Ford Fiesta 2010 News

Small car sales were up more than 40 per cent last month as the industry tracks to a bumper one million-plus sales year. Budget buys continue to dominate, filling out seven of the top 10 sales spots in April.South Korean importer Hyundai was one of the stars, recording 16 consecutive months of month-on-month sales growth. Its sales are up 65 per cent this year. Hyundai's budget sub-$15,000 Getz and i30 hatch, which starts around $20,300, are the big sellers. Spokesman, Stephen Howard, said more buyers are chasing value for money with small cars. "And that's our whole philosophy," he said.Toyota's HiLux ute was the No1 seller last month, beating the Holden Commodore by just 254 cars. Despite the popularity of the workman's ute, the home-grown Holden remains the country's top selling family sedan. More than 14,500 Commodores have been sold this year.Solid sales delivered the second highest April result on record. Figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show that 81,401 vehicles were sold last month, up 27 per cent on the same month in 2009. FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar said most segments were strong."It is certainly very encouraging and shows the competition between the brands is intense," he said. "But challenges still remain."McKellar warns that interest rate increases could dampen demand in coming months. "However, the industry is hopeful that they are now at a level where further increases will be more difficult to justify," he said.Toyota holds on to its top selling position with a market share of 20.5 per cent. Holden is in second spot with 12.2 per cent and Ford third with 10.1 per cent. This year-to-date, 333,228 vehicles have been sold.Top 10 sellers1 Toyota HiLux 34192 Holden Commodore 31653 Mazda3 30794 Toyota Corolla 28295 Ford Falcon 27636 Holden Cruze 25147 Hyundai i30 24838 Hyundai Getz 21929 Mitsubishi Lancer 191210 Toyota Yaris 1799

Ford Australia decided to pass on the LPG-powered baby car to concentrate on Econetic, the fuel-efficiency sub-brand it will eventually migrate throughout its showroom models. The Econetic Fiesta is already tested and confirmed as Australia's most fuel-efficient new car - even topping the Toyota Prius hybrid - and demand is so strong that Ford cannot get sufficient stocks, even though the car is relatively costly at $24,990. The president of Ford Australia, Marin Burela, was part of the original Fiesta development team in Europe before returning home for the top job and knows all the detail on the LPG program. "I'm very familiar with the Fiesta LPG. At the time of developing Fiesta, I was adamant that we had to deliver Econetic and LPG derivatives," Burela says.  "The LPG was specifically targeted for Italy, the Netherlands - not as strong - as well as potential in the UK and a few in Germany. All of this was driven by the infrastructure that was available in Europe to support LPG and the fact that the Italian market has accepted LPG as a very viable and competitive alternative fuel."  But he says it was easy to go down the Econetic road in Australia, leaving LPG for the Falcon. "In Australia we elected to go for the Econetic derivative as our fuel leader. The strategy has worked extremely well with demand for the vehicle exceeding supply."  Despite the potential for a gas-powered baby car, Burela says the Fiesta is not currently on the shopping list. "At this stage we have no plans to introduce a LPG derivative," he says.  "However, as always  . . .  you never say never in our business. As we continue to evolve our plans we will continue to watch this space.  "The market will tell us if there is any potential for a LPG derivative in the future."

Australia's star in the World Rally Championship has been sitting on the sidelines since Subaru pulled out of motorsport before the start of the 2009 season, apart from a one-off run to fifth in Ireland in a Citroen.Now Chris Atkinson has been signed by Proton to lead its attack on this year's Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, which could easily become a stepping stone back into the WRC with the Malaysia maker. Proton is competing in the new S2000 category with a Satria Neo developed in Britain by Mellors Motorsport and Atkinson's team mate is speedy Scot Alistair McRae.The pair will open their 2010 action in just over a week in the Malaysian Rally before competing in six other events including Rally Queensland on the Sunshine Coast from July 31 to August 1. Ironically, Atkinson drove the course car for the Queensland event last year during a break at home on the Gold Coast while he was searching for a drive."I've been out for a year and that was tough, but to be out of the sport for two years would have been way too much," Atkinson says. "I really appreciate this opportunity to work with Proton, it's going to be great to get behind the wheel and go racing again."His car has been quick in previous starts, although not as pacey as the latest S2000 Ford Fiesta and Skoda Fabia. It has had several podium finishes in Europe. But the Asia-Pacific series has been dominated in recent years by another Australia, Cody Crocker in a showroom-class Subaru Impreza, and he is not competing in the championship this year as he works towards a start in the world championship.Atkinson has already tested the Proton in Wales and will run again in Malaysia before the rally, after a break this week in Queensland."I'm really excited about the year ahead. I've tested the Satria Neo S2000 briefly in Britain and it's a very, very good car," he says.Atkinson should be the pace-setter in the Asia-Pacific series after 32 points-scoring results in his 67 starts in the world championship with Subaru. He was also a class champion in the regional series with Suzuki on his way up the rally ladder."To be honest, I can’t wait to get started," Atkinson says.

