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Official Press Release Information Below
News Release - History Of Ford Fiesta
MK1 1976-1984
It all started way back in 1969 when a collection of management at Ford HQ decided to open the books on the possible production of an entry-level car in the European model line-up.
Seven years later, in 1976, Fiesta production started in earnest in Valencia, Spain, in the (then) largest car factory in the world, producing Fiestas for the European and US markets. Ford pulled the plug on the Fiesta in the US in 1980 after it was hit adversely by new legislative measures, but in Europe the Fiesta was going from strength to strength.
In 1981, the first sporting Fiestas hit the showrooms in the form of the ISOOcc Fiesta Supersport. It was joined in 1982 by the first beskirted and bespoilered XR2, complete with alloys, lowered suspension and Recaro interior.
Price Range: £1,856 - £5,150
MKII 1984-1989
The 1984 model year saw the MK1 replaced with the face lifted MKII Fiesta, very similar in profile to the MK1 that it replaced but with a new look front end, revised rear lights and updated interior and trim.
The XR2 carried on into the new generation Fiesta but with the 1.6 CVH engine that had already been proven in the MKIII Escort. For the Fiesta, the engine was fitted with a twin-choke carb and made a healthy 96bhp, 12bhp up on the Dagenham produced Kent engine from the outgoing XR2.
Price Range: £4,320 - £7,554
MKIII 1989-1995
The next revision of the Fiesta, in 1989, was more radical. While sales remained in the top ten, as before, the new range lacked an XR model, despite Ford packaging the old XR2 engines into the Fiesta'S'.
Several months later, the XR2i was born, complete with a nifty bodykit and the 1 lObhp 1.6i engine from the Escort XR3L In a similar vein, the Fiesta range spawned an RS Turbo model, almost identical in profile to the XR2i but sitting on 3-spoke alloys, with a standard recaro seats and, most importantly, a turbocharged 1.6 cvh under its vented bonnet producing 136bhp.
Ford pulled both of these models after rising insurance premiums hit the hot hatch market hard. The sporting theme continued in the range with the RSI800 featuring the 130bhp zetec from the Escort. This was joined, and ultimately replaced, in the line up by 1.4 and 1.6 'si' models with smoothed front and rear bumpers to distinguish them from the rest of the range, together with sports seats.
Price Range: £5,199 - £11,615
MKIV 1995-1999
1995 saw another large-scale revision of the Fiesta with a curvier body and the Ford oval front end, echoing the Escort, Mondeo and Scorpio. New safety measures demanded that the MKIV Fiesta was longer than the model that it replaced and the secondary safety features made Fiesta the safest car in its class.
The 'si' model was available in three and five door variants, featuring front fogs, rear spoiler and optional 14" alloys, together with the all new Yamaha-Ford designed zetec-se 1.25 and 1.4 engines producing 75 and 90bhp respectively. The 'si' eventually became the 'zetec' model gaining standard alloys but losing the electric windows - strange marketing decision! The 1.4 model, available only as a three door, had stiffened uprated suspension and was the sportiest MKIV in the model range.
Price Range: £7,615 - £11,850
MKV 1999-2002
The MKIV was itself facelifted in October 1999 to bring it into line with the 'new-edge' design of the Ford range. The new front draws on the Ka and Focus with new lights and wings, extra inserts on the bumpers and side trim, and revised interiors. A range-topping 'zetec-s' model was launched in early 2000 with an all new 1.6 litre, 103bhp, zetec-se engine, lowered suspension and 15" multi-spoke alloys.
Price Range: £8,495 - £11,195
MKVI 2002-2005
The MKVI was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2002 and then made its UK debut a month later at Birmingham Motor Show, in the Finesse, LX and Zetec trim. It had a sportier sloping roofline and angled tailgate glass to create a coupe style to attract younger drivers.
The engines had two options; the Duratorq TDCi 1.4-litre (the first product of an agreement between Ford and PSA Peugeot Citroen), and the Focus's petrol Duratecl6V 1.4-litre with electronic drive-by-write throttle control.
At the turn of 2005, Durashift EST (Electronic Shift Technology) was introduced with the three-door which allowed an automatic-shift manual transmission. The Fiesta stable added two studs in 2005 the 150PS Fiesta ST and the 90PS Fiesta Zetec S .The ST is the most powerful Fiesta to date.
Price Range; £10,965 - £12,495
MKVII 2006
In September 2006, the new Fiesta MKVII sparkled at the Frankfurt Motor show with a new look and style in stunning new colours.
The new Fiesta has 'big car' features for the first time: rain-sensing wipers, automatic "home-safe" headlamps, air conditioning with automatic electronic temperature control, satellite navigation, trip computer, one-shot-down driver's power window, power/adjustable heated door mirrors that fold inwards and a MP3 connection socket for the integrated stereo systems and Bluetooth voice control.
On the new exterior, the expressive front grille gives this MKVII a fresh face and distinctive smile, with trendy colours.
The super-smooth petrol 1.25-, 1.4-, 1.6- and 2.0-litre petrol Duratec 16-valve engines reinforce Fiesta's fun-to-drive character.
The Duratorq TDCi turbo diesel engines that use the latest common rail injection technology continue to appeal to the Fiesta driver looking for impressive torque and outstanding fuel economy.
Price Range: £8,395 - £13,595
ISSUED BY THE PRESS OFFICE - FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
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