By Bryan Redeker
Lately, there has a heated discussion on www.focaljet.com concerning the latest batch of spy pictures of the US Fiesta and how many current Focus owners are considering a Fiesta when they come out. The numbers in the poll seem to indicate there is still a concern that Ford US will make too many changes to the Fiesta and cheapen the car to such an extent that is becomes nothing more than the botched 05-09 Focuses. Looking at the spy pictures and knowing Ford’s track record with trying to bring Ford EU goodness to the states, their concerns are well warranted. Heck, I even lost sleep over the thought about what a group of misguided designers could do to the near perfect Fiesta I am driving. Thoughts of giant chrome grilles, cheap plastic, little wheels, soft suspension, removal of any tech features, large bumpers, fake chrome vents stuck on the fenders, basically turning the Fiesta into what the Focus evolved to. Scary vision for those of us who loved the 2000-04 Focus, and have felt sick to our stomachs since the botched 05 refresh and the terrible 2008 redesign that saw our beloved hatch go away. Europe received the absolutely amazing Focus, and we got stuck with hacked sheet metal and fake chrome vents. Disappointed is an understatement.
Enter the One Ford mission statement, and couple that with everything Ford NA is doing to promote the EU version of the Fiesta. The end result is hopefully an end to the era of top notch European Ford cars and mediocre US versions. I am sure the US Fiesta can’t be too different than the EU version, or else why bring the EU cars over here for people to try out. If Ford brought the current EU Focus over for people to test drive, and then delivered the 2007 US Focus instead, people would have cried. Everyone likes the new Fiesta, regardless of what side of the Atlantic you live on. Taking away the European feel of the Fiesta would remove some its allure. The uniqueness of having a small car with rear fog lamps, voice activated controls, leveling headlamps, key-less starting, incredible quality, outstanding fit & finish, BMW-like handling, and sheet metal that is drop dead gorgeous is what makes the Fiesta different than other B-segment auto’s. Trying to Amercanize the Fiesta could prove to be a fatal mistake, and turn a winner into an Aveo. The spy pictures indicated possible disaster, but trying to extrapolate the final design from a hacked up test mule is not a good idea. Just seeing the lack of turn-signals in the mirrors was enough to turn the enthusiasts into pitch-fork wielding mad men. Are those mirrors going into production? Are they borrowed from another market? What is the cost savings from doing the switch? If the mirrors are different, what else is different? These are the type of questions that come up from seeing a few spy photo’s. The real question is, how much of a shift has occurred from “I will buy a Fiesta when it comes out!” to “I will wait and see” as a result of seeing the difference between the Fiesta Movement cars and the sedan spy pics. Even I teetered on the fence, but decided to put my faith in Ford NA and hope the US car is not botched. It is hard to change perfect, and perfect is the Hot Magenta Fiesta I drove to work this morning.
So, if I do indeed order a Fiesta next spring, what would it look like? What options would I want to see? Well, here is my list based upon the car I am currently driving. All bets are off if the US car arrives with a leftover Fusion grille hodge-podged between the headlights. I am not a rapper, and I don’t want a chromed-out nose. Ok, now here is the list;
Exterior and mechanics:
- 2011 Fiesta 5-door hatchback
- 1.6L DOHC NA engine or possible EcoBoost if available
- Manual transmission, either 5 or 6 speed. Don’t care for a flappy paddle gearbox
- White exterior paint
- Aerodynamics package (once again, hoping it is offered)
- Front and rear fog lamps
- Chrome trim around the base of the side windows, and around the lower grille
- Performance or upgraded suspension package (same as the Fiesta Movement cars have)
- 17″ wheels, or possibly 16″ so I can use them for winter wheels. I have my own custom 17″ wheels I am planning on using.
