[FiestaFan]

2011 Ford Fiesta sedan [Spied again]

Not much new about the outside, but you can see a new steering wheel inside - I can't wait to see some of you guys having hernias over that

To be honest the new steering wheel design worries me a bit, but it's a nice design that doesn't look any worse than the EU model - maybe a bit less sporty, but still upscale. I'm not expecting huge interior changes, but who knows what could happen.

That's the only real question mark now, I think; it's been confirmed that the suspension/chassis tuning will be kept virtually identical to EU specs and the outside changes are pretty obvious by now, and don't seem particularly extensive (it looks limited to the bigger grille and different front and rear bumpers; taillights appear the same). Hopefully the changes to the interior will be minimal (new seats and steering wheel are no big deal as the new ones look fine; a cheaper dashboard or dumbed-down center stack though would be very unfortunate).

I wasn't expecting an EU-identical car; I knew there would be some modest changes, and while personally I'd prefer the EU front end the changes elsewhere generally seem more a step sideways than backwards and I can live with that.

 

[BRGT350]

the steering wheel changes are very slight, with the spokes at the 6-o-clock being smoother than the EU version. It looks like the sculpting around the 3 and 9 is a little different. Hard to tell from that picture if it is better, worse, or the same as the EU car. The steering wheel in the EU car is another one of my favorite elements, but I don't see this one being too bad. They are doing a great job of hiding the interior, which makes me a little scared. So many things on the EU car are outstanding. Until the US car is shown at the auto show, we will only be able to speculate.

 

[Mark Kleis]

You guys notice the pic of the interior of the driver's side door? I think that looked nicer than the Euro Fiesta door.

 

[BRGT350]

yeah, the door handle looked much bigger. I am not sure if I like it or not, really kind of balances out. I would need to see it up close, but I am betting it will be fine. Dash and front bumper are my two biggest concerns.

I always go for an all black interior, so the dark cove in the door panel would match the rest.

 

[mrbirdman330]

I'm really not liking it that much, but of course they have to make the door handles bigger for bigger american hands. I'd rather take a smaller door handle due to my small hands.

 

[Mark Kleis]

Bigger door handle? Doesn't look any bigger to me. It looks nicer, and better built, with better padding and better colors- but of course I guess we need to find something to be negative about...

 

[BRGT350]

The base of the door handle is larger, or the hand part is smaller. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but the shape is different. Not bad, just different. So far, I don't see anything on the door panel that is cause for alarm. I won't really know until I actually feel the plastic of the door trim to see if I like it. The first gen Foci had very soft panels, but the 05-07 had harder door panels. Pictures can show a good looking interior peice, but you need to actually need to see it and touch it to know what you are getting.

 

[Mark Kleis]

If you blow the pic up to the max resolution on LLN, you can see the materials are a setp above the Euro Fiesta. The curves are more stylish, and cleaner.

Also, the padded section appears to be more padded and extend to a larger area.

By God, something must be wrong... could they possibly have improved the car!? I refuse to believe it!

 

[mrbirdman330]

Shhh don't jynx it.

 

[PowerShift]

Automotive Traveler just bagged some even better photos of the sedan, all black with a little less camo than before.

Spied: 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback--US Version - Automotive Traveler

They call it a hatchback but I think they are just confused.

I think the US spec bumper enhances the sedan's looks, but it might be detrimental to the hatch.

 

[azulejost]

Automotive Traveler just bagged some even better photos of the sedan, all black with a little less camo than before.

Spied: 2011 Ford Fiesta Hatchback--US Version - Automotive Traveler

They call it a hatchback but I think they are just confused.

I think the US spec bumper enhances the sedan's looks, but it might be detrimental to the hatch.

I knew if I didn't get this posted quickly, you'd beat me to it I tried to get it up sooner and got interrupted. You may be right about enhancing the sedan's looks vs. the hatch's, but I'll have to see the final version of both to be sure. I'm hopeful it'll look great in both. What's this, three different spy cars seen just in the past 4 days? Imagine how much more we're going to see before the launch!

Block headrests could potentially block a significant portion of the view out the already shortened rear window--I guess just leave them out if no one's in back.

