The US-Spec Hatchback Spied

[TimBrown]

Originally Posted by Marc

At that time, Subaru's design department was at a loss, they simply couldn't think of a fresh, different design. So they got Andreas Zapatinas, a Greek designer. Who made this. And then we never heard from him again.

I love that version of the Subies -- the STi from that period is absoultely stellar in my opinion. The Fiesta grill, on the other hand, quite a bit less so.

That is not a design that will make babies cry. That's what the Acura TL is for. It is not a design that will make anyone cry, because no one will notice it. It blends in quite well with the rest of the bland designs on offering, and it's real crime lies in compairson to the beauty of the previous European incarnation.

[PowerShift]

And the steering wheel is totally different. Looks a bit bigger all around. I don't dislike it but it seems like change for the sake of change. I'm going to assume the whole dash panel is changing now. Perhaps a positive can come of this. The Ford Taurus has the best interior in the industry now, IMHO. If they can give the Fiesta a little of that flavor that would be for the good.

On the outside I notice that the taillight pattern has changed too. The lens shape is the same but now the red part wraps around the white part. No better, no worse, just different. Why?

On the whole Ford is taking a gamble. I think everyone who's into this car is enthusiastic about, or at least accepting of, all the design elements. I think it's possible to make it better (anything can be made better), but why take the chance on a known quantity. It'll be a real nail-biter until the reveal. Or at least until we get some really clear spy pics.

[BRGT350]

Agreed that the latest Ford interiors are outstanding compared to the ones just a few years ago. The new Mustang, Taurus, and Fusion are steps in the right direction. There is good news about the camo'd Fiesta's, the camo is doing what it supposed to do. With that said, and nothing more to add to it, I think the car will be way different than what is shown. None of this makes any sense, except for the camo is designed to really mess up the final product. I am still going to voice my opinion that the camo'd mules look terrible, because I want to make sure they don't make it to production looking that way. There is no way they would mess up the nose that much. I think there is still hope, and none of us will know until it comes out.

[azulejost]

So there are more and more mules with not just taped over turn signals in the mirrors but solid plastic housings devoid of any sign or potential of turn signals being housed therein. This is one feature that absolutely should not be dropped from the mid to high range models at the very least--it is a cheap safety feature that doesn't require complex electronic micromanagement. The optimist in me wants to say that since this car has the steel wheels and regular halogen headlights, the mirrors just won't be part of the entry level.

As far as the lower grille, the last hope I can find to cling to is the stitching on the bra/camo suggesting the trapezoidal shape could lurk beneath. That, and the fact the matte black plastic below the white camo tape seems especially poorly fitting.

The passenger side wiper better be a mule only deal because having that constantly in the visual field would be distracting and highly annoying. I'll go as far as saying if that could not be easily remedied , I would have a hard time living with it. The EU version has no trouble incorporating two unequal length wiper arms and having them lie entirely below the visible windshield area--do it like they do. My hypothesis for this is that the wire that leads from beneath the hood past the vent window and into the front door obstructs the normal resting position, so this is just a mule fix. Again, I'm trying to be optimistic here.

The steering wheel looks the same to me, same stitching at 1, 5, 7, and 11 positions. I don't really likely buttons on the steering wheel, but as long as they don't get in the way of spirited driving I'll do my best not to complain. The left stalk seems to last the trip/talk control from the EU models (maybe it's the base model deal again?), but at least it looks like there are no wiper controls there so hopefully Ford will leave that on the right stalk. It would be a disaster if they redo the dash--I want to think the instrument panel could still be the same just well hidden by the dash cover and well placed rolled up paper. That's not something that could be easily switched to the EU style, so if that is a failure it may be enough to turn me away. I think I prefer the front roof-mounted antenna, but if it's at the back that won't be a game changer.

Yet again I've written way too much, but this is very concerning for me. This is not a car I just find exciting, but one I fully expect to purchase if the EU quality, features, and design are part of the US package. Should Ford fumble this opportunity, I will look at the next Focus, but the Golf TDI 6-spd manual may be enough to lure me back to VW even after a disastrous experience with them. I'd love to be able to consider a Mustang GT, but I'm not willing to go that far quite yet.

