Losing popularity Ford Fiesta updated: brighter design and digital “tidy”

Last updated Apr 11, 2022

The current seventh generation Ford Fiesta has been in production since 2017, so it’s time for a facelift. Most of the changes are cosmetic in nature, there are practically no innovations in terms of technology.

There were times when the Ford Fiesta briefly broke into the leaders of the European market and overtook the "eternal bestseller" VW Golf in sales – the last time this happened in the spring of 2017, and in the autumn of the same year the new, "seventh" Fiesta debuted. In the first full year of sales, 2018, the new Fiesta sold 270,931 units in Europe, according to CarSalesBase, and then sales went down: in 2019, 228,959 units were sold, in covid 2020 – 156 067 pcs.

Ford Fiesta Active

This year, the Fiesta demand situation has not improved: from January to July, 69,578 units were sold, 20.2% less than in the same period in 2020. The model dropped out of the bestseller list and even in its subcompact class loses to its main competitors: Toyota Yaris found 131,557 buyers in Europe (+40.3%) in seven months of this year, Peugeot 208 – 124,566 (+17.3%), Renault Clio — 122,633 (-15.1%), Opel/Vauxhall Corsa — 122,059 (+21.3%), Citroen C3 — 103,213 (+29.1%), VW Polo — 100,811 (+6.6%) %).

Ford Fiesta Active

Restyling should, as usual, stir up interest in the losing popularity of the Fiesta. The hatchback received a new, more expressive design of the front end with an enlarged radiator grille, on which the company emblem moved (previously it was located above the grille). The front bumper is completely new, with larger black sections. The base now has new LED headlights with contour lighting, for a surcharge, adaptive matrix LED headlights are offered. The filling of the rear lights has also changed, but they are completely diode only on expensive versions. The design of the front end and rims depends on the performance – Trend, Titanium, ST-Line, Active (a la crossover), Vignale (emphasis on luxury) and ST (hot hatch).

The main new thing in the cabin is a digital 12.3-inch instrument panel with various wallpaper options. The Fiesta ST hot hatch has new, more comfortable and grippy front seats with integral head restraints. The list of available electronic driver assistants has been expanded: the traffic sign recognition system now gives an audible warning if the driver missed a “brick" or a “no traffic” sign, on versions with automatic transmission it is possible to order a cork autopilot, a notification system about passengers forgotten in the back seat (children and animals). A premium 575-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system with ten speakers and a subwoofer is available as an option.

Ford Fiesta ST-Line

The range of powertrains has not changed: there are no diesels at all, the base 1.1-liter gasoline “aspirated” produces 75 hp, and the 1.0-liter EcoBoost “turbo engine” is offered in versions with 100, 125 and 155 hp. Versions with a capacity of 125 and 155 hp. supplemented by a 48-hybrid makeweight in the form of a starter-generator and a small buffer battery. The 7-speed "robot" Powershift (with two clutches) as an alternative to the "mechanics" is only available for the 125-horsepower Fiesta. Drive, of course, only the front.

Ford Fiesta ST

The Fiesta ST hot hatch is still offered with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine with 200 hp, but the maximum torque has been increased from 290 to 320 hp, like the sister Puma ST crossover. This engine is paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which can be supplemented with a Quaife self-locking differential. Acceleration time to "hundreds" is the same – 6.5 s., Maximum speed – 230 km / h.

The updated Fiesta will appear at European Ford dealers in early 2022. Recently, we recall, Ford cars are not officially presented now.

Post source: wekauto.ru