- Front roof mounted antenna and turn-signal side mirrors
- Color-keyed door handles
- ABS and traction control, as long as the traction control can be switched off for track use
- Stability control, with on/off switch for track and winter use
- A/C with recirculation HVAC
Interior and tech features;
- Titanium equivalent interior appointments
- Black/dark grey leather with heated seats
- Logo floormats
- Black carpet and interior trim
- Sync
- Rain sensing wipers
- Keyless entry/push-to-start button
- Automatic headlamps with projector low beams
- 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel
- SiriusXM radio, as long as the car keeps the front mounted antenna
- Interior accent lighting, just like the EU cars
- Center console WITHOUT an armrest
- Trip computer
- LCD interior temp gauge and HVAC function display (same as EU cars)
Many of the items listed are exactly the same as the car I am currently driving for the Fiesta Movement. In fact, if I could just buy my exact car in white, I would do it instantly! I could even live with Magenta if it meant getting a car that is as good as what I am driving. History shows that there are still some concerns. What if you can’t get a manual gearbox with the top of the line interior? The Fusion Sport is a prime example of how people don’t get it. Ford makes a sport version of the Fusion, but sticks it with an automatic. There is nothing sporty about an automatic. Could the same be true for the Fiesta? What if you get stuck with a flappy paddle gearbox if you want the upgraded suspension? What if leather comes only with an automatic? Trying to make packages for people to order is a bad idea. Let people pick and choose their options, rather than forcing them into packages. Chances are, if you buy a Fiesta, you don’t fit into a “package” demographic. You want to be different, you want to stand out, and you are not vanilla ice cream.
Here’s an evolution from Verve to latest prototype. And admittedly, this last one looks better than the one we saw before, with the rivets and the black and chrome door window strips. And lo and behold: blinkers in the mirrors!
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-fiesta-sedan.html
As for all your options — here’s the German pricelist (has more options than British pricelist):
Entry-level 5 door model with 1.25L: €12,250 / $17,105
Upgrade base trim to Titanium trim: €3,000 / $4,190
Upgrade 1.25L 59bhp to 1.6L Ti-VCT 118bhp: €2,000 / $2,795
15″ alloys: €40 / $55
16″ alloys: €250 / $350
17″ alloys: €585 / $815
Leather seats: €1,170 / $1,635
Titanium-X package: 16″ alloys/dark rear side windows/dark back window: €310 / $435
Style-X package: 17″ alloys/dark rear side windows/dark back window: €560 / $780
Stylingvpackage II: bigger roof spoiler/front spoiler bumper/sports grille/rear diffusor: €500 / $700
Styling package III: bigger roof spoiler/16″ alloys/sports grille: €310 / $435
Styling package IV: stainless steel scuff plates/velours mats/alu look gearstick+brake: €150 / $210
Styling package V: as IV with illuminated logo and illuminated gearshift knob: €390 / $545
Individual package I: leather seats, headrests, door insets in contrasting color (red/silver)/sport seats/leather steering wheel, gearshift knob in contrasting color/center console/airvents and doorhandles in ‘Stirling Silver’/special floormats: €1,230 / $1,720
Keyless entry/Power button: €430 / $600
Heated electric folding mirrors: €60 / $85
Heated windscreen: €210 / $295
Bigger roof spoiler: €195 / $275
Mudguards front, rear: €50 / $70
Dark rear side windows/dark back window: €170 / $235
Rear electric windows: €150 / $210
Automatic airconditioning upgrade: €305 / $425
Aluminum pedals: €50 / $70
Heated front seats: €175 / $245
I couldn’t find any of your other wishes, so they must be standard on the Titanium model as only some are options on lower spec cars:
Park-Pilot system rear: €355 / $495
Park-Pilot system front and rear: €455 / $635
Front foglights: €210 / $295 (rear foglight(s) are mandatory in EU)
Auto wipers/Auto headlamps: €145 / $200
Standard airconditioning: €1,140 / $1,590
Automatic airconditioning: €1,445 / $2,015
Leather 3 spoke steeringwheel: €155 / $215
Trip computer: €145 / $200
Power windows front: €265 / $370 (yes, the entry-level model doesn’t have this!)
Central door locking with remote: €100 / $140
Mind you: the dollar is a bit weak and German labour is expensive: it probably could be made much cheaper in Mexico.
