Ford Fiesta saloon (2008): first photos

By Digby Fullam

First Official Pictures

19 November 2008 10:21

Ford is keeping true to its word in making the Fiesta a truly global car, taking the wraps off the new Fiesta saloon in China this week.

Ford has earmarked China as a key market for the Fiesta saloon – given China’s penchant for three-box bodystyles.  In fact, Ford is so serious about making the Fiesta a success in China that it will be built at a brand new factory in Nanjing.

Essentially yes. Ford has made few changes to the production car after teasing the Chinese public with the Verve notchback concept this time last year.

The Blue Oval’s latest ‘kinetic design’ seems to have translated well onto the Fiesta saloon. Rather than just a hatchback with a boot, the four-door Fiesta looks like a proper scaled-down Mondeo.

From 2010, the US and Asia will get their hands on the saloon, with factories in Thailand and Mexico keeping up with demand. The Europeans miss out on this new Fiesta model though – given our tendency to favour the more convenient hatch over saloon booty.

The Fiesta saloon goes on sale in China in early 2009. Ford will be praying that this iteration of its global car is a big success there. A huge emerging market like this is one Ford can’t afford to miss out on.

By DigFullam