Ford Fiesta 2016 News

The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has commenced legal proceedings against Ford Motor Company of Australia.

A quartet of new Ford Fiestas has been unveiled in Germany, but the Australian version will soldier on to 2018.

Has the heat gone out of the new-car market? That's the question being asked after July sales dipped. We're still on track for a record year but there were more losers than winners last month.

If you’re in the market for an end of financial year (or EOFY) deal, our advice is to take some of the “deals” advertised online with a grain of salt.

One of the most awarded hot hatches on the planet, the Ford Fiesta ST, is about to get a price hike.

The New York motor show in April will see the announcement of which vehicle has won the 2014 World COTY, and there looks to be a tough -- and very varied -- field of finalists.Last year's winner was the Volkswagen Golf, which also took awards in pretty well every country on the globe. But this year it could be anything from the little electric BMW i3 to the offroading Jeep Cherokee and even the Citroen C4 peoplemover, judging by the shortlist.A panel of 69 motoring experts from around the world -- including Carsguide's Paul Gover and National Motoring Editor Joshua Dowling -- will choose the winner from: Audi A3, BMW 4 Series, BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Ford Fusion/Mondeo, Infiniti Q50, Jeep Cherokee, Lexus IS, Mazda3, Peugeot 308 and Skoda Octavia.The 10 finalists for the 2014 World Luxury Car are the Bentley Flying Spur, BMW X5, Cadillac ELR, Cadillac Escalade, Maserati Ghibli, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Sport and Rolls-Royce Wraith.Due to a tie, there are 11 finalists for the 2014 World Performance Car: Alfa Romeo 4C, Audi RS 6 Avant, BMW M6 Gran Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Ferrari 458 Speciale, Ford Fiesta ST, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, Mercedes-Benz A/CLA45 AMG, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Turbo and Volkswagen Golf GTI.A separate panel of five 'green' experts will choose the 2014 World Green Car from Audi A3 Sportback e-tron (+ Audi e-gas), BMW i3, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Volkswagen XL1.Similarly, a panel of five design experts will decide on the 2014 World Car Design of the Year, from among: BMW i3, Cadillac CTS, Citroen C4 Picasso, Mazda3, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Volkswagen XL1.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Ford’s Fiesta ST is already arguably the king of the light hot hatch set, but a new report out of the UK suggests that an even hotter RS version is under development. AutoExpress suggests that a RS-badged Fiesta could be followed by the much-anticipated third-generation Focus RS, if a business case can be made for the models. Ford has been toying with the idea of a Fiesta RS since at least 2004, with a pumped-up concept based on the previous generation model shown at the Geneva motor show that year. Stranding in the way of the number crunchers though is the current economic woes of the Ford hatches’ European-market heartland, and the plans are reportedly far from being locked in. If a green light is given, tradition suggests we’ll see the new RS models towards the end of the Fiesta and Focus model life cycles, which could result in a Fiesta RS arriving at least 12 months ahead of as Focus RS – and as soon as 2015. The likely power source for a Fiesta RS would be an uprated version of the ST’s 134kW/240Nm 1.6-litre turbo, producing in the order of 172kW to trump the existing 160kW/320Nm Mountune-enhanced version available overseas.  A tricky diff is possible to help put such power to the ground, along with widened tracks, monster brakes, and pumped wheelarches and other agressive body enhancements to help link it with the RS-liveried Fiesta WRC racer. Development mules have already been sighted of a Focus with the same treatment, with the likely motive source a version of the 2015 Mustang’s circa-227kW 2.3 litre EcoBoost engine. This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn  

For the launch of the hot Ford Fiesta ST in New Zealand, the carmaker commissioned the creation of a branded hot sauce, and then unleashed it in Auckland’s restaurants and cafes. To that end, they sought out the world’s hottest chili, the feared Trinidad Scorpion, which registers 1.463 million on the Scoville scale that measures heat of chili peppers. To give you some idea of just how eye-watering that is, the bird’s-eye chili in your pad thai is a wimpy 50-100,000 Scoville units. So the Trinidad Scorpion is up to 30 times hotter than anything you’ve accidentally chomped down from your local takeaway. Ford distributed 3000 bottles of their edible fire to restaurants and ran a promotion in which people could win a bottle to take home. Where no doubt it will come in useful to start barbecues and strip paint. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

