New Fiesta's full specs revealed

Ford to launch new Fiesta in two weeks with two petrol engines and two transmissions

GOAUTO has obtained full official specifications for Ford Australia’s crucial new light-car, the redesigned WS-series Fiesta hatchback, more than two weeks ahead of its launch at the Sydney motor show on October 9.

As before, the new Fiesta will be available in both three-door and five-door hatch body styles, with three specification grades and two engines on offer – led by a more powerful 1.6-litre DOHC inline Duratec four-cylinder delivering 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 152Nm of torque at 4050rpm (up from 74kW/146Nm).

This time around, however, the 1.6 will be a five-speed manual-only proposition, in which guise it returns a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.1L/100km and produces 143g/km of CO2 emissions.

And, instead of the 110kW/190Nm 2.0-litre engine that powers the current Fiesta XR4, which will not initially be replaced, the new Duratec 1.6 will be sold alongside a new entry-level 1.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine that produces 71kW at 5750rpm (just 3kW shy of the outgoing 1.6) and 128Nm at 4200rpm.

Mated exclusively to a four-speed automatic transmission, the 1388cc four returns a higher ADR81/01 fuel consumption figure of 6.9L/100km and higher CO2 emissions of 164g/km.

There will be no diesel option, though both 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines are 91 RON and E10 unleaded fuel-compatible (via a capless refuelling system).

The CL specification grade will replace the LX as the entry-level Fiesta variant, while the LX becomes the midrange variant for both body styles. Previously the midrange variant, the Zetec becomes the flagship version for both body styles, replacing the WQ-series Fiesta XR4 three-door and Ghia five-door.

The CL 1.4 three-door auto should replace the LX 1.6 three-door manual as the entry-level Fiesta variant, and could even undercut the current model’s $15,990 starting price.

Standard equipment across the range will include twin front airbags and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), plus air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking, a rear foglight and 15x6.0-inch wheels with 195/50-section tyres.

The midrange LX variant, available only in five-door guise, adds alloy wheels, cruise control and voice-activated Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

Electronic stability control (ESC) with emergency brake assist (EBA), twin front side airbags and a driver’s knee airbag will be standard only in the flagship Zetec variant, and is collectively available as a safety option pack on CL and LX versions. Zetecs also gain 16x6.5-inch alloys (with 195/45-section tyres) as standard.

A 17x7.0-inch alloy with 205/40 R17 rubber will be available, but only a temporary-use (14x5.5-inch) spare wheel will be fitted, with a 175/65-section tyre.

The new “Kinetic Design” Fiesta is on average 40kg lighter than before due to the increased use of high-strength steels – which now form more than half of the body structure and are claimed to make it more torsionally rigid.

Kerb weights for the three-door Fiesta are 1061kg (CL), 1065kg (LX) and 1067kg (Zetec), while the five-door is 10kg heavier at 1071, 1075 and 1077kg respectively.

As a result, for what it’s worth, the five-door Fiesta has a 5kg (525kg) unbraked towing capacity, though all models are rated to tow 900kg with a braked trailer.

All new Fiestas ride on a 3mm longer 2489mm wheelbase, and while the three-door measures 3950mm long (8mm longer in Zetec guise), 1709mm wide and 1481mm high, the five-door is 13mm wider – not longer.

MacPherson strut front and solid beam rear suspension configurations continue, as does a ventilated front disc and drum rear brake set-up, while a new electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system is fitted.

Australia’s supply of the European-designed WS Fiesta will switch from Cologne in Germany to Rayong in Thailand, which has a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia, from late 2009.

This could allow Ford to make the Fiesta nameplate more price-competitive than ever with direct light-car rivals like Toyota’s top-selling Yaris, the next generation of which could come also to Australia from Thailand, as well as other Japanese-built cars like the Suzuki Swift and Mazda2 - and even Korean-built models like the Hyundai Getz, Kia Rio and Holden Barina.

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