Ford Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta is a mid-class supermini car designed by the Ford Motor Company in Europe, and also manufactured in Brazil, Mexico, China, India and South Africa. It is now marketed worldwide, including Japan and Australasia, but was only sold briefly in North America. It is one of Ford's most successful cars with over ten million sold in six distinct generations since 1976 and production continues as of 2006.

History

In the early 1970s, demand from consumers for small cars was rising, as Ford's competitors were launching cars like the Fiat 127 and the Renault 5. The effects of the 1973 energy crisis was also affecting demand. Ford needed a small car to compete in this emerging market. After research and many mock-ups, a prototype and project known as "Bobcat" was created, which would be the basis of Ford's new car, the "Fiesta". After years of speculation by the motor press about Ford's new car, it was unveiled in late 1975.

Mark 1 (1976–1983): Birth of the Fiesta

The Fiesta Mk I was launched in 1976. It was also a breakthrough for Ford as it was their first truly successful front wheel drive car. It was also the first new Ford car since the Ford Granada five years earlier. The first generation Fiesta was also a "world car", an "Americanised" version being sold in the United States from 1978 to 1980 where it was classified as a subcompact car. The Fiesta's small size prompted American management to invest in what would become the European Mk III Escort introduced in 1980, and the first generation American Escort, introduced in 1981. Mechanically, the Fiesta followed tradition, with an end-on four-speed manual transmission mounted to a new version of the Ford Kent OHV engine dubbed "Valencia", named after the brand new Spanish factory in Almusafes, Valencia, developed especially to produce the new car. Ford's plants in Dagenham, England and Cologne, Germany were also used to manufacture Fiestas.

The Fiesta was a runaway success overnight, and the one millionth Fiesta was produced on January 9, 1979. The car was available with 957 cc (high compression and low compression options), 1.1 and 1.3 L OHV petrol engines and in base, Popular, L, Ghia and S trim, as well as a van. A sporting derivative (1.3 Supersport) was offered in 1980, effectively to test the market for the similar XR2 introduced one year later, which featured a 1.6 L version of the same engine. Black plastic trim was added on the exterior and interior, and the car looked exciting. The small square headlights were replaced with larger circular ones resulting in the front indicators being moved into the bumper to accommodate the change. In a stroke, Ford had created a cult car so beloved of boy racers throughout the 1980s. But with a four-speed transmission and just 84 bhp initially, the performance of the early XR2 hot hatch was disappointing compared with later rivals.