Ford Fiesta (2008): first official pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

15 February 2008 00:01

You’re looking at Ford’s new Fiesta. The new supermini shares around half its parts with the Mazda 2 – which means the newcomer is the same size as today’s Fiesta but slightly lighter. Its diet will pay dividends in sensible things like emissions and fuel economy, but should also make it fun to drive.

After months of speculation, we can finally see how closely the Fiesta has followed the Verve concept car, shown at numerous international motor shows. As expected there’s a little less show-off frippery and glitzy jewellery, but the end result is a distinctive mini that’s light years ahead of the current Fiesta design dullard.

Ford Fiesta: the bodystylesToday Ford has released photos of the three-door supermini only, but there will be a five-door too. These will be the bedrock of the European range, but there are plenty of other models to look forward to. The Fiesta will be the first B-segment small car to go on sale in the US, in the guise of the Verve saloon. And we’ll also the B-Max mini-MPV in 2009, followed by a Kangoo-rivalling van in 2010.

Each will be wrapped in the smallest application yet of Ford’s ‘kinetic design’. It’s styling boss Martin Smith’s mantra for the latest Ford look – think of it as a mini Mondeo with dominant double grille, angular lights, a rising beltline and exaggerated wheelarches. Oh, and the name for the toothpaste green of the model pictured is ‘squeeze’, apparently.

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By Tim Pollard