The new range-topping model will be powered by either the new Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine producing 120PS (118 Horsepower) or a 1.6-litre 90PS Duratorq TDCi. The Fiesta Zetec S is capable of accelerating from standstill to 62mph in 9.9 seconds and it can reach a top speed of 120mph.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080716....fiesta-zetec-s

 

That is a sweet looking compact!

definatly best in class looks!

 

Great looking little car!

 

Note to Ford N.A., do NOT touch the styling, suspension or motor one bit beyond what's required by law. Do NOT goober it up to meet American tastes, this always results badly. There's a reason that the small Euro Fords have been doing so well and the American ones, well, not so much, so don't then try to make them into the small American Fords.

Can't wait till they pop out an RS version to really go after the Mini Cooper S.

 

If Ford did offer this car here more or less as is there would be one important change needed....this couldn't be marketed as an entry-level 'hot hatch' offering like it is in Europe. Even with the growing appetite for greater mpg's this car's power output is going to make it slow enough that power addled Americans would likely chuckle at the notion that this is in any way, shape, or form a performance car.

The truth is that we are likely to get different engines than the Euro cars with the first Fiesta 'engine package' offered after the initial Rocam four almost certainly being an Ecoboost model. This is no bad thing, since it means we will get a lot better performance out of our Fiesta models while still getting good fuel economy.

 

I don't think Americans will be happy with Fiesta's 60 hp and 80 hp engines.

 

An RS version would be sweet

Car looks awesome

 

I like it for what it is. If I was in the market for this, I would get it.

 

depends how high gas price goes.

 

I had 88hp in my Escort when I was very poor and $1.50 gas was high, and while I complained about it I did not mind the 38-40 mpg I could get on the highway. It saved me money thats for sure.

 

Good looking car. RS version with the right engine and suspension combo = drool worthy AND capable Fit/Yaris/Scion crusher. I'm starting to see "tuned" versions of these cars gaining more favor around here... IMO, Ford should have started offering these cars like this 2 years ago... I'd buy one to keep the Mustang company.

 

I love it.

 

i think it looks great, but doubt it would sell in the american market, it has a def. european flair, thats honestly not that popular here, unfortunately

 

Well, the Fit and the Echo are selling in droves - and with gas prices where they are, I don't see how this car could fail, personally...cause it's WAY nicer than either of those two fugly snoremobiles.

Now, if you mean the Middle American market, it might be less popular, but I'm betting it will do well in major metropolitan areas where people have to drive a lot, and in stop/start traffic.

 

Fit and Yaris don't have that whole Euro design that Fiesta has.
In fact, Fiesta is starting to remind me a lot of Peugeot.

 

What's your point?

You make it sound like it's a good thing the Fit and Yaris don't have the "whole Euro design" thing; ironic, since this new Fiesta blows both away in the looks department.

It would be a serious mistake to think that just because this Fiesta has a "Euro" flavor that it will be shunned by Americans. Where it's most needed - the big metro areas - it will no more be shunned than the Mini Cooper (another "Euro flavored" car that seems to have no trouble selling whatsoever).

 

That's exactly my point, Euro design has never been popular in the States unless we're talking about luxury cars like Mercedes and BMW.

Why do you think companies like Fiat and Peugeot and Citroen ... don't sell their cars in the USA?

 

It's an erroneous point, IMO. We're not talking about Fiat, Peugeot and Citroen - most of which have too esoteric of a brand identity to succeed here (and two of which are French - not perceived as high watermarks of quality in North America)...rather, we're talking about Ford.

That said, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Fiat 500 made it to our shores eventually.

Times change...the world marches on... North American buyers have been voting with their wallets for the past 20 years, and what they're telling manufacturers is that they prefer Eurasian cars over North American ones.

 

Fiat 500 will be here in 2010 or 2011 I think, but only Abarth (turbo & 135 hp) model. It will be sold through Maserati dealers.
I saw 500 in Europe last week and I guarantee you that Americans won't like it too much. It can barely fit 4 people and it's pretty expensive (13,000 euros = $20,000 for the base model). Now, I know that Fiat won't charge the same price for both Europe and America, but I don't think they will modify it much since 500 is a huge success in Europe and if Americans don't wanna pay that much for a base model there are plenty of Europeans who will.
For Europeans 2008 Fiat 500 was the same thing 2005 Mustang was for American. I like it, but I grew up in the country that built original Fiat 500 (as Zastava 500) and I can still see plenty of them on the streets.

Anyway, I'll be really surprised if Ford sells more than 50,000 Fiestas in a year. Ford should focus more on Focus and Fusion because those two have an opportunity to be a real strong sellers.

 

The 500 falls in the same "cool retro Euro subcompact" category as the Mini Cooper. And we all know how well that's done. Unless gas falls below $100 a barrel again (ain't gonna happen), these stylish, retro, higher-tech subcompacts will become the new chic in the major metro areas - the ultimate cool city runabout. Bank on them doing well.

I'll be really surprised if they sell less than 50,000.