Ford Fiesta & Why Ford Should Bring It Back!

The American brand known for premium cars with premium engines came to India back in 1995. The company made a strong presence after the successful run of Ford Ikon. Ford soon became a prominent player in the automobile industry. One of the globally known Fiesta car from Ford was also launched in India. Was it able to make a mark in the country? Should it be brought back? Let’s explore.

2005 – Fiesta launched in a sedan avatar

Globally, Ford Fiesta was known for the hatch body. But seeing the growing popularity of the sedan segment, Ford decided to launch Fiesta in this segment. The Fiesta sedan became a hit in the market and was a sales success. Talking about the power source, Ford gave three options with the Fiesta: High-performance 1.6-litre Duratec petrol engine(99.8hp of power and a peak torque of 146Nm); Highly Refined 1.4- litre Duratorq engine(160Nm of peak torque) and High-Value 1.4-litre Duratec Petrol (80hp of power).

2011 – Compact saloon Ford Fiesta comes into being

With the Ford Fiesta first-gen’s sales doing good, the company decided to launch a hatchback version too. But the upgrade was not much loved by the audience. The boot section was seamlessly merging with the rear but the area above wheel arches at the rear made it a rather ugly looking car. The car was equipped with two engine options: 1.5-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel. The gasoline mill was able to churn out 107hp of power and a peak torque of 140Nm. The diesel oil burner was capable of producing 89hp of power and a peak torque of 204Nm. Even though after having the best-in-class handling, it lost the race to its rivals in terms of sales. The market was already captured by the likes from Honda.

2014 – A Facelift to Save The Car!

The 2011 model of Fiesta was dud in terms of sales. So the Ford decided to add their at-that-time latest design to the Fiesta. The result was a sleeker, more attractive and more proportionate Fiesta. Fiesta in its all-new avatar looked way sportier as compared to the previous-gen. The prominent Aston Martin inspired front grille added to the bolder yet elegant look. The engine options were the same as the previous one. It was also a feature-laden car which made the car the most premium Fiesta ever.

Why should Ford bring Fiesta back?

You might say that there are plenty of options available in the market at present which can be chosen over Fiesta. But ones who have had the privilege to drive Fiesta once know how good of a car it is. Let’s jot down the probable causes that make the car worth reviving.

• The Ford cars are known for reliability and long-use capabilities. Fiesta was no exception. A rugged and powerful Fiesta was pleasant to drive.
• Ford Fiesta’s engine options are still capable of competing with the rivals though the company will have to upgrade them to meet the BS6 emission norms.
• It was way ahead of its time when it was launched. If Ford plans to bring it back, one thing that can be guaranteed is that it will still be features loaded as Ford will make sure to equip it with the best-in-class segment.
• Ford and Mahindra have joined hands to tread through the course. If Ford plans to relaunch the Fiesta, we can expect it to get one of the mStallion engines which are the most powerful made by Mahindra till date.
• Although the design was not as fluidic as the Hyundai Verna, Fiesta surely has an aerodynamically designed body making it a good choice over the rivals.
• The Fiesta was then also equipped with a plethora of safety features. With the growing concerns over safety in India, Fiesta will surely make a great choice if relaunched.

Have fun reading: 10 Forgotten Hatchbacks In India | Tata Indica to Fiat Uno

Hear Us, Ford? 

Whether to launch the Fiesta again or not is Ford’s call. But if launched again with rectifying few of the mistakes done earlier, Fiesta might prove to be a fierce competition to the rivals in the current market. What do you think about the sedan? Will it do any good for the company if launched? Let us know your views in the comments section below.