Australian drivers have become shiftless slobs for whom changing gears is as inconceivable as flicking channels without a remote. But would you (re-)learn the art of stick shifting to save the planet?  I ask because the leanest running car in the country is not that ostentatiously shaped advertisement for your greener-than-thou self, Toyota’s Prius.It is, as this blog’s reader is aware, Ford’s Europe-designed and built Fiesta ECOnetic, with a small but relentless four cylinder turbo diesel driven through a five-speed manual that can realise as little as 3.7 litres per 100km. That’s opposed to the CVT-driven, petrol-electric hybrid Prius’s 3.9.OK, those figures have questionable real-world application, being achieved in the contrived circumstances of official testing. What is of real-world significance is the disparity in price – the Pious … sorry, the Prius begins from just under 40 big ones.  The ECOnetic is to be had from $24,990. And there’s no issue with the brakes.The Ford, is of course, smaller than the Toyota, but there’s no shortage of slightly larger diesel sippers whose consumption and emissions figures barely exceed the Prius in the real world.And increasingly, manual oilers will get stop-start, the tech currently being rolled out by BMW and Audi, such as the seamless A5 2.0 TFSI we had last week. Coupled with energy recovery systems, these can save around a litre of juice per 100km and 5g of Co2 per klick.If you don’t find the Fiesta and Prius readily comparable, the Mazda6 and Toyota’s Camry couldn’t be more so -- not least the Diesel 6 (5.9l/100km) at $36,250 and the Camry Hybrid (6l/100km) at $39,990. Lineball stuff consumption wise, but if you’re serious about preserving the ice caps, surely every litre and gram counts.If it’s not easy being green, changing gears really isn’t that hard.   Harden up, soft cogs.

And just sometimes, you can get it all and still hear the reassuring sounds of change rattling in your pocket.  Small cars don't have to be cheap and nasty or even perform like an asthmatic snail in a bid to maximise fuel economy. Nor do they have to be cramped or have the visual appeal of a packing crate that instantly identifies you as cheap.  Here are five small cars that will haul you and three friends - and do it on a miserly fuel budget.The good news is they're all less than $30,000. And that includes comprehensive safety features with electronic stability control and ABS brakes.  But best of all, turn up the wick and these things will give you a decent thrill.  Two are turbocharged and one has a 2.5-litre engine. No need to be red-faced at the traffic lights in these.Mitsubishi Colt RalliartThis looks like a small apartment block sitting on a cute set of alloys. In fact, it's a powerhouse that will dust of a lot of cars with twice the engine capacity and has room for four adults, parks in weeny car bays, runs on a sip of fuel - though you'll need premium brand - and is the perfect shopping trolley for people who like their food fast.Price: $25,740Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 113kW/210NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.7 l/100km premiumPerformance: 0-100km/h in 7.6 secSafety: two airbags, ESC, ABS, BAVolkswagen Polo GTIThis baby sister of the Golf GTI quickly gets off the mark thanks to some component sharing and a 1.8-litre turbo engine. It comes only as a three door so may limit those with heaps of friends, though certainly looks as good as it goes. Solid German construction and versatile interior add to its appeal.Price: $26,990Engine: 1.8-litre, 4-cyl turbocharged 110kW/220NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.9 l/100km Premium0-100km/h: 8.2 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, diff lockFord Fiesta ZetecYou can get this in three and five-door versions (extra money for the five door) and while it's not turbocharged, is a spirited performer with lots of aesthetic charm. It's an easy hatchback to live with and aside from a small fuel thirst, runs on cheaper unleaded petrol. Comprehensive safety features show you care for your friends.Price: $20,490Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 88kW/152NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 6.1 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.2 sec (estimated)Safety: 5 airbags, ESC, ABS, BASuzuki Swift SportYou know the Swift, now meet its more beefed up brother. The Sport is unassuming though gets a bigger engine and tauter suspension to accentuate its handling and acceleration. That makes it as practical and reliable as its less-powerful relations. Also has great features and the full safety package.Price: $23,990Engine: 1.6-litre, 4-cyl 92kW/148NmTransmission: 5-speed manualFuel economy: 7.5 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 8.8 secSafety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BAMazda3 SP25This is a great package at a superb price. The SP25 just takes the refreshed Mazda3 to another level, boosting power and torque yet not crushing attributes such as its fuel economy. The features are also excellent as is the safety equipment. It's physically bigger than its rivals here and that means more cabin and luggage room, so it never feels like a small car.Price: $29,740Engine: 2.5-litre, 4-cyl 122kW/227NmTransmission: 6-speed manualFuel economy: 8.6 l/100km Unleaded0-100km/h: 7.9 sec (estimated)Safety: 6 airbags, ESC, ABS, BA

