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19 · Wednesday, April 28, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com $ any Castrol oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: May 16, 2010 Code: 5558 8 OFF 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Fiesta blends class-leading content with European style By Rob Beintema Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine SAN FRANCISCO, CA - This summer, Canada welcomes the 2011 Ford Fiesta, a brand new, small car that brings European panache and performance to North America at a starting price of $12,999. And it's about time. "I can't count the number of times friends have returned from Europe and bugged me about the great little cars they've seen and driven over there," said Steve Pintar, Chief Engineer for Fiesta North America. "And they'd ask me, `Why don't we have them over here?'" "Well," he added, nodding at the Fiesta, "we've got one now." The Fiesta nameplate has been a success, with over 12 million cars sold in Europe. And the latest version is off to a roaring start with three quarters of a million sales already, making it the number one seller in Europe, so far this year. "And I believe there's been a convergence, with less difference between North American and European drivers than in the past," Pintar told me at the vehicle launch. A next generation of North American drivers, raised on imports, has become increasingly sophisticated and demanding. Global customer research found that style topped the list of customer desires everywhere in the world. Drivers accept no economy excuses, expecting a distinctively designed small car, quality-built with conveniences, comfort and connectivity. The new 2011 Fiesta is based on Ford's global "B" platform, shared with the Mazda2, and in Canada it will be available in four-door sedan or five-door hatchback layout. Up front, Fiesta sports the global Ford face, centering the Blue Oval badge above a signature style inverted trapezoid lower grille opening. There's little variance from the European model - the same elongated headlamps frame the hood, bracketed by muscular, sculpted front fenders. A rising beltline and strong character lines sweep back to the rear taillamps, most dramatically accented on the spoilered five-door hatchback version. Fiesta's youthful verve is enhanced by nine vivid new colours from Bright Magenta to Lime Squeeze and Blue Flame, to name just a few. The Fiesta shares a sixty percent commonality with its European cousin, but yes, there are subtle differences. The Ford family tri-bar upper grille, added to the North American Fiesta, finds its roots in Fusion's success while adjusted bumpers, meeting higher impactpoint rules for North America, created an opportunity to accent larger side marker slots with LED strips taken from the Taurus. There are still some cultural differences to be taken into account, as well. European drivers, for example, prefer the precision of rotary dials for seat recline and height adjustment whereas North Americans lean towards levers. But inside, you'll find more similarities than differences. The interior is boldly sculpted with contrasting colours and accented by Ford's funky available ambient lighting, an illumination system that sets the mood with a choice of seven colours. And the Fiesta is quiet, with the kind of NVH-robbing attention to insulation you'd expect in a more expensive car. The instrument panel centre stack, a focal point of the Fiesta interior, was designed to feel as familiar as the keypad on your mobile phone, and its Tranformer-reminiscent layout will no doubt resonate and raise a giggle from next gen drivers. Continued on page 20