Ford to discontinue the Fiesta

Ford is expected to formally announce the discontinuation of the Fiesta in 2023.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news...g-25356123.amp

More than 22 million of Fiesta’s have been produced and in many of its 47 markets it was a huge succes in its segment. Today in countries such as the UK, Germany and the Netherlands second hand Fiesta’s are incredibly popular.

There will not be an electrical version.

Sorry to see this little car go. We have had 6 or 7 Fiesta’s in all, from the very first model to the second but last model. My wife loves these little cars.

I always enjoy driving them, good driving characteristics, very practical and reliable.

Jeroen

I believe the PUMA takes over from here.

The entire Auto segment has gone up Literally. lol.

Think about it - All the cars we knew are slowly but surely getting SUV version to the point that there are now all size's of SUV's as option to similarly sized generic formats of cars.
eg: Toyota Yaris now has Yaris Cross and the new Toyota Crown is now a high-riding sedan.

SUV's carry a higher desirability which means Automakers can make more margin's.

Sad to see this. Having been driven around in one for 16 years and counting (and hopefully being able to drive ours in another two years) has really made me appreciate this car; a practical go-kart if you may. The irrational part of me wishes that Ford would do something crazy to give it a proper send-off; something like throwing in the 2.0 Litre EcoBoost into a limited-edition (Fiesta RS anyone?).

R.I.P. This is a nameplate not to be forgotten anytime soon.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/for...rying-promise/

It started as a rumour but now it’s confirmed – the Ford Fiesta will be discontinued by June 2023, and the Blue Oval has shared a tear-jerking tribute to the car that many of us learnt to drive in, served as our first runabout, or which acted as the main family car’s dependable sidekick for trips about town.

The video, shared to Ford UK’s Instagram account tells the story of the humble Fiesta accompanied by images of it through its 46-year history, emphasising its reputation as a small, not particularly fancy but mighty supermini which took the UK car market by storm. The narration makes the poignant statement that the Fiesta has bowed out “not because it couldn’t, not because it wouldn’t, but because its job was done.”



Good bye Fiesta.

Yet another iconic brand name becomes a victim of the changing dynamics of the car markets across the globe. However, I guess it is the norm for all brand names to come to an end one day. The Escort, Mondeo and Fiesta were all very popular cars in Europe, but all of them had to die one day.

The best part about these models is that their fan following ensures that a lot of cars stay on the road as cherished classics for a long time. Parts are also reasonably easy to find, thanks to good aftermarket support and a good repository of cars at the breakers yards. The demise of the Fiesta will probably hurt more than the demise of the Mondeo, the fans and owners of which, even gave it a funeral!



India first got a taste of the Fiesta when the Mark-4 Fiesta came to our shores, but with a different name and a boot. The Ikon had quite a few India specific tweaks, but it had the same engines as the European Fiesta. It also carried a similar personality, with a focus on manoeuvrability, steering feel and driving dynamics.

We got iterations of the Mark-5 in the form of a sedan that was later called the ‘Classic’ and a hatchback that was called the Figo. Both cars were as popular as the Ikon and were always true to their Fiesta roots.

We even got the Mark-6 Sedan, but that car never took off, probably due to the cramped rear bench. However, the Mark-6 Fiesta did see significant success when it metamorphosed into a crossover, the ‘Ecosport’.

I am the proud owner of the Ikon, a derivative of the Mark-4. Mine has the archaic 1.3 litre Pushrod engine, churning out an earth shattering 59 BHP. However, it is a very chuckable car, with an agile steering and taut suspension. The best part about it is that it does not have to be driven fast to have fun.

My Ikon was also featured in a TV advert, sharing screen space with the Mark-6 Fiesta crossover, the Ecosport:

The Ikon of 1998-1999 with the 1.6 Rocam engine was the real Josh Machine. What a car!
I had a friend who worked at Ford Madras in R&D.
He lent me his Ford Ikon for a day’s use before it was even launched. Because he wanted to borrow my Gypsy for some work he had.
My Lord what an exchange that was! I had never until then experienced such raw and linear power delivery as I did in that Ikon. My other pal and I drove about the whole city and the East Coast Road and all and drank up an entire tank of petrol that day. It was just such fun!

This was expected as Ford is always quick to kill off the brands that fall off the sales chart. Thanks to the crossover craze (sad), the likes of Puma and Kuga take the place of Fiesta/Focus. Brand Fiesta could have been an ideal candidate for EV transition in the small car space.

As a former Ford Ikon owner, which was basically the Fiesta Mark IV, it is really sad to see the end of the Fiesta nameplate on a global level. A car that was nimble, chuckable and defined driving pleasure for the masses.

While other brands like Toyota bring the on-stilts version of their cars like the Corolla, Yaris etc with a Cross suffix, Ford has decided to end this nameplate gracefully, and allow the transition to the Puma which looks to be the crossover replacement for this car.

The crossover craze is well and truly here.

Youtube channel big car did a really nice piece on the history of the Ford Fiesta

This is another heartbreaking news to see the Gem being discontinued. I owned the 2012 Global Fiesta (D) from 2012 to 2020. It was a beautiful piece to own, till date its the most driven car in my garage which clocked over 130k. The handling of the car and the power was parallel to none in the complete automotive segment.

Absolutely sad to see this one go R.I.P.


Probably the only picture I could find from the archives...

Well nostalgic but for India it was full size sedan, big car. I drove one with 68 BHP but each horse power was woth it. Bought if for 7.3 lacs in 2009 and trust me nothing comes close to sheer engagament till triple the budget.

I grew up in the backseat (and eventually in the front) of a Ford Ikon and a Ford Figo. Fiestas by a different name, but Fiestas all the same. Never got a chance to drive either - was at least eight years too young. But anyone in my family who drove them raved about how refined, agile and dynamic they were. Going to miss this iconic nameplate.

Here's a good thread about the Indian Fiesta,

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...e-sedan-3.html (A tribute to the Ford Fiesta, Ford India's smilestone sedan!)

Confirmed: Ford Fiesta production to end this week.

Last example of the UK's most popular supermini to be produced on 7th July.

It brings 47 years and eight generations of the Fiesta to an end.

The Fiesta was axed because the brand “needed the space in the factory” to produce the upcoming Ford Explorer electric SUV.


Link

This is it! The final 3 Ford Fiestas rolled off the assembly line and were signed by workers that built them in Germany.

FORD FIESTA PLANT BIDS FAREWELL TO SUBCOMPACT



Having owned the mk7 Ford Fiesta ST, I can safely say no other small car can come close to the amount of fun this provides. When this generation ST was launched in 2013 it was universally praised by motoring journalists all over the world.

Clarkson's review of the Fiesta when he takes part in a beach assault with the Royal Marines(A.K.A The sensible Fiesta test ) has to be one of his all time best reviews. I think I'm right in saying that I haven't come across a single review that was critical of this hot hatch. And after driving it on Tail of the Dragon just a few days ago, I can see why.

Here are some pictures of one of my most favorite car in its natural habitat











And in case anyone wants to revisit Clarkson's review, here it is