By Bryan Redeker
Check out some of great discussion in response to my blog concerning options and the US Fiesta! The comments are posted below my last blog, and include some outstanding discussions. Marc compiled a great list of options that the European Fiesta’s have, and many of us hope some of those things make it across the pond to our market. The latest batch of spy pictures ignited a great discussion on my blog, www.focaljet.com, and on www.fiestafaction.com. The discussions show there is still concern about the changes to the US car, but somebody who got close to a test mule was able to respond to some of those concerns. From his description, there doesn’t look to be multiple chrome strips running across the upper and lower grilles. Instead, the US car may be closer to the Verve sedan concept. While not as good looking as the EU Fiesta, it sure beats the alternative of having 3″ wide chrome bars running all over the front. There was also mention that the rear mounted antenna seen on the mules is for data telemetry and not for production. Once again, good news. The question still remains about the turn signals in the mirrors. Will the US car have them? We all hope so! Trying to plan out my next car purchase based upon camouflaged test mules is very hard! When I bought my ZX3, I had never seen one in person, nor drove one. The car turned out to be everything I ever wanted in a car. The same goes for the Fiesta I am driving, it is everything I want. I hope, just as many do, that the US Fiesta is very close to the outstanding Fiesta from Germany.
Bryan,
You’ve been driving the top of the line Titanium model with the top of the line 1.6 engine.
Assume that Ford wants to keep the Fiesta entry level priced (like the Yaris, Fit, etc) and offer the more expensive Titanium 1.6 as a Mercury, would you buy that instead?
Would you feel upset if the rear lamp cluster would look like the US Focus’ all red one, or would you rather have amber turn indicators? I read somewhere that one used the fog light as a turn indicator …
Talk about foglamps and turn indicators – foglamps and side turn indicators (either on the fender or in the mirror as first executed by Mercedes and then copied by VW) and height adjustment on headlamps are mandatory on EU cars. If these items would be deleted on the base model, would you be willing to pay extra to get this, even it it’s not obligatory in the US?
Finally, the base EU model has no chrome trim under the door windows, grille and in the headlamp cluster and no projector headlamps.
http://media.ford.com/images/10031/Ford%20Fiesta%20ECOnetic%202.jpg
Would you settle for this if it was the only version offered?
Hope to hear from you!
I surely would not buy a Mercury product. If the top of the line Fiesta came out as a Mercury product, I would buy something else. I don’t see Mercury as a global brand, and has zero motorsports presence. As for a base model Fiesta, I would not buy one of those either. I enjoy having all the equipment and technology in the Titanium Fiesta, and would not care to have a stripped down model. If the Ford NA version of the Fiesta is only a base model, and the upscale version is rebadged a Mercury, I would wait to see what the next gen Focus looks like or buy a Cooper S.
That’s clear.
And how about the tail light and things?
Just for fun, I took a picture out of my room:
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8214/130620091142.jpg
The light blue car is my dad’s Ford Fusion+. It’s basically a Fiesta but a little bit more squared and an inch longer. In front of it: an older model BMW 3 ‘touring’, to the right a Ford Fiesta and a Ford Mondeo wagon, the red thing is a Seat, the tail light is a Chrysler Voyager and lower right is my car, a Fiat. Before that I drove a Fiesta Mk2.
Did not know about the Fusion+ until your picture. The green car under the cover is your Fiat correct?
As for the taillights, I am ok with or without the amber signals. The US Focus did not have them, and it was fine. I like the amber better, but can live with either. I don’t think the lower relfectors could be used for turn signals as they are too low on the body. According to a recent discussion between an agent and somebody very close with the Fiesta program, the US car is to have pretty much all of the same features as the EU car plus some. I think the leveling headlights, rear fog will go away, and Sync will be added. If that is correct, I think the Fiesta will be a good hit in the US. The leveling headlamps is great, but surely something I can live without.
Yes, isn’t that funny that we have a car with a name similar to yours, albeit a totally different model?
Some website even get confused!
http://techwebtoday.com/review/ford-fusion.html
Apparently there was a third model based on the previous Fiesta, sold in South America aswell: the EcoSport.
And yes, under the cover is my Fiat barchetta.
Google is your friend!