[GhiaFan]

From AutoblogGreens quick drive review a couple of interesting bits of info regarding some of the changes that will be made for the North American Fiesta.
And notice they write that the EU and N.A. Fiesta will share over 90% commonality, compared to earlier statements from Ford stating 70-80% commonality.

"The North American and European Fiesta will be over 90 percent common with most of the changes driven by regulatory requirements such as the lighting. The U.S.-spec headlights will look the same but use different internal elements. There are also a few changes inside the car such as the adjuster for the front seat back angle. American drivers hate the rotary knob design typically used on European cars so that will be replace by a lever like those found here. The adjuster for the rear view mirrors is also being re-located from its position on the door panel facing the center of the car to a spot on top of the panel because drivers found the location awkward to use.

http://tiny.cc/xjW8H

Regarding the comment about Americans hating the rotary knob design for the seat back angle, is this true?
Being a Canadian I can say that I always liked the rotary adjustment mechanism over the lever for the fact you could adjust the recline to exactly were you
wanted. With the lever you are limited by the discreet incremental spots.

 

[nilo]

Regarding the comment about Americans hating the rotary knob design for the seat back angle, is this true?
Being a Canadian I can say that I always liked the rotary adjustment mechanism over the lever for the fact you could adjust the recline to exactly were you
wanted. With the lever you are limited by the discreet incremental spots.

I've always like the rotary knob myself as well for the same reason.. better accuracy. As for the lever, it may be quicker to move seat back but harder to adjust spot on. This symbolizes the average american backward thinking. Doesn't surprise me.

 

[fastway40]

man, i knew they were gonna change the mirrior position, the uk mirriors were just to cool. i was really hoping they wouldnt change them... im mad

 

[GhiaFan]

man, i knew they were gonna change the mirrior position, the uk mirriors were just to cool. i was really hoping they wouldnt change them... im mad

The position of the mirrors are not being changed, Ford is changing the location of the knob used to adjust the mirrors located on the drivers door inside of the car.

 

[Maxximtl]

Interesting that they are quoting 40+mpg on the highway. The number I saw was 39mpg. I guess it reinforces the idea that this engine is being built for one purpose....economy.

 

[THEDOCTOR46]

Interesting that they are quoting 40+mpg on the highway. The number I saw was 39mpg. I guess it reinforces the idea that this engine is being built for one purpose....economy.

Is that a bad thing?

 

[Mark Kleis]

Interesting that they are quoting 40+mpg on the highway. The number I saw was 39mpg. I guess it reinforces the idea that this engine is being built for one purpose....economy.

Going by the in-car readout, I got COMBINED 40.4 MPG on the car on the first tank of gas up to 327 miles (basically, from the time it was built to when I first got it home from LA to San Diego...including 1.5 hours of rush hour, and about 75-80 MPH for the rest of the trip). I also had the AC BLASTING the entire trip since it was 96 degrees outside, AND we had the cars idling at the race track with the AC for a good 20 minutes.

I ended up at 39.7 MPG for the first full tank of gas, with the slight dip due to my buddy hot dogging the car on a food run.

Not bad?

 

[THEDOCTOR46]

Going by the in-car readout, I got COMBINED 40.4 MPG on the car on the first tank of gas up to 327 miles (basically, from the time it was built to when I first got it home from LA to San Diego...including 1.5 hours of rush hour, and about 75-80 MPH for the rest of the trip). I also had the AC BLASTING the entire trip since it was 96 degrees outside, AND we had the cars idling at the race track with the AC for a good 20 minutes.

I ended up at 39.7 MPG for the first full tank of gas, with the slight dip due to my buddy hot dogging the car on a food run.

Not bad?

40mpg combined is fantastic! That is more than enough for me... How does it get up and go? Like merging with highway traffic and whatnot... Is it gutless or atleast decent

Also where are the pics!?!?

 

[Mark Kleis]

40mpg combined is fantastic! That is more than enough for me... How does it get up and go? Like merging with highway traffic and whatnot... Is it gutless or atleast decent

Also where are the pics!?!?

It has plenty of pep. I did notice when I was on a REALLY big, steep grade, AC on full blast that if I didn't have decent momentum to start with (ie be doing 70 or more) that staying in 5th gear would make you feel the hill. I started one big grade at 62 ~ MPH and it did feel underpowered when I tried to get on it but not downshift to 4th.

Otherwise, normal driving and most situations there was never a point where I was feeling like it needed more power. The entire drive train is incredibly refined and smooth- amazingly so.

As for pictures, the car was a mess when I got it and it is even worse now from my drive home so i haven't really taken pictures. Here are a couple that my GF snapped with her Blackberry Storm at Willow Springs:

 

[THEDOCTOR46]

It has plenty of pep. I did notice when I was on a REALLY big, steep grade, AC on full blast that if I didn't have decent momentum to start with (ie be doing 70 or more) that staying in 5th gear would make you feel the hill. I started one big grade at 62 ~ MPH and it did feel underpowered when I tried to get on it but not downshift to 4th.

Otherwise, normal driving and most situations there was never a point where I was feeling like it needed more power. The entire drive train is incredibly refined and smooth- amazingly so.

As for pictures, the car was a mess when I got it and it is even worse now from my drive home so i haven't really taken pictures. Here are a couple that my GF snapped with her Blackberry Storm at Willow Springs

Thanks for the detailed breakdown. I'm not too worried aout steep grades and whatnot. I'm finally going to break down and get an economical car and i want one that drives nice and doesnt feel like its struggling to get around. So far so good for the fiesta

Do all the FM cars have decals and stuff like that on the side? looking forward to more pics

And what were you doing with it at willowsprings? was that the pickup or you racing it around the track lol

 

[Mark Kleis]

Thanks for the detailed breakdown. I'm not too worried aout steep grades and whatnot. I'm finally going to break down and get an economical car and i want one that drives nice and doesnt feel like its struggling to get around. So far so good for the fiesta

Do all the FM cars have decals and stuff like that on the side? looking forward to more pics

And what were you doing with it at willowsprings? was that the pickup or you racing it around the track lol

No problem. It's funny you say that you don't want a car that feels like it is struggling, because I literally explained it to my brother that even when you can tell you could use a little more power, it definitely doesn't "struggle" like a typical under powered car. The drivetrain is impressively refined.

The agents had a choice from 8 or so different graphic patterns, and several colors... so it was random chance with what people decided to go with.

We had the unveiling and pickup at Willow Springs, but we did two quick laps to get a feel for the car too. I didn't get to push the car there, but I did my first spirited driving tonight and my friend who owns an SVT Focus was in the car with me and agreed it is VERY similar to his SVT and my Focus with the Saleen suspension in terms of reduced body roll, BUT it is much softer and smoother over bumps and dips.