The new Ford Fiesta range has been rationalised to petrol-only, killing off the 66kW/200Nm 1.6-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder that arrived here only in five-speed manual form. And Ford Australia's general sales manager Neale Hill is bullish about the mid-life update of new Fiesta line-up, which also introduced the scorching new Fiesta ST. Speaking at the Australian launch of the Fiesta and Fiesta ST, Hill said the Fiesta diesel went because just three per cent of buyers wanted the alternative option. The Fiesta is a member of the B-segment, along with cars like the Toyota Yaris and Mazda2. When asked if the Focus was having the same problem, he said that diesel power was "holding in the C-segment." When the refreshed Fiesta goes on sale in September, the mainstays of the range will be powered by a 1.5 litre Duratec in the Trend and Ambiente. Hill said the slight downsizing was in line with Ford’s strategy around the world. "It's part of a global shift (to smaller capacities) and is consistent with our competitors," he said. Both the Yaris and Fiesta are powered 1.5 litre units. The 1.0 litre EcoBoost Fiesta won't be ready until December as the factory in Thailand is yet to start producing the award-winning three-cylinder turbo. When the subject moved to the performance variant, the ST, Hill pointed out that the light performance sector had increased by 150 percent since 2011. Asked about his theory as to why that might be, his answer was a simple admission of being mystified. "We don't really know," he said. When pressed about expectedly monthly volumes, in light of the more expensive Peugeot 208 GTI's ambitious 25 per month estimate, he declined to comment but did indicate an initial shipment of 100 cars. They'll go quickly.  

VW's Polo GTI pioneered the path and we'll soon feel the need for some RenaultSport speed in the new Clio, as well as the Peugeot 208 GTi and Citroen DS3.But the Ford Fiesta ST shows the most promise. And it should also set the value standard with a starting price of $25,990 when deliveries begin this month.It's one of the baby cars that is converting youngsters from the former go-faster hero cars, the Subaru Impreza WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo, into something smaller, cheaper and more relevant. A slick-shifting front-drive baby makes more sense today than a fire-breathing AWD monster developed for forest racing.The arrival of the second-generation ST part of an update deal for the Blue Oval baby that will bring affordable performance to the smallest member of the Ford family, as well as mirroring the ST surge in the Focus line -- but for nearly $10,000 less.The Fiesta ST cannot come soon enough as Ford Australia searches for good-news stories for its showrooms in the wake of the death sentence for the locally made Falcon and Territory. The compact Kuga is already on the road and the SUV tiddler, the EcoSport, is coming soon.The fast-and-friendly Fiesta does the job. The 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine is a direct-injection four (134kW/240N) developed by Ford's RS division in Europe, which has been responsible for a string of hits including the wham-bam Focus RS that sold out in double-quick time in Australia. Even with the extra urge, there is a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy to 6.2L/100km.There is capped-price servicing. It's got everything from grippy Recaro bucket seats to carbon-fibre trim, 4.2-inch infotainment screen, push-button start, aircon and rear parking radar. Ford's Sync emergency-aid system is standard, making an SOS call on the driver's mobile if the car's airbag is triggered.There are obvious changes to the springs and dampers for a car that sits 15 millimetres lower than a regular Fiesta, with beefier brakes including rear discs and a sports-tuned, twin-pipe exhaust that promises WRX-style audio entertainment.There are inevitable body bits but also three-position stability control and electronic vectoring of torque to the driven wheels. But don't go shopping for an ST if you want an easy-going Fiesta -- it's six-speed manual only. If the Fiesta ST proves as enjoyable to drive as the bigger Focus ST, it is a certain winner here. And good buying, too.Ford Fiesta ST -- deliveries start this monthPrice: from $25,990Engine:1.6-litre turbo, 134kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.2L/100kmRIVALS Price: from $30,000 (arrives early 2014)Engine: 147kW/275NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.3L/100Km, 144g/km CO2 (Euro) There is a touch of Godzilla about the turbo RS baby, which makes a powerful and rewarding case on road and track. A preview drive in France this year was great fun but the price will go against it. Price: from $27,990 (on sale now)Engine: 132kW/250NmTransmission: 7-speed twin-clutch auto, FWDThirst: 6.1L/100km, 142g/km CO2 It might not have the all-out eagerness of the bigger Golf GTI but the Polo is a sweet little package. It's a refined car with enough edge to bring a smile but will struggle against its punchier new rivals. Price: from $29,990 (later this month)Engine: 147W/275NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 5.9L/100km, 139g/km CO2 Pitched as the spiritual successor to the 205 GTi from the 1980s. We question whether it has the driving enjoyment or the value in a class that's ever getting more competitive. Price: from $28,990 (on sale now)Engine: 141kW/230NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 7.5L/100km, 175g/km CO2 Regardless of the performance package, the Corsa is an old car. The OPC work is good across the Opel family but the Corsa is not cheap and this German brand is still scrabbling for traction in local showrooms. Price: from $29,740 (on sale now)Engine: 115kW/240NmTransmission: 6-speed manual, FWDThirst: 6.7L/100km, 155g/km CO2 Almost unknown in Australia but about to benefit from a DS push by new Citroen management. The DS3 trades on great looks but doesn't have the punch or price to challenge the Fiesta.