesta hatchback. With its debut, Ford has detailed four distinct variants of the compact hatch, although we’ve been warned that the lineup isn’t strictly indicative of what we’ll be getting Down Under.
At the launch event, there were four trim lines on show: A new crossover-type Active model, a more aggressive ST-Line model (which is not to be confused with the properly hot Fiesta ST that will come later), a more plush Vignale model, and a range-topping Titanium model.
The new Fiesta might not look like a massive departure from the car it replaces, but it’s certainly more current. Its flowing lines and softer edges are more of its time than the angular, sharp details of the outgoing car, which represented the tastes of its time. The face sees a more rounded look, with a smaller grille mimicking the design of the bigger Focus. There are less creases and kinks overall, especially on the bumpers.
The rear end sees bigger changes: Ford has ditched the upright taillights of the current model, and they’ve gone for horizontal units that stretch into the tailgate. Although no official dimensions have been released by the Blue Oval, the new Fiesta appears slightly larger, and slightly wider than the outgoing car. This should see some improvement to the interior dimensions, something that the current Fiesta was slightly lacking in.
Inside, the changes are far more radical. The centre console, which was festooned with buttons on the current model, has been replaced with a more streamlined, more upmarket design. There’s a central screen featuring Ford’s new Sync3 system, and interestingly, there’s an option for a Bang & Olufsen sound system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are expected to feature here, as has been seen before in other applications of the Sync3 system.
Ford has been cagey with what motivates the new Fiesta, though industry experts believe that the 1.0-litre turbocharged three cylinder engine that’s currently available in some markets ought to feature here. Ford has mentioned that the award-winning three-pot unit has now been refined and revised, offering even better fuel efficiency, thanks to a new cylinder deactivation system that will allow the unit to run on just two cylinders.
At present, there’s no timeline being offered by Ford Australia regarding the introduction of the new Fiesta, but it is expected to get here at some point. Punters are speculating a 2017 release, with our cars coming in from the Ford plant in Thailand.
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