Ford reveal four flavours of Fiesta in Germany
Ford have taken the covers off their new all-new 2017 Fiesta range at the manufacturer's own reveal in Cologne, Germany.
Four variants have been shown off so far — including the new ST Line, and for the first time ever a soft-roader version named the Active — which compliments Ford's already extensive range of SUV-style vehicles. The Titanium and range-topping Vignale complete the line-up.
“As the small car segment continues to diversify, our next-generation Fiesta will deliver an option for every driver – from downsizing customers who want big-car quality in a small car package, to growing numbers of crossover consumers,” said Ford Europe boss Jim Farley.
Despite looking somewhat similar to the current Fiesta, the newly launched car is all new — sporting larger dimensions, improved safety, and improved emissions.
That final point will be delivered via a new 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder engine that Ford says will have the ability to ‘switch off’ certain cylinders when they're not required in order to save fuel. It reportedly does this by stopping fuel delivery to one cylinder while simultaneously stopping valve operation when “coasting or cruising.”
How long will this process take? 14 milliseconds, or “20 times faster than the blink of an eye” Ford says.
“Ford has pushed back the boundaries of powertrain engineering once again to further improve the acclaimed 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, and prove that there is still untapped potential for even the best internal combustion engines to deliver better fuel efficiency for customers,” said Ford vice president of Global Powertrain Engineering Bob Fascetti.
Rounding off the changes is a revised interior design, sporting a more premium and less cluttered design and interface — underlined by a big floating (optional) 8" screen that dwarfs many of the other features.
Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Active Park Assist with Perpendicular Parking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System, and Lane Keep Aid are among the on-board driver aids one gets to play with, making this one of the more technologically advanced small cars you can buy.
All of which means that the Fiesta looks set to retain its title as one of the most popular cars in the supermini class when the new range lands next year.