Back in 1999, the only diesel-powered vehicles on the Australian market were sports utility vehicles, light commercials and trucks.

Not only does the new Ford Fiesta Econetic turbo-diesel beat the Toyota Prius on price, but it is also more fuel-efficient. The Econetic goes on sale from December 1 with a drive-away price of $24,990 - $15,000 cheaper than the cheapest Prius hybrid. It also wins the fuel economy battle with a combined fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km, .02 of a litre better than the Prius. By Ford's own estimates, the Econetic will travel more than 1000km between refills. The newest Ford is also only the second car in Australia to achieve a greenhouse gas emission rating under 100g/km and the only non-hybrid car to get a low C02 figure of 98g/km. The hybrid Prius is the other with C02 emissions of 89g/km. Ford Australia president and chief executive officer, Marin Burela, has big hopes for the 1.6-litre TDCi, which could pave the way for other Econetics. He says the company is committed to achieving "fuel economy leadership in every segment in which we compete". The Econetic has already attracted a lot of interest from both private and fleet buyers. However, Burela is not prepared to put a sales forecast on the frugal hatch. "Right now we're taking it a step at the time," he says. "We're not wanting to be too bullish." However, it is clear Burela thinks the hatch will be a winner and attract city buyers. "I think it is a game changer for us," he says. He says the car is Ford's most visible commitments to going green. The success of the Fiesta, which is a sellout, is also expected to help Econetic sales, he says. "Most cars with this level of fuel efficiencies tend to compromise," he says. "This is no compromise." The Econetic, like the petrol Fiestas, is being sourced out of Cologne in Germany. However from mid-2010 Fiestas will be imported from Thailand and benefit from the Free Trade Agreement, wich should help lower prices. There are no plans to build the Econetic in Thailand, Burela says. At the heart of the five-door is Ford's Duratorq TDCI 1.6-litre four cylinder and five-speed manual transmission. It develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from 1750 revs. To help reduce emissions it gets a diesel particulate filter. Economy has improved through the use of low-rolling resistance Michelin tyres, a recalibrated transmission and final drive ratio and improved aerodynamics. The spare tyre has been dumped in an effort to save weight, replaced by a tyre ‘mobility kit’. Visually the car looks little different to a CL version, with steel wheels and a slightly lower ride high. The cabin remains the same, except for a green shift light indicator in the dials. And if the Fiesta Econetic takes off, Ford has more ultra-frugal diesels waiting in the wings. In Europe Econetic versions of the Focus and Mondeo are available. Burela says they could be easily added to the lineup. "We'll wait and see how the Fiesta goes first," he says. Ford executives will be watching Toyota's rollout of the hybrid Camry next year with strong interest before formulating a response. However, Burela says any fuel efficient strategy "must go down that path of affordable economy". Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

