We still have another year and a half or so before the new Ford Fiesta will be available at North American Ford dealerships but we may know today where the little car will be built. Ford is expected to announce today that Fiestas for the the U.S. and Canadian markets will be built at one of Ford's two Mexican assembly plants. When Ford launched the Fiesta at the Geneva Motor Show, they announced that the cars would be produced in Europe and Asia for those markets but had not yet decided where to source the North American edition.

Also undecided at this point is which body styles we will get here. The four-door sedan will definitely be available, but there is also a great deal of interest in the stylish hatchback model. Ford made a last minute decision to display the hatchback version of the Concept Verve at the Detroit Auto Show this year and it drew a lot of positive response. With stylish, well-equipped hatchbacks like the Honda Fit gaining in popularity, a similar Fiesta is a strong possibility. Now they just need to pull the program forward and bring this car to market as soon as possible. Along with the upcoming Fusion hybrid, the Fiesta could be a major shot in the arm for Ford in North America and they need it now.


[Source: Reuters]

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Soon after the new Ford Fiesta launches in Eurpe in July, a version "with 99 grams per kilometer CO₂ will come very quickly," Ford of Europe Chairman Lewis Booth has told Automotive News Europe. This is the EcoNetic version of the Fiesta, which was announced at the Geneva Motor Show, and would essentially have "conventional technology" underhood, Booth said. By using options like low rolling resistance tires, different gear ratios and aerodynamic tweaks, a sub-100 g/km CO₂ version is possible.

The Fiesta is Ford's global small car, so the low-emissions option should be welcomed no matter where you live. In the U.S., Ford says the American Fiesta will be well-equipped and profitable right from the get-go. BusinessWeek is reporting today that the Fiesta might also soon makes its way to India.


[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]