Europe and Global Markets 1976-2010
Ford Fiesta Global Heritage
U.S. and Canada 1978-1980

Introduction

For the U.S. and Canada Fiesta arrived as a 1978 model, equipped with the 1.6-liter Kent OHV I-4 engine the largest offering in European markets. This sturdy block earned an enviable motorsport reputation by powering a legion of Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competitors in Formula Ford single-seat racing cars. Fiesta paired the Kent engine with a mandatory four-speed manual transmission and wrapped it in a light-weight body. The car became an instant favorite. Car and Driver pushed a Fiesta from 0-60 in 10.4 seconds and to an observed 97mph top speed. 2010
Fiesta 4-door introduced in China 2009 Over 500,000 Mk VI Fiestas sold 2005 Fords Cologne assembly facility runs three shifts producing 403,349 Fiestas 2001 Mk V Fiesta Introduced
2010 Fiesta returns to North America 2008 Fiesta Mk VI Introduced

Four Trim Levels

U.S. and Canada-bound Fiestas were built at Fords Cologne, Germany production facility. Offered in a single body style a two-door hatchback Fiesta was available in four distinctive trim levels: Standard, Dcor, Sport and Ghia. Standard models stressed value, while the Dcor series provided beltline trim and softer interior materials. The Sport added a tachometer, a stabilizer bar, stripes and seats covered in a Native American pattern while the high-level Ghia series added velour seating and richer appointments.
Sporty Fiesta ST Introduced

Banner Year

1979 was the original Fiestas big year in the U.S. with 81,273 units sold. Clever packaging and space utilization made Fiesta the ideal vehicle for the one car household of a young single or couple. Folding down the back seat and opening the hatchback turned the Fiesta into a capable hauler. North American specification Fiestas enjoyed both the largest engine and available air conditioning.
Fiesta design freshened 1997 Passenger side air bag standardized 1994 Drivers side air bag becomes standard equipment 1991 Total Fiesta production reaches 5.5 million units 1989 Fiesta Mk III arrives with smoother aerodynamics, new diesel engine
Fiesta Mk IV bows with Zetec multi-valve engines, ABS, Traction Control
1992 A record 648,781 units sold 1990 Fiesta named Spains Car of the Year, XR2i available 1984 Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission introduced

SCCA Racer

The 1980s dawned with the sprightly Fiesta continuing to find favor among the young and young-at-heart. Fiesta was a dominant force in Showroom Stock C road racing, the entry-level SCCA class for streetlegal production cars. An aspiring racer could install a four-point roll bar, some competition safety belts, a drivers side window net and duct tape on the headlights, transforming commuter transportation into a competitive track star.

Winding Down

The North American Fiesta was discontinued to make room for the all-new 1981 Ford Escort. Clever planners at Ford realized that Fiestas cult-like following still would find Fiesta a compelling proposition. To that end, a full 47,707 Fiestas went out the door all 1980 model year cars during 1981. When gas prices spiked in the early 1980s, a clean used Fiesta could command more than its original MSRP.
Fiesta 1.3L goes lead-free 1981 Fiesta production reaches 2 million units, Sporty XR2 Fiesta bows 1978 British Design Award Winner
1977 Fiesta production tops 350,000 units Fiesta Mk II Introduced 1980 Fiesta S debuts

Still Racing Today

Fiestas were enthusiastically driven to high mileage accumulations. Common on American streets into the early 1990s, almost 300,000 Fiestas were sold as inexpensive, fuel-efficient and fun alternatives to the dreary small cars of the day. Several Fiestas survived to play roles in both SCCA Improved Touring class C and Rally competition. Recently, Ford Racing has resumed production of the legendary Kent engine block, to the delight of Formula Ford, and Mk 1 Fiesta enthusiasts, worldwide.

Fiesta Introduced

04/2010for more information, go to WWW.media.ford.com
Ford Fiesta Global Accolades

red dot International Design Award

Fiesta Highlights

esigned and developed as D Fords first One Ford global car, Fiesta first launched in Europe in 2008, more recently in Asia and will launch in North America in 2010. n Europe, the Fiesta name has long I been synonymous with outstanding driving performance, design and value. odays Fiesta takes the models T three-decade heritage to a new level with its eye-catching kinetic design and acclaimed driving dynamics. Nearly 700,000 Fiesta Mk VI models have sold world-wide, thus far. More than 12 million Fiestas sold in total.
Ford Fiesta was awarded a prestigious red dot design award for international product design. The 28 leading designers and design experts from 19 countries called Fiesta one of the most stylish cars in the world, stating the design as innovative and dynamic. The award showcases the fact that Fiesta delivers style, together with outstanding quality that consumers desire. The red dot design awards, one of the worlds largest design recognition programs, are presented annually by Germanys Essen-based Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen.

Additional Awards

2010 Best Small Car Sina.com 2010 New Zealands Car of the Year 2010 Romanian Car of the Year 2009 Car of the Year The Sun Motors 2009 Croatian Car of the Year Croatian Car Association 2009 Hellenic Car of the Year Journalists from Autobild, Drive, Autocar Womans Car 2009 Hachette Filipacchi Editorial Group 2008 Scottish Car of the year Association of Scottish Motoring Writers The Best of the 2008 Geneva Show Most Significant AutoWeek Top Gear, Car, Car and Driver and 4 Wheels awards
Car of the Year What Car? Magazine
What Car? magazine, Great Britains leading source of new-car advice, named the new Ford Fiesta its Car of the Year 2009. What Car? editors praised Fiesta for its stylish design, performance and fuel economy, saying it is the most complete car theyve ever tested. ditors also admired Fiesta for being practical enough to be used as E a family car, fun enough for a sports car and stylish enough to make the right impression, all while being affordable to buy, cheap to run and kind to the planet. What Car? judges also named Fiesta as the top car in the supermini category, stating no other supermini got close to its look at me factor.