I know that we enthusiasts have diverse and intense demands for the Fiesta. Regardless, Ford could easily produce a US Fiesta that will satisfy 90% of our wishes without extremely prohibitive costs. I hope they have already realized this with Job 1 only 8 months away. We're all pulling for you on this one Ford.

[azulejost]

Also, here's another link to some spy photos of the hatch thanks to mike_in_va on BON (Link). I'd never heard of the site, but hatch photos are hatch photos. Nasty huge exhaust on it which looks awful but maybe hides an EcoBoost but probably isn't that at all. Sadly, the wiper arm is still bent up onto the windshield without the wires, so there goes that theory.

[azulejost]

Originally Posted by PowerShift

On the outside I notice that the taillight pattern has changed too. The lens shape is the same but now the red part wraps around the white part. No better, no worse, just different. Why?

I have to say I do like the looks of these spy taillights (assuming they have amber turn signals) better than the Chinese ones that, in my opinion, are too clear and not enough red. That's just me.

Originally Posted by BRGT350

the lack of a manual is really upsetting, and I fear the Fiesta will only have a manual in the lowest trim level. The upper levels with have some sort of an automatic flappy paddle, but not the DSG. The cost of the DSG would probably mean it will go on the Focus instead. It was also said that there are no plans for a manual transmission with EcoBoost engines. If that is the case, I don't see a turbo Ford in my future at all. In the US, there are very few cars that fit what I want. A preminum small hatchback that is fun to drive, looks spectacular, well appointed interior, manual transmission, great suspension, and a killer option list. The Fiesta is all of those things and is the exact car I want.

I couldn't agree more with this. No true manual availability will mean I will not buy the Fiesta even if everything else from the EU version miraculously shows up on the US version. To clarify, the manual (not clutchless manual, dual-clutch, etc.) must be available on each and every engine option the Fiesta ever offers from the base to the potential EcoBoost or whatever else. If there's an EcoBoost, I'll probably want to go that route, and if I can't get a manual in it, again no sell. At least the only cars manuals haven't entirely disappeared from are the sub $20k, so the Fiesta has that going for it.

[GhiaFan]

Originally Posted by azulejost

Also, here's another link to some spy photos of the hatch thanks to mike_in_va on BON (Link). I'd never heard of the site, but hatch photos are hatch photos. Nasty huge exhaust on it which looks awful but maybe hides an EcoBoost but probably isn't that at all. Sadly, the wiper arm is still bent up onto the windshield without the wires, so there goes that theory.

Did you notice the BIG BLOCK type rear headrests? Also noticed that the left stalk on the steering column position is very high 10 o'clock position, which I notice is common on North Amercian Fords, with the right side stalk missing in action?
Regarding the paxs side window wiper blade, while I was in Canada this summer I noticed many of Fords new cars (the new Fusion sticks in my mind) that the paxs side front window wiper blade parked quite high up.

[Mark Kleis]

You guys are seriously killing me (and probably yourself due to the added stress on your heart lol) with the never-ending speculation!

The bottom line is this: whatever we are saying this late in the game on the forum is not going to influence the car. So, in other words, it is what it is. Why not just sit back, RELAX, enjoy the Fiesta Movement and hope for the best.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am guessing for new members, or potential new members (guest viewers) reading what comes off as doubt and negativity in post after post after post can't possibly be good for helping to grow the community.

Why not embrace what we do have and know, enjoy it for what we can, and then make the best of it? Sure sounds more positive to me than losing sleep over things we are purely speculating about, right?!

Who's with me?

[PowerShift]

Originally Posted by azulejost

Also, here's another link to some spy photos of the hatch thanks to mike_in_va on BON (Link).

That's me!

[mrbirdman330]

All I have to say is a big congradulations to Dearborn for demolishing the European Fiesta and offically making it USDM Fordified for sure. 16x6 rims and not the European 16x6.5 no 17 option for sure. A ruined front end that was bold and exciting not to mention added some flavor in difference to the Ford line up. Its a small car for crying out loud it doesn't need a chrome grill. The interior is going to be horrible and it is definately tearing me away from wanting to buy any new Ford period.