Car companies are about to be put to the test in the Global Green Challenge and Carsguide is going along for the ride. There are two key buzz words in today's world of clean, green motoring: more and less.Car buyers, pricked by an environmental consciousness, are driving demand for better efficiency to reduce the impact on their wallet and less emissions to reduce the impact on the environment.And there's an added caveat to this quest for green sustainability: it has to be affordable without robbing the family car of performance or driveability.Welcome to the challenge facing car designers as they chase motoring's holy grail — producing a workable, green friendly car for the future. A bookmark of just where the industry is at will be on display at the end of the month when the Eco Challenge for production cars, run in conjunction with this year's Global Green Challenge, sets out from Darwin on October 24 and heads south to Adelaide.It will be real-world 3000 kilometre reality check, albeit most of the driving will be on highways, to show buyers what more-for-less cars are available now, or the near future.This week car companies have been jostling as they line up for the starting grid — some have still to fully show their hand but organisers say 21 cars are expected to contest the Eco Challenge while a further 38 dedicated solar-powered cars will also follow the same route the following day in their own race.This year's production car field is an eclectic mix.Hyundai Hyundai is using the Global Challenge to launch its 2010 Santa Fe wagon, promising more power and reduced fuel consumption which will attract caravan owners looking for an alternative to heavier 4WDs.Hyundai's Team R has entered two Santa Fes, one of which will be driven by CarsGuide. The wagon gets Hyundai's new R turbo diesel and a new six-speed manual transmission along with a recalibrated suspension and steering package for our tougher road conditions. A six-speed automatic will be optional. The Santa Fe goes on sale at the end of the year.Skoda Skoda will use the event to showcase its new flagship, the Superb saloon. Skoda says the 2-litre direct injection turbo diesel is capable of 5.4l/100km on the highway, meaning you can marry luxury with economy.Suzuki will use the event to showcase the ability of the tiny Alto, which the carmaker claims can travel 100 kilometres on just 3.5 litres of precious fuel on the highway. Tests in India have already shown it can do better at 3l/100km.The car is being kept on the road by a team of apprentice automotive engineers from the Melbourne's Kangan Batman TAFE college.Holden Holden and Ford will be fighting each other in the Challenge. Holden had been tipped to show of a Commodore, which like Saab, can run on 85 per cent ethanol, or a diesel, but the General will instead showcase its recently launched 3-litre Omega Sportwagon, fitted with the new SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) engine and six-speed automatic transmission.Holden won't reveal what fuel economy goal it is aiming for but it maintains the SIDI is now the most fuel efficient Aussie-built six-cylinder in the market. Holden says the engine, rated at 9.3l/10km is 13 per cent more fuel efficient than the previous motor at 10.7l/10km.Ford Ford will come out fighting with an XR6 Turbo and a Fiesta Econetic which will be launched in November and has the potential to run at 3.7l/100km. Again, Ford won’t talk about economy goals.BMW BMW is another keeping its cards close to its chest until closer to race. It will have a fleet of three diesel Mini Ds, one of which is will be driven by former Le Mans winner Vern Schuppan. The 1.6-litre Mini diesel is capable of 3.9l/100km combined and 3.5l/100km on the highway.Tesla While all eyes will be on the known brands, one entry which will likely steal the limelight will be the all electric Tesla roadster — the world's first production all-electric car which is being entered by broadband company Internode.The company's managing director Simon Hackett imported the first car to Australia recently.Kia Kia has entered two LPG electric hybrid Fortes, which have a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to a small electric motor and lithium-polymer batteries — a first for a mass-production small automatic car. Kia says it can return 5.6l/100km.Based on the Cerato, the Kia Forte has the potential to make it to the Australian market next year for less than $30,000. Based on the Cerato The Forte was launched in South Korea in August and displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month.NON-PRODUCTION AND EXPERIMENTAL CARS Independent team Deep Green Research has come to the party with an electric Honda.Students from South Australia's Annesley College have built a petrol/electric hybrid Holden Viva. The all-girl Annesley team has taken part in previous solar challenges but this is the first time they have entered the production car class. The students will be driving the car on the 3000km journey.Research and development company Intex is entering a four-cylinder petrol Ford Spectron Van with a retrofit hybrid system that converts the drivetrain to a plug-in hybrid electric.Absent This year Toyota is a notable non-starter after impressing in 2007 with its Prius.And there has been a late scratching with Volvo confirming it was withdrawn its two C30 DRIVe hatchbacks because they are stuck on a ship from Europe, a victim of stormy weather in the Atlantic. Volvo had high expectations for the 1.6-litre diesel which sips a claimed 3.8l/100km. The eco hatch will now be launched in Australia early next year. 

