| Ford Motor Co. has christened its new | | | | Ford will build the new subcompact at its Cologne |
| subcompact the Fiesta, inspired by one of its | | | | plant from August and in Valencia from 2009. The |
| famous models. The car will be unleashed with | | | | maker of iconic cars such as Ford Taurus, |
| one end in mind and that is to conquer the world. | | | | Mustang, F-Series, will be modify the Fiesta varied |
| The new Fiesta will be displayed on the fourth of | | | | regional markets. |
| March at the Geneva Motor Show. | | | | The original Fiesta, which the automaker produced |
| Ford Fiesta will hit dealerships in Europe this year. | | | | during the first oil crisis, has sold over 12 million |
| Next year, it will be offered in China and | | | | units since 1976. Eventually, Ford stopped selling |
| Asia-Pacific. The Fiesta will arrive in North America | | | | the Fiesta in America in 1980. This is why the |
| and the rest of Ford markets around the globe | | | | automaker disparaged in the past for missing |
| by 2010. | | | | great opportunities. |
| "If we weren't doing this as a global car, we | | | | In Europe, the automaker sells over 400,000 units |
| couldn't afford to bring it into North America," said | | | | of the current-generation Fiesta annually. The |
| Joe Bakaj, vice-president for product | | | | segment where the car is in is also gaining traction |
| development with Ford of Europe. | | | | in the United States where escalating gasoline |
| The new Fiesta is a test case for the | | | | prices and declining economy push shoppers to |
| Dearborn-based automaker product development | | | | shift to small fuel-efficient cars. |
| drive spearheaded by CEO Alan Mulally. In | | | | The chief executive of the automaker is now |
| Frankfurt, Guangzhou and Detroit, the automaker | | | | pushing the company to leverage its global |
| has showcases the Verve, its pre-production | | | | resources more effectively. Ford is in the midst |
| 'concept'. | | | | of a restructuring effort aimed at returning its |
| Martin Smith, executive director of Design for | | | | core North American operations to profitability by |
| Ford of Europe summarized the offers of the | | | | next year. |
| new subcompact: "All the vital elements of 'kinetic | | | | Earlier this month, the automaker said that its |
| design' have been translated into the new Fiesta | | | | Turkish-made Transit Connect light van would be |
| to create a dynamic spirit of fun and energy. New | | | | sold in North America from the middle of 2009. |
| Fiesta evokes an instant emotional response that | | | | Ford's next global car is expected to be a |
| says 'I want one' which extends the traditionally | | | | successor to the present generation Focus, its |
| practical values of the Fiesta to appeal to a new, | | | | best-selling model worldwide. |
| style-conscious generation of small car buyers." | | | | |