It's Fiesta time

Ford's much-awaited super-mini, the Fiesta, was launched in Malta last Thursday. In a very unusual launch in the underground car park of the Gasan Automotive Division's Mriehel showroom, the Fiesta was presented to members of the motoring press.

As the journalists waited in awe in the only lit-up spot in the car park, dancers revealing their navels came screaming towards them as the Fiesta's came revving in.

The Fiesta is the first in a new generation of small cars from Ford and has a big role to play as Ford strives to build a sustained resurgence in Europe in the segment.

It will be produced in Ford's renovated Cologne assembly plant in Germany, dedicated to small-car production, and in Valencia, Spain, at an assembly plant for B-segment and C-segment vehicles.

From 1999 to early 2003, Ford in Europe will have gone from 71 per cent capacity utilisation to nearly 100 per cent.

Speaking at the launch, Ivan Grech of Gasan Automotive gave an overview of Ford's goals and aspirations with the Fiesta. The Fiesta's wining qualities are its contemporary style, good interior package, comfort, agility and manoeuvrability in the city and out, value, fuel economy and environmental concerns.

In developing the car, Ford have concentrated on delivering what today's small car customers need most: an intelligent protection system dual-stage front airbags; more space and comfort for people; driving pleasure; its design; and low levels of fuel consumption.

Fiesta customers have the choice of up to three contemporary engine families, the Duratec 8V, the Duratec 16V and the Duratorq TDCi.

A new value engine, the 1.3-litre Duratec 8V petrol, is ultra low in cost to own and operate, and delivers 68 bhp. The new engine features low-friction valve train technology for its low fuel consumption levels on the official European driving test cycle and in the real world of today's small-car owner.

A new double-overhead cam (DOHC) petrol engine developed from the Ford Focus, the Duratec 16V comes in two configurations, 80 bhp 1.4-litre, and 100 bhp 1.6-litre. Extensively developed to suit this small car application, Duratec 16V engines are equipped with a precision electronic throttle for responsive and economical performance.

The all-new 1.4-litre Duratorq TDCi is an aluminium turbodiesel engine featuring new-generation common rail injection technology. This new 68 bhp common-rail diesel is engineered for small-car responsiveness, excellent economy and new levels of refinement.

Fiesta's entry 1.3, with driver and passenger air-bag, radio-cassette with four speakers, leather power steering wheel, engine immobiliser, driver's seat height adjustment, steering column adjustment and a fully galvanised body, sells at Lm5,175.