The company already gets the Escape off-roader from Taiwan and Ranger ute out of Thailand, which will be joined mid-2010 by the Fiesta hatch. Now an as-yet unnamed Asian plant will build the next-generation global Focus sedan and hatch for local launch in 2011."But in terms of the detail and what location in Asia it is still to be finalised," according to Ford Australia president, Marin Burela. A decision is expected within a few months. Thailand is unlikely despite a $608 million upgrade to the Auto Alliance Thailand joint-venture plant at Rayong south-east of Bangkok.Ford announced earlier this year that the upgrade would allow AAT to lift production capacity from 175,000 to 275,000 vehicles a year, building the Mazda2 and Fiesta for export markets. If AAT had the capacity for Focus, Thailand would be attractive as Australia enjoys a free trade agreement with zero tariffs with the Asian country.Burela backs his decision to cancel local Focus production. He says the global car industry was different back in July 2007 when Ford originally announced it would build 40,000 Focuses a year at Broadmeadows, with 15,000 exported to Asian and African markets.Since then the industry has been rocked by the global financial crisis. "The economic climate has changed," Burela says. "When we made this decision in 2007 it was the right decision at that time. Since then the world has changed and the rules have changed completely."The decision to abandon the Focus Broadmeadows plan was not taken lightly. "I think we're responding absolutely appropriately with the direction that we're taking," he says. "We came to the conclusion that to make a small car viable with the right level of technology, feature, content, styling in this country we needed to bring the most competitive levels of opportunity with that vehicle""We recognised, after studying this to death, that there was just no appropriate way for us to be able to do that by producing the vehicle locally."Burela is confident the next-generation Focus will lift the company's ability to compete in the C-car segment. "The C-car segment is very crowded," he says. "There are 24 different competitors fighting for 180,000 units in this country."The key for success here is you have to make it right, it has to be competitive and it has to have the highest level of technology, features and content. We are so confident we will deliver."

The same technology that gives the Fiesta diesel a fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km is expected to make it into other Fords.Ford Australia president and CEO Burela admits that he would like to see a whole range of ECOnetic Fords.In the UK, ECOnetic models are available in Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo."We're looking and studying that as an option but it's too early to say," he says."We'll start off with the Fiesta though."Full local specifications and ECOnetic pricing will be released closer to the hatches on sale date around October.In the UK the five-door ECOnetic is $1000 less than the five-speed manual Titanium 1.6-litre petrol hatch, which closely equates to the Australian-spec $20,990 Zetec 1.6 five-speed.Burela describes the Fiesta ECOnetic is "an economy car without compromise".Since its launch in Janaury, the petrol Fiesta is proving a big hit for Ford.Demand is outstripping supply, particularly for Zetec models."We think that with the ECOnetic that will take that to another level," Burela says.He believes buyers are ready and prepared to pay for a car like the ECOnetic."We think that we need to offer the Australia customers a choice," he says."We thought why not introduce it to the range and give the consumers the choice of where they want to go."The Fiesta ECOnetic looks and drives just like the conventional hatch, using conventional diesel powertrain technology.Power comes from a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel with a particulate filter to reduce harmful emissions.The engine develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from just 1750 revs.Apart from its hybrid-busting fuel economy, the modern direct-injection diesel has a C02 emissions figure of just 98 g/km.Burela says the car has the potential to deliver best-in-class CO2 emissions compared to the current crop of competitive vehicles, as well as against today's most popular hybrids.Apart from the specially calibrated diesel, the car uses low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic aids, longer final drive gear ratio and 10mm lower suspension for reduced drag.The driver also gets a green shift indicator light in the instrument cluster, which signals the best gear change point to maximise fuel economy.To help reduce weight there is a tyre mobility kit rather than a traditional spacesaver spare.Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.