Ford Fiesta, the all-new global small car from Ford of Europe will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The new Fiesta, sporting a host of big-size car elements, is the first product of the company's new global product development process.

With the new car, the futuristic interior from Verve Concept becomes production reality. "This new car embodies the very essence of Fiesta - fun, vitality and emotion," said John Fleming, president and CEO, Ford of Europe. "We know there isn't a better name for the new model, and we have over thirty years of investment in the Fiesta brand to consider."

"Fiesta has its heart in Europe but its eyes on the world," said Marin Burela, Ford's global executive director for small-car development. "We're building on Ford's heritage of excellence in small car development to give the new Fiesta truly global reach and identity. By 2010, this new small-car family will be manufactured in Europe, Asia and the Americas and be marketed as Fiesta in all of the world's key automotive markets."

The production of the car will commence in the autumn of 2008 at the company's Cologne plant, Germany.

"We're confident that the combination of dynamic new 'kinetic design' exterior, great interior design and craftsmanship, and a host of new technologies and features will provide compelling reasons for a new generation of customers around the world to take a fresh look at the Ford Fiesta. I know they will be both surprised and delighted with what they see and feel," Fleming added.

The new vehicle range consists of several Ford firsts for a small car (including the ones from later in 2008), another model in the new Ford ECOnetic range promising CO2 emissions of fewer than 100 grams per kilometre.

Features of the Fiesta:
The new model is lighter and stronger than its predecessor. This helps reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It also has an electric power assisted steering (E-PAS) and reduced road, wind and powertrain noise. 

The new car has an extremely sturdy safety structure including the new driver's knee airbag. The model makes extensive use of ultra high-strength steels, which are placed in safety critical areas like the A-pillar and B-pillar.

The new Fiesta has an array of five powertrain choices at launch from efficient 68 PS Duratorq TDCi diesel to new Duratec 1.6-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine that delivers 115 PS. Fiesta ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 model will deliver less than 100g / km emissions, says the auto maker. The Fiesta range also retains 1.25-litre (60 and 80 PS) and 1.4-litre (91 PS) Duratec petrol engines.

Amongst the big car technologies, the new car is equipped with bluetooth connectivity with voice control. The other features are the Ford Easyfuel, the convenient capless refuelling system recently introduced with the Ford Mondeo designed to prevent accidental misfuelling; reach and rake steering wheel adjustment; new ambient lighting features that provide a softly elegant red glow to discreetly highlight the interior of the vehicle; and 'One shot' up and down driver window with anti-trap technology.

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