So the base 5 door 1.25 is €12,250 / $17,105 in Germany. What about other European countries?
Poland: 40,800 zł = $12,575
Czech republic: Kč 259,990 = $13,500
Italy: €11,650 = $16,319
UK: £10,895 = $17,445
Netherlands: €14,200 = $19,891
Portugal: €15,320 = $21,460 (due to local taxes)
Now you do the math 🙂
@Marc, market to market MSRP comparisons are useless.
EG: Price a Mazda3 in Germany or other EU markets and compare to USA similar spec’d of course.
Car MSRPs are market driven.
Very good blog Bryan!!
I’ve been reading around in the Focaljet Forum, and find it interesting reading. About the seating. There’s no “standard European size” The dutch are just about the tallest people in the world, apart from some Afrikan tribe, The average french are a lot smaller and thinner. When visiting London with our with a group of students we have been mistaken as a basketball team, that’s how bad it is. Generally there’s allways a compromise when choosing the seat’s, and likes and dislikes are very personal. In general Amerikans tend to like the seats a little wider, and a real sports-seat can cause a real limitation for the buyer group (Ever try to sit in a Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9, sporty legend in Europe, and you’ll get the point)
For Ford? get the sport seats as an option and your there.
About rear Foglight’s; There not a safety feature but compulsory in most European country’s so all car’s have them. But there are rules for using them; only when vision is very limited ( about 25 Yards) you’re allowed to use them, otherwise they are an irritation and distraction for the people behind you. There’s a big fine in The Netherlands if you forget to switch them off, and that’s a good thing.
@ Freez: yet after a heavily fogged up day or snowstorm, the next day I usually see cars with their foglights still on. Sometimes I try to overtake them and flash my foglight, hoping they understand what I’m trying to say. Usually in vain. I checked the web and the fine is €90 / $125.
BTW I’m 6 foot and among co workers one of the shorter people!
@Carl: Yes, I know one can’t compare prices, especially with a high income country like Germany and a middle income country as Mexico. Nevertheless it’s interesting to see what ‘big car’ options this little car has!
I saw some more spy pics this weekend, and they are showing more horizontal chrome bars in the upper and lower grilles. I am going to be sitting tight on my next car purchase until after the US is out and I have driven it. There is the potential for too many changes from the EU car to the US version. Chances are very high that the suspension will be softened for the US market. The handling and looks of the Fiesta are my two favorite things, and both are potentially being changed.
I posted the gamma enhanced picture on FiestaFaction 🙂
Upon closer inspection, I don’t think it’s chrome in the lower grille, but a part of the white bumper!
Are you, agents, in any kind of contact with Ford to vent your thoughts?
I looked at your picture Marc, and I can’t tell if that is bumper or a chrome strip. The agents are not directly in contact with Ford. Our blogs, video’s, ect can be viewed by Ford. I am going to Ford HQ next week, and I am going to attempt to answer some of concerns about the US car.
Good news from somebody who got a close look at a Fiesta mule today! There is no Fusion-like grille under the camo. The upper grille is very close to the Verve sedan concept, only with thinner bars. There is no chrome strips in the lower air intake, and the turn signals were back in the mirrors. The extra antenna is for transmitting data to Ford Engineering in real time, and is not going to replace the front mount antenna. Phew, these are all good things!
That leaves us with the underpinnings. Did the mule feature leaf springs? 🙂
I sure hope not! 🙂 Upgrading the rear suspension is not going to be easy on the Fiesta, as I do believe that the tubular “c” beam that connects the rear wheels together is different between handling packages. I can’t find the article that showed the rear suspension and said the size of that tube acts like a torsional spring, kind of like a giant integrated sway bar. If the US cars come with the standard Fiesta suspension, or softer than that, upgrading to the Titanium suspension will be a lot of work. Not as easy as the Focus with its multi-link, twist-blade rear suspension. I need to climb under the Fiesta and take a look at all of the suspension goodies.