The brand new Ford Fiesta is an exclusively engineered car for India and its driving conditions which has to typically wade through monsoon floods, keep occupants cool in some of the world's most oppressive heat and conquer rough potholed roads.
The Fiesta is conservatively styled which looks very mature unlike the sporty Ikon. The design elements are catered to Indian tastes, the nose and the tail employs good detailing, which compensates for the bland looking sides. From the side the Ford Fiesta looks very well proportioned and the grip type door handles looks splendid. The black B pillar adds character to the overall look and the raised wheel arches complete the understated aggression. The rear looks like a Merc C Class, which is a let down, but the chrome strip above the number plate looks great and adds class (not available in the 1.4 EXI model range). The interior trim of the car is excellent and has a very rich feel to it. The interior has been done up in a beautiful and luxurious looking black and beige combination. The NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness) levels are well controlled with excellent sound deadening technology. In fact, I was fooled into starting the car on several occasions when the engine was still running.
Offering a choice of contemporary petrol and diesel engines the Fiesta through a unique combination of advanced combustion technology, minimum weight, low internal friction and new levels of refinement, the free revving Duratec petrol engine contributes to Ford’s core promise of fun to drive. The aluminum construction of the Duratec makes it one of the lightest, most compact and efficient petrol engines and is well suited for an extremely smooth and spirited drive.
The Fiesta exudes driving confidence and it stays glued to the road when driven hard. The steering is lighter to make the Indian traffic that little more bearable, the brakes are more sensitive in their feel and the wheels thicker to cope with the poor road conditions. And finally, the sensational pricing is bound to create a stir in the market and its competitors will be seen scurrying to the calculators to reposition their products in the market place.
The Fiesta at the outset looks like a clear winner, which will be around in the Indian auto firmament for a long time to come.