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Pricing is yet to be released but Ford says it is aiming to remain competitive with its main opposition when it starts with the new Fiesta range toward the end of the year Photo Gallery
Stuart Martin road tests and review the new Ford Fiesta at its international launch.
The new Ford Fiesta will change the landscape of Australia's small car market. The Blue Oval folks have been labouring under a yoke of constrained supply with the European-sourced hatchback range.
But now they are bringing out a sedan version and expanding the diesel offerings by taking cars from the multi-million dollar AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) factory in Rayong, Thailand. However the super-frugal Fiesta Econetic hatch will still come from Europe.
Ford Australia marketing general manager David Katic says the Fiesta has doubled its share in Australia - as well as increased the proportion of high-end models sold - and he is aiming to make significant volume and share gains with the expanded range.
"We think if we can get more supply it can really lift our market share just by getting greater availability," he says. "We sold 88 per cent of the old Fiesta in the base-model, in 2010 our Sports model has gone from 10 to 43 per cent, our Zetec model has blown away every expectation we have ever had for it," he says.
The addition of the sedan (available only in CL and LX models) and more diesel models opens up additional volume opportunities for Ford in the light car market.
"The sedan we're really excited about, because we think it is a great looking car but also the sedan market represents about 15 per cent of the segment in Australia, there are only four or five competitors and we think we have a tremendous product proposition," he says.
Pricing
Pricing is yet to be released but Ford says it is aiming to remain competitive with its main opposition when it starts with the new Fiesta range toward the end of the year, acknowledging the cost base difference of the source country and the free trade agreement that applies to Australia-bound products from Thailand.
Katic says the pricing has yet to finalised but the new Thai-sourced model would be well-specified. "I don't think you'll see a price drop, I think you'll see us adding value - we haven't finalised our pricing yet but our shift and focus is on consumer value and more content, going to Thailand gives us an opportunity to do that, but we weren't taking a bath on Fiesta from Germany either," he says.
The Zetec model, marketed as the sports star of the range until we see an ST, XR or RS edition, now has sports-tuned suspension and sports seating to distinguish it from the range.
Technology
Bluetooth and voice control is now standard from the base CL model up, with stability control, seatbelt minders, a six-speaker CD sound system all standard.
Those looking for an automatic will - on the petrol engine at least - be able to opt for a six-speed double-clutch automated manual that is similar to the Focus TDCi, although it has not been (for now) teamed with the new Fiesta diesel.
Customers will be able to tick the option box for a 66kW/200Nm turbodiesel on the LX sedan and hatch, or from early next year the Zetec hatch, with a five-speed manual transmission and a claim of 4.4 litres per 100km.
The petrol-engine on offer remains the 89kW/151Nm 1.6-litre petrol engine as standard across the updated petrol range, with the 1.4-litre being dropped from the Australian range.
Design
The Kinetic design language remains the dialect of choice with Ford and it is serving them well, so minor changes are all that has been made to the Thai-sourced vehicle from an aesthetics point of view.
The sedan has followed the hatch, using similar lines to produce a planted stance, although from the rear in the metal the sedan looks a bit broad in the hips.
The company is boasting of more engineering changes, including more insulation against noise, better torsional rigidity and body strength thanks to high-strength steel and bracing across the width of the front-end.
Safety
The entry-level CL brings standard stability control but buyers will have to opt for the safety pack that adds extra airbags (standard fare above the CL) before it rates a five-star crash-test rating; for the LX and above that includes a driver's knee airbag as standard.
Driving
There's no doubting the Ford engineering team has transplanted the excellent road manners from the German vehicle to its Thai-built counterpart. The steering is light and direct, body control is good and the ride - which could only be tested to anything approaching Australian standards on some of the worst sections of road we could find - seems civilised.
That said, the bulk of the bitumen is smooth and not coarse of grade, so claims by Ford to have remedied the criticisms of tyre noise (with a change of supplier to Continental) on Australian bitumen will have to wait until a local drive.
The launch drive did have a couple of cars that didn't feel quite right and questions were being asked about the fitness of those vehicles, but the bulk of the cars sampled had good road manners and enough grunt for the segment.
The mainstream diesel engine is the pick of the bunch, with a well-matched five-speed manual gearbox, which for many won't be worthwhile, as clutch pedals fast-become old-hat.
We didn't test the crashworthiness of the new Thai-built Fiesta despite some of the better efforts of the locals, but the body feels tight and strong, with noise intrusion up there with the best in class.
Verdict
The Fiesta went close to Carsguide's Car of The Year last year and nothing suggests that a change of manufacturing base has done anything to change its abilities. 76/100
Ford Fiesta hatch and sedan.
Prices: TBA.
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol and turbodiesel four-cylinder.
Transmission: five-speed manual or six-speed automated manual.
Power: 89kW, 66kW
Torque: 151Nm, 200Nm.
Fuel consumption: 6.1 litres/100km, diesel 4.4; tank 43 litres.
Suspension: MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (front); torsion beam (rear).
Brakes: front discs, rear drums, with anti-lock and stability control systems.
Dimensions: length 4291mm (hatch 3950), width 1722mm, height 1454mm, wheelbase 2489mm, track fr/rr 1473/1460mm, cargo volume 430 litres (hatch 281), weight 1153kg.
Wheels: 15/16in alloys.
Rivals
Holden Barina, from $14,790.
Honda Jazz, from $16,990.
Mazda2, from $16,500.
Toyota Yaris, from $15,240
