Ford has finally taken the wraps off its new global small car, the 2009 Ford Fiesta. The car would be officially unveiled in Geneva Motor Show next month. So can this be Ford’s next big bet for India? Well we have no reasons not to believe it.

Press Release from Ford

Next generation, all-new global small car signals fresh chapter in Ford Fiesta success story
-The worldwide name is confirmed - Ford Fiesta
-Stylish ‘kinetic design’ and dynamic flair combines with traditional Ford strengths to deliver confident, contemporary, fun-to-drive package
-Fiesta brings a host of big-car features to the small car segment for the first time
-Fiesta stays compact but is lighter and stronger. Ultra high-strength steels and a comprehensive safety package that includes a driver’s knee airbag
-Exciting three-door body remains true to Verve Concept
-Futuristic interior from Verve Concept becomes production reality, including integrated HMI centre stack inspired by mobile phones
-115 PS Duratec 1.6-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine joins Fiesta range; one of five fuel efficient and clean engines
-Fiesta will expand Ford ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 range, delivering less than 100g/km emissions
-New Fiesta is the first product of Ford’s new global product development process, with versions due for launch also in Asia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010
-European production of new Fiesta begins in autumn 2008

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Ford of Europe is reinventing its small car range for a new generation of customers in 2008, starting with a stylish and exciting all-new Fiesta. First Details of the three-door model are released today, and the car will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Designed and developed in Europe for sale in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010, the new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process. Its stylish and dynamic flair combines with all the traditional Ford small car strengths to create a confident, contemporary introduction to the next chapter of the Fiesta success story.

The new Fiesta opens another chapter in the story of the popular Ford small car that has sold more than 12 million units since its introduction in 1976. Charismatic and individual, the new model makes major strides in craftsmanship, quality of materials and product choice while continuing to represent Fiesta’s traditional strengths of practicality, value for money, agility and safety. It also brings a host of big-car features to the small-car segment for the first time.

New Fiesta clearly embodies the hallmarks of ‘kinetic design’, which has so convincingly infused emotion into the core of the Ford range in Europe. The Geneva debut confirms that new Fiesta will bring the most appealing elements of Verve, a trio of concept cars shown recently around the world, to production reality.

It also ends speculation surrounding the name of Ford’s new-generation small car for global markets.

“This new car embodies the very essence of Fiesta - fun, vitality and emotion,” said John Fleming, President and CEO, Ford of Europe. “We know there isn’t a better name for the new model, and we have over thirty years of investment in the Fiesta brand to consider.

“We’re confident that the combination of dynamic new ‘kinetic design’ exterior, great interior design and craftsmanship, and a host of new technologies and features will provide compelling reasons for a new generation of customers around the world to take a fresh look at the Ford Fiesta. I know they will be both surprised and delighted with what they see and feel,” Fleming added.

“For Ford, this is truly a world premiere,” said Joe Bakaj, Vice President of Product Development, Ford of Europe. “The new Fiesta is the first car born from our new global product development process. More than ever, we’re leveraging our global product development expertise, and this car sets the scene for future great products for customers around the world that are already being developed behind it in the Ford Global Product Development System pipeline.”

“Fiesta has its heart in Europe but its eyes on the world,” said Marin Burela, Ford’s Global Executive Director for small-car development. “We’re building on Ford’s hertitage of excellence in small car development to give the new Fiesta truly global reach and identity. By 2010, this new small-car family will be manufactured in Europe, Asia and North America and be marketed as Fiesta in all of the world’s key automotive markets.”

Read the text in bold in the above paragraphs. If Ford Executive’s words are to be believed, this car would definitely come to India in the near future and will also take care of the volume segment that Ford is now after. The is a very logical step given that there are a slew of biggish hatchbacks that have been launched already or will be launched in the Indian market in the coming years and it includes the Skoda Fabia, Fiat’s Grande Punto, Honda Jazz, Hyundai’s i20 and the likes.

The car looks very furistic and the interiors can rival best from the C-segment. The big hatch segment is hotting up now and it will be nice to see the biggies fighting it out with each other for a bigger pie of the market.

Specifications:

Length: 3692 mm

Wheelbase: 2488 mm

Overall Width: 1654 mm

Overall Height: 1380 mm

Track Width
Front: 1474 mm
Rear: 1455 mm

Front Overhang: 814 mm

Rear Overhang: 1455 mm

Headroom
Front: 960 mm
Second Row: 910 mm

Legroom
Front: 1069 mm
Second Row: 832 mm