2017 Ford Fiesta gets world premiere with four model lineup
Ford has unveiled its all-new Fiesta supermini with three and five doors and offered as a Vignale and Active crossover
Eight years after the launch of the sixth-generation Fiesta, Ford has unveiled not one but four replacement versions.
For the first time, the Fiesta will be available in its traditional three and five-door body form but will be available in Vignale spec for the first time and as a crossover, called the Fiesta Active.
There can't be many more difficult jobs in the automotive world than being responsible for replacing the current Fiesta, as it's utterly epic.
The seventh-generation has evolved in design, which seems a sensible approach as the current car still looks fresh and remains popular.
It has grown in size with a 4mm longer wheelbase and a 30mm wide front track. There's a sleeker front end, while the rear lights have been rotated 90 degrees from a vertical alignment to horizontal.
Inside, the Fiesta is completely new but has a similar appearance to the interior design of French rivals with a floating tablet like infotainment screen.
The layout and controls have a classy look, though, providing a simplified, neater and cleaner dashboard.
Ford claims it's more technologically advanced than any small car in the world and will be even better to drive than the current car.
The headlines changes include 10% more cornering grip, 8% brake distance reduction, improved ride and refinement. There's also a 30% increase in torsional stiffness with improved steering feel and steering response.
It gets a choice of two three-cylinder petrol engines; 1.1-litre T-VCT with either 75PS or 85 PS; and a 1.0-litre Ecoboost, available with either 100PS, 125PS and 140PS. There's also a 1.5-litre diesel offered with either 85PS or 120PS.
The 1.1-litre gets a new 5-speed manual while the 1.0-litre gets a 6-speed manual which can also be specified with an optional 6-speed automatic with paddle shifts.
Fiesta Active - this is the first SUV-inspired Fiesta crossover and the first in a new line-up of future Ford Active models. Unique front and rear bumpers, rear skid plates and beefed-up side sills, completed with dark grey body cladding and roof rails. Its ride height has been raised by 18mm.
Vignale - top of the range, classy and upmarket model with a high-quality luxury finish, includes unique interior trim, a leather steering wheel and seats, and special ownership service.
ST-Line - sporty bodykit, unique scuff plates, flat-bottomed steering wheel, black roof headline and part-leather sports seats. it gets a 10mm lower ride height, tweaked dampers and springs for improved handling.
Other trims include Trend and Titanium plus a huge range of customisation.
New safety technology includes the ability to assess potential dangers up to 130m ahead and the car will begin to avoidance action if the driver hasn't in the last 40m.
Other technology includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, hill start assist, blind spot, cross traffic alert, traffic sign recognition and active park assist,
Ford's Cologne manufacturing plant, where the Fiesta is built, employs 18,500 employees, 4,000 of who solely work on the Fiesta.
