At first glance the new Ford Fiesta appears to be a distant relative to the June bug, especially when wearing its exclusive “Lime Squeeze Metallic” exterior color.  The teardrop body shape is lower in the front and higher in the back making the Fiesta appear as if it’s about to launch into flight.   When it is coming straight toward you, the Dragon’s-eye headlamps complete its insect-like appearance.  If you don’t like bugs, Ford is offering six additional colors which make the Fiesta look more like a car.  These include; Oxford White and lots of metallics in hues of: Yellow Blaze, Bright Magenta, Monterey Gray, Blue Flame, Tuxedo Black, Red Candy and Ingot Silver.

The interior of the Fiesta incorporates most of the “engaging to the senses” features that Ford is banking on. For starters, Ford incorporated plenty of sound deadening materials in the doors, headliner and pillars and utilized an acoustic laminated windshield to keep the interior whisper quiet.  Unlike any competitor in its class the Fiesta has available luxuries such as heated front leather trimmed seats and a power moon roof.  A 4” multifunctional LCD display screen for phone info, audio settings and other data is positioned in the direct line of sight with red, easy to read text. Ford loaded the Fiesta with technology as well, including their Intelligent Access push-button start ignition system and the Ford-exclusive SYNC ® system which allows for hands free communication.

Under the hood of the Fiesta lies a 1.6-liter twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT) Duratec ® Engine.  Add the available PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission, which eliminates drag and the Fiesta could reach a highway fuel economy of 40 mpg. Service visits are reduced as well by the fill-for-life transmission fluid system which is designed to last up to 150,000 miles and is virtually maintenance free.  An electric powered rack and pinion steering system with AdvanceTrac ® makes the Fiesta nimble and ultra responsive. Car and Driver gave the new Ford Fiesta a high ranking in their fun-to-drive (FTD) factor and they were “thoroughly impressed with the Fiesta’s eager agility and exceptional road-holding.”

With any small vehicle driver and passenger safety is always a concern.  Ford has forseen this and packed the new Fiesta with more airbags than any other vehicle in its class.  A total of seven airbags are standard for the Fiesta.  This includes an innovative driver’s knee airbag designed to provide a cushion between the driver and the instrument panel in the event of a crash.   Time will tell how the New Ford Fiesta will do here in the U.S. but with a starting price around $13,500 combined with so many fun and innovative features the Fiesta will surely be met with great enthusiasm.  Just like June bugs the Fiesta will be arriving Spring/Summer 2010.

The Fiesta ECOnetic gets 65 mpg and emits only 61 grams of carbon dioxide per mile. Compare that to California’s requirement that a 2009 model car emit no more than 323 grams per mile. It’s been available in Europe for a couple of years now. Ford is making plans to sell the Ford Fiesta in the U.S. starting early in 2010, but it won’t be the ECOnetic. It will be a gasoline powered car that gets about 40 mpg.

The Ford Fiesta ECOnetic

At a time when the American public is clamoring for green gas sippers, why in the world would an American car company not sell this car in the U.S.? Well, it’s a diesel. If you add the production costs (these engines are currently manufactured in Britain) to the overseas shipping costs, Ford couldn’t offer the ECOnetic for a competitive price in the U.S. The cost of building a plant to manufacture diesel engines in Mexico would be about $350 million. Ford would have to sell 350,000 cars a year to make that investment worthwhile, and they don’t think they could sell that many in North and South America.

So Ford is making plans to sell a Fiesta in the United States, but it’s not the diesel ECOnetic. It’s a gasoline engine that will get around 40 mpg. Meanwhile, Toyota is selling its Prius like hotcakes and other foreign carmakers are gearing up to offer diesel vehicles in the U.S. By the time Ford finally finds a way to make it work, they’ll be way behind the competition.

If the federal government is willing to invest money in the American auto industry, I see a golden opportunity. Build a diesel plant in Detroit. It might take a few years to recoup the investment, but it would put Americans to work, help the environment and reduce our dependence on gasoline. And when the economy starts turning around and there’s a lot of pent-up demand for cars, an American car company will be in the right place at the right time.