As for the all important grille situation, I'm a bit confused as to the why the three bars aren't evenly dividing the upper grille--there's a much larger inlet at the bottom of the grille than the evenly spaced sections from the lowest bar to the top. Maybe it's a mule thing because I've noticed the same on some others though not those from earlier in the week.

The lower grille looks to be a complete unit and its outline is clear. I think I'd be fine with it being a bit taller overall, but I'm now wondering if the solid plastic section might be removable to add visual height to the grille. That should allow better definition of the trapezoidal shape as well.

 

[mrbirdman330]

I noticed the makeshift hitch as well, looks like Ford has been testing the payload towing capacity with that mule.

 

[PowerShift]

I'm a bit confused as to the why the three bars aren't evenly dividing the upper grille--there's a much larger inlet at the bottom of the grille than the evenly spaced sections from the lowest bar to the top. Maybe it's a mule thing because I've noticed the same on some others though not those from earlier in the week.

Ford has a tradition going back to the 1980's of leaving a "breathing hole" below the grille. Tempos, Tauruses, and Crown Victorias all had it at one time or another. The most recent example is the '06-'09 Fusion. I fully expect this to continue in the Fiesta, however, they may draw your attention away from it by putting a chrome surround on the grille opening.

The lower grille looks to be a complete unit and its outline is clear. I think I'd be fine with it being a bit taller overall, but I'm now wondering if the solid plastic section might be removable to add visual height to the grille. That should allow better definition of the trapezoidal shape as well.

I expect that lower grille plus the solid plastic section above it will all be surrounded by chrome trim to visually define the lower intake.

 

[GhiaFan]

You've (USA) just been OverFordhauled

Kidding aside, Ford should get Chip Foose to do a SEMA OverHaul on the Fiesta.

 

[BRGT350]

well, the front end looks better in those pics since you can see that the lower air intake is still a trapazoid and not severely cut down like the earlier pictures. The lower opening is still smaller than the EU car, but this is way closer than other pictures have shown in. I would still prefer a much larger lower opening and a very small upper one, but these spy pics make it look ok. This design makes more sense to me than some of the older pictures, and matches what I had said on [FJ] about keeping the trapazoid shape, but the top 1/3rd is blocked off to cover the actual bumper.

 

[BRGT350]

I also noticed the fuel door is different, and now has a spot for you to pull it open with your finger. I like the EU version better since you push it in, and it pops out. For winter use, it makes refuelling easier if you don't have to take your gloves off to get your finger behind the door to open it. The headrests in the back seat look huge! Turn signals are also missing on the mirrors. Overall, the latest pictures paint a way better situation than the other pics. I still want a much bigger opening in the front grille, but at least these pics show it being approx same shape as the EU car.

 

[Marc]

Turn signals are also missing on the mirrors.

There is no chrome trim under the greenhouse, so this may be an entry level car that lacks turn signals in the mirrors.
And the weird passenger side wiper is back ...



And now... MEET FRANKENFIESTA!

 

[Marc]

PS. No driver!? That's how advanced Ford is nowadays!

 

[BRGT350]

The fog lamp area is still up for debate as some seem to show the same design as the Verve sedan. Not sure what shape fog lamp would fit that part, but you could put a round fog lamp with chrome surround. I need to look at that some more to figure it out. I don't think the fog lights will be round. I am so relieved the trapazoid grille seems to be lurking under the camo. The upper grille seems to look exactly like I figured it would, with strong cues from the Verve Sedan. Looking at this bumper design, I say things are looking great. Huge departure from earlier pics that showed everything from the license plate holder upto the upper grille being body color. Making the plate holder dark plastic keeps the shape of the air opening closer to the orginal design.

 

[Marc]

Frankenfiesta was assembled from 3 Fiestas: the original picture, a magenta Fiesta that just happend to be in the same angle and the Verve.
The magenta Fiesta happend to have foglights and I didn't go through the trouble of putting those Verve shaped holes in there. Hey, it's my first automotive Photoshop* !
The Verve grille is not exactly the same shape as you pointed out earlier that the spokes are unevenly placed. But the overall size should match.

If you have PS, I can give you the file to work on.

And where are the pictures of your Fiesta with Europlates?

* "Hey, it's my first automotive image that was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software."
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