Ford Fiesta News

Future small Ford cars could be driven by motors in the wheels, leaving more space in the cabin and luggage area. And the potential to park a car sideways. Ford's Fiesta-based eWheelDrive concept uses electric motors housed inside each of the rear wheels, leaving the under-bonnet cavity -- usually occupied by an engine and gearbox -- free for a big boost in cargo space. Future production models could boast smaller overall proportions, but maintain existing levels of interior space. Ford suggests that such packaging benefits could result in four-seaters that are no larger than an existing two-seat city car, such as Smart's ForTwo. The technology for the Fiesta eWheelDrive concept has been developed in conjunction with Shaeffler, a component manufacturer based in Germany. Shaeffler's in-wheel motors also have the ability to steer, which could lead to production models with the ability to park sideways. This would prove a boon for congested city environments. The in-wheel motors also combine all drive, braking, and stability aids within the motor unit, which will offer designers freedom to create future production models that appear vastly different to today's city-car norm. "This highly integrated wheel-hub drive makes it possible to rethink the city car without restrictions, and could be a key factor in new vehicle concepts and automobile platforms in the future," said Peter Gutzmer, chief technical officer, Schaeffler. Ford and Schaeffler plan to develop a further two driveable eWheelDrive concepts by 2015, with the aim to improving the motors' integration and fun-to-drive factor.  

Norwegian rally driver Mads Østberg has entered the record books by completing the longest jump on snow, smashing his previous record set last year. The 25-year-old piloted a current Ford Fiesta WRC car up a ramp and over a distance of 60.48 metres to secure the record. In the approach to the ramp, Østberg’s Fiesta WRC reached speeds of up to 145km/h. As the video shows, his co-driver, Jonas Andersson, was also in the car. Fortunately, the duo made it to the other side unharmed. The stunt occurred at Norway’s largest ski resort located in Trysil. However as noted by World Car Fans, Travis Pastrana still holds the record for the longest jump in a car: an impressive 82 metres that he set behind the wheel of a Subaru rally car back in 2009. www.motorauthority.com  

When Ford showed the Fiesta ST Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, we all knew it was only a matter of time before a production model made its debut. And one year later, at this year's 201

India will be a major supplier to Ford's Asian plants, including making engines for the Australian-bound Fiesta and Focus. Engines will also go to Europe. Ford executive of manufacturing for Asia Pacific, Gary Johnson, overnight says: “From an engine perspective, we'll be exporting not just to Europe but also to Thailand”. Thailand makes the Ford Fiesta and Focus passenger cars, as well as the Ranger ute. If somewhere needs more engines and we've got the capability, then we're going to ship them,'' Mr Johnson says. India has three manufacturing plants in India. One makes the small Fiesta-based EcoSport SUV - in Australia early next year - and another is an engine plant that now makes a 1.2-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel.A 1-litre turbo-petrol engine - to be used in the EcoSport, Fiesta and Focus - is being added to production. Mr Johnson says Ford has the capacity in India to build 600,000 engines by 2015. It will also be capable of building 450,000 small cars. Ford boss Alan Mullaly, speaking to Carsguide in Delhi in February this year, says that in Asia, India would be a centre for light to small cars while “other Asian” centres would make small to mid-size cars (for example, Focus in Thailand).Ford has invested more than $2 billion to build factories in India. It is rated eighth in terms of sales in India, behind market leaders Hyundai - which makes the i20 for Australia in India - and Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra-Ssangyong. Ford India currently exports 40 per cent of its engine production and 25 per cent of its car production to 35 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa. 

The price to get into a Ford may drop in the future, with the company saying it is considering a new budget model. Ford CEO Alan Mulally said yesterday the company would look at adding a cheaper subcompact car based on the Fiesta platform, according to a report in industry journal Automotive News Europe. "We are looking around the world at opportunities to offer a car priced below the Fiesta," Mulally is cited as saying in the report. He added that the  model -- with a working title of  'Value B' -- would not sacrifice any of the Fiesta's size, but would be declined to discuss where the car would be built and which particular markets it would target.  If offered in Australia it would  create a lower entry point to the  brand, which has opened here with the Fiesta for close to a decade since Ford dropped the Fiat 500-based Ka minicar -- which still sells in overseas markets. The base model Fiesta currently sells for around $15,000 drive-away, but a cheaper version would probably look to swipe sales from the bargain heroes like the Holden Barina Spark (currently $13,800 drive-away), Hyundai i20 ($13,500 drive-away) and Nissan Micra ($13,000 drive-away) and -- depending on price point -- perhaps even the Suzuki Alto ($11,000 drive-away). In a market segment where price is the main priority, offering a Blue Oval badge at a bargain price is bound to be attractive to buyers. Mulally reportedly pointed to a global platform and parts-sourcing as being key to keeping the cost of the proposed Value B model low -- and some Ford fans will be keen to speculate on whether that offers the possibility of the Model B being built here.  

Scheduled to go on sale here towards the middle of 2013, the Ford Fiesta range will kick off with the tiny 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that claimed the World Engine of the Year award a few months ago. “We’ve confirmed the three-cylinder turbo for the Fiesta,” Ford spokesman Neil McDonald says. “Originally it was going to be the EcoSport SUV  but Fiesta will beat it to market by several months. The turbocharged engine is offered in two levels -- 74kW/170Nm and 92kW/200Nm – but there’s no indication yet of whether we will get both. “It’s a little bit early to talk what the engine line-up will be,” McDonald says, although agreeing there would have to be consideration of whether the local market would go for two 1.0-litre versions or would expect to see a larger unit in the upper spec cars. The leaked official images show the main styling changes are focused on the nose, which gets the Aston Martin-flavoured grille shape -- already worn by the overseas Ford Fusion (Mondeo) – set off with a new front bumper and headlight clusters featuring LED running lights. McDonald says it’s also too early to discuss whether price and specification levels will change markedly from the current range, which opens with the $16,990 CL and tops out at the $23,490 Zetec – or whether they will be joined by the Fiesta ST seen overseas. “There’s been a Fiesta ST concept vehicle shown in Europe but we haven’t confirmed it for here,” he says. “For the rest of the range, it’s too far out to talk about price, but we plan to remain competitive. The Fiesta has been doing quite well -- around the 700 per month. It’s been a pretty strong seller for us.” While the release of fresh metal can often mean extra demand that constrains supply of some imported cars, McDonald points out Asian production means it won’t be a problem for the Fiesta. “Our vehicles are built in Thailand so I don’t think supply is going to be an issue,” he says.  

While it’s not meant to fill in for a future Fiesta ST, the Fiesta Metal gets a higher-tuned 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol four-cylinder.

The world's top hoon has turned the city of San Francisco into his Ultimate Playground for GYM5. Block's team -- headed by director Ben Conrad -- filmed the action over four days. The epic result features cameos from DC athlete and longtime Ken Block friend, Travis Pastrana, to make a cameo appearance on his dirtbike, and S.F. resident Jake Phelps of Thrasher Magazine.  But the real supporting star is the city itself, with Block showing it off in a way it's tourism board has probably never imagined. However Block has obviously had some official cooperation from city hall, with the streets being cleared except for a couple of San Francisco's iconic trams -- which he puts to good use in his signature style.