And all-new Fiesta looks a real bargain

28th July 2008

The new Fiesta is going cheap! Ford’s supermini, on sale in October, will kick off at £8,695 for an entry-level 1.25-litre Studio – £155 less than the equivalent current entry car.

The announcement was made at the British Motor Show, where the blue oval also unveiled the Fiesta ECOnetic. It emits 98g/km of CO2, returns 76.3mpg and will cost £11,845. The firm took the wraps off the sporty Zetec S, priced at £12,595, too.

Bosses expect the top seller to be the Zetec, from £10,995. It gets 15-inch alloys, a leather steering wheel and a chrome grille. The top Titanium weighs in at £12,095 and has auto headlamps and wipers, cruise control plus 16-inch rims.

Engines include 67bhp 1.4 or 89bhp 1.6-litre TDCi diesels, plus a 59bhp or 80bhp 1.25, a 95bhp 1.4 and new 118bhp 1.6 Ti-VCT petrols. Also, Ford has revealed that the Focus RS will be available in the same bright green as the British Motor Show concept. It harks back to the 1960 Escort RS1600, and honours the firm’s World Rally Championship partner, BP, as well. Using a 296bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo, it is Ford of Europe’s most powerful car ever.

The RS gets a new diff created by gearbox specialist Quaife, and a fresh suspension system. It goes on sale early next year, priced at around £25,000.