Ford Fiesta 2011 News

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.

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.

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.

Ford Australia announced this morning that it will add a hybrid-beating turbo-diesel Fiesta to its lineup later this year. Unveiling what he describes as one of the most fuel-efficient hatches available, Ford Australia president and CEO Marin Burela, said the Fiesta ECOnetic was “an economy car without compromise”. The modern direct-injection 1.6-litre diesel Fiesta ECOnetic achieves a fuel economy figure of just 3.7 litres/100km with a C02 emissions figure of just 98 g/km. The ECOnetic is powered by a 1.6-litre TDCi diesel with a particulate filter that develops 66kW at 4000 revs and 200Nm from just 1750 revs. “The Fiesta ECOnetic will enable customers to drive a mainstream, fuel efficient and low CO2 emitting vehicle that is also stylish and affordable,” Burela said. “By launching a specific model, with dedicated Ford ECOnetic badging to designate its ultra-low CO2 results, we will be able to offer a clear alternative for those customers who prioritise low emission performance.” The Fiesta ECOnetic could also pave the way for other ECOnetic models. “Fiesta ECOnetic looks and functions just like conventional Fiesta, using conventional diesel powertrain technology,” Burela said. “Yet it 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. The car uses a combination of the latest generation common rail diesel powertrain, together with low rolling resistance tyres, aerodynamic aids, longer final drive gear ratio, 10mm lower suspension and specially calibrated diesel. As well, the driver gets a green shift indicator light in the instrument cluster, which signals the optimal point to change gear to maximise fuel economy. The car gets a tyre mobility kit rather than a traditional spacesaver space to help further reduce weight. Full local specifications and pricing will be released at a later date. However, the UK-spec five-door ECOnetic costs $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.   The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... Make One Degree of difference today by calculating your carbon footprint and finding out what you can do to reduce it.

The Swiss show this week turned a significant corner, brushing aside traditional glitz and glamour to tackle the more sombre environmental issues.The show's displays confronted visitors with the speed and breadth of low-emission vehicle development.The change that is sweeping Europe and is relentlessly marching on other markets, including Australia, is spurred by consumer demands for low-emission cars and future European legislation that will dramatically curtail exhaust pollutants.Ford Europe's vice-president for environmental affairs, Wolfgang Schneider, said there was a global move to reduce emissions and create energy independence through minimising the use of fossil fuel.But rather than make hybrids, or wait for fuel-cell vehicles that use hydrogen, European car companies are seeking less radical and less expensive options.“The mainstream solution is to take conventional technology and turn it green,” he said.“Consumers want what they have now — cars that are well priced, have sporty driving manners, are comfortable and affordable to run — but they want to be environmentally aware. More importantly, they don't want to pay for it.”Ford released its new Fiesta small car that emits less than 120g of CO2 for every kilometre, the future legislated threshold proposed by the European Union.“We can do this by using current engineering — that is, to reduce the vehicle's weight, make the car more aerodynamic, and use low-friction lubricants,” Dr Schneider said.“The Fiesta, with 99g/km, equates to a fuel economy of 3.8 litres/100km. As long as we can get these low emissions and low fuel consumption by existing technology, the less need we have to rush into building hybrid vehicles.“If we decide on a hybrid, it will immediately add about $6000 to the car's price. Customers won't pay that.”Ford in Europe also offers one Flexifuel version which runs on biofuel for every model. But the pick-up is poor compared with diesels.Volvo, which sits under the Ford umbrella, offers biofuel models, but believes high-efficiency diesels are the best option.Volvo chief Steven Armstrong said his company would soon offer a high-efficiency version of its C30 three-door hatch that emits less than 120g/km.He said it was also developing a plug-in electric C30 version.The battery is charged by plugging the car into a power source, usually overnight. The battery runs four electric motors, each within the wheel hubs.When the battery runs low, a small four-cylinder, ethanol-fuelled engine is automatically started to run a generator to recharge the battery.Volvo insists that the power source to charge the battery must be sustainable, preferably solar or wind-generated.“We will have a hybrid of the XC60 (a small SUV released this week and expected in Australia later this year) in 2010 and other hybrids may follow,” Mr Armstrong said.“Hybrids are great for the city where there is low-speed operation, but we believe that an efficient diesel is far, far better for the environment.“We will have an XC60 diesel with 170g/km CO2 on the market within 12 months.”Many manufacturers at the Geneva Motor Show displayed diesel-fuelled vehicles that use an ammonia-based liquid that results in extremely low emissions of nitrogen. Companies such as Mercedes-Benz call it BlueTec.But it's not on the way to Australia, certainly not this year.Volkswagen has a similar system called BlueMotion that could be here as early as late 2009.Volkswagen showed a concept diesel-hybrid that it claims will consume only 3.4 litres/100km.One further way many car makers are minimising fuel consumption and reducing emissions is by offering models with smaller engines.This “downsizing” is being adopted by Volvo (it has a two-litre, four-cylinder engine option for its S80 luxury sedan) and Ford (1.6-litre engine for the medium-size Mondeo).The legislation on emissions will come into force from January 1, 2012.However, the rush to clean up the current fleet of cars is also being pushed by new US emission legislation that will come into effect about the same time as Europe.When introduced, both sets of legislation will affect the vehicles available to Australian buyers.