New Fiesta creates UK sales storm
December 18, 2008 by Matt Brogan
Nearly 11,500 new Ford Fiesta models have been snapped up in the UK in just 77 days (since it went on sale on October 1) – 9000 of those to retail customers.
Due to go on sale here from January 1, the funky new Fiesta is already achieving glowing reviews from the motoring press, including our very own editor David Twomey.
UK sales show the Zetec model as most popular accounting for 51 per cent of sales. The most popular colour there has been Panther Black (21 per cent) followed by the new Hot Magenta (15 per cent).
“Dealers are telling us that people are coming out of their Peugeot 207s and Renault Clios to get into new Fiesta,” Mark Simpson, marketing director, Ford of Britain said, “Fabulous style, high levels of equipment and a great price are the reason they want to be seen in the new Fiesta. We expect to attract even more sales from business and economy-minded drivers next year when our ECOnetic model goes on sale.”
Ford Australia expects to sell up to 1000 units a month here when sales kick off in the new year. Pricing starts from $15,750.
Print it: 
I think Ford is going through a real renaissance over the past 18 months – their designs are looking better and better. The new Ford Focus XR5 is a brilliant little car – go and have a look at the build quality of one fitted with leather seats – it’s really quite impressive and not what I expected from Ford at all. But aside from that, the new Falcons, the Mondeo, and now the Fiesta, all show that they have really focussed on a total rethink their design philosophies, and now make their cars much more attractive and to a much better quality. Each model may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but overall their range is looking better with each model that comes out. Dare I say it, it reminds me of what mazda went through about 5 years ago – they went from a design dark age throughout the nineties, and woke upo with a bang in the early noughties with the Mazda 3, 6 and more recently the 2. Ford have done the same.
I have never been a Ford fan, but I am open minded enough to give credit where it’s due.
Good design sells cars, and that thing looks fantastic. Let’s hope the traditionally extremely conservative Aus market takes to it with as much gusto.
Any news on an xr4 or ST Fiesta?
HAL,
Thank you. You’re one person that doesn’t simply judge a vehicle by the badge on the front.
The new fiesta proves Ford is on the right track to full recovery.
I expect Ford AUS to sell almost double the volume of the previous fiesta once full stocks arrive of the new model.
mitch i reckon the st (xr4) variant will come out later…it should cause they are nice little pocket rockets!
Its kinda of hard to imagine this Fiesta sitting next to the world class 4 Star Barina :)
Given the competition in the small car segment, I think Ford have the best all round package. And whats more incredible, is this model will not be touched by the Ford US Design team who crucified the Focus.
Hopefully this doesn’t put a strain on the availability to Aust. And I’d love to see the sedan version (verve) built as well.
I have driven them in Australia and they are very good, as good as they look.
“And I’d love to see the sedan version (verve) built as well.”
I didn’t think there were going to do a sedan version, it would see a bit pointless in a car of this size. But these shots look pretty good…
w w w. autobloggreen. com / 2007 / 11/19/ford-shows-four-door-version-of-verve-at-chinese-auto-show/
Ford unveiled the Sedan version of the Fiesta in China last month, one year on from the debut of the Verve. They have confirmed it will be sold in China and the USA, but no news of it being released here as of yet. And Frontman, your comment implies that you have driven the Fiesta sedan here in Oz. Details please!
funny coincidence that a sales rise after a Top Gear UK Review.
this looks like a very good little car.
I call it the Clarkson effect.
well done ford,it really is a nice looking car . this has a 5***** crash test raiting doesin it?
Ford deserve to do well with this car, hopefully the less powerful automatic doesn’t hamper sales. It would be great if it got its sales from potential Yaris’ buyers.
What a great car and a fine example of some bloody good forward thinking design. This ‘kinetic’ look is a corker and certainly much better than the ’stupid grinning frog’ designs of Peugeot and the latest mazdas.
Wish they’d bring in the 1.6 diesel version. Better fuel economy than a Prius, better all round than a Prius and it would be a bargain if they could sell it for under $20,000.
It may be selling well in the UK but here it will be an also ran.
This is an entirely different market.
Agreed Spitfire.
Small Fords don’t have a good reputation here and it will struggle, just like the Mondea and current Fiesta was supposed to be the life saver for Ford and they have both tanked in sales…
Will be a big ask to pull sales from the Yaris even if it is twice the car (Wouldn’t be hard) given blind Toyota loyalty out there.
The Fiesta seems like a nice car but historically cars like the Astra, Mondeo and Vectra have got a reputation here of being expensive to run and unreliable compared to the Japanese competition.
Why are the British totally the other way?
Same cars different market. No way are Euro cars as reliable as Japanese cars
I don’t get it.
Darren W : Toyota sells the Corolla in Europe with a diesel so whould like to see that here in Oz. The Yaris, RAV4 and the European only Avensis all come with diesels aswell but just not here. Infact, even the Lexus IS has a diesel (2.2) in Euroland hence known as the IS220d
I’m not surprised at its success. When you combine great style with excellent driving dynamics, success is deserved.
certainly a great looking product, and they have always been hotcakes in euroland,
but ford OZ struggle to sell cars no matter how great they are.
Fords current range in OZ already consists of a few class topping vehicles, but they are outsold by its mere mid pack competition.
It has to be the “Ford = family car” image
Does anyone know how many units a month the fiesta currently sells??
Also, is the “ECOnetic” variant coming down under??
with the right bit of marketing that may be the car to bring a better acceptance to Fords small car range in OZ
Andrew M there is a reason they don’t sell here.
Sure the Euro cars are dynamically very good and in the Fiesta’s case they look good too.
They are just NOT a good five or ten year ownership experience. They breakdown and need more $$ and maintenance then say a Corolla or Camry.
Simple as that
Remember, the Ford Laser used to sell big numbers, class leading numbers. They switch to euro product and die in the arse.
SamR, us Britons are “the other way” because we are smarter when it comes to cars. In a family car, why have a 4.0 V8 petrol when you can have a 2.0 4 cylinder diesel that delivers the same amount of power and is vastly more economical? Now that doesn’t make sense.
We buy superminis as family cars because, in reality, that’s all a lot of people need. The Fiesta is a cracking little car, but I’m sure it will only ever be a second car (probably after Falcon or a Mondeo) in Australia, or someone’s first car. And don’t forget that we don’t have to pay a premium for Euro in Britain. In fact, we have cars like the Citroen C4 and Fiat Bravo that have lower starting prices than Mazda 3s and Corollas. And of course, almost every European car is better than the Japanese ones as far as driving dynamics, looks and handling goes.
As far as reliability goes, I certainly won’t argue with the previous Astra’s long term reliability, but the Focus is standing up well, as is the previous Fiesta so this one shouldn’t be a problem. As for reliability of the French cars we keep buying, well i can’t explain that, but there is something a lot more special about getting a Peugeot 308 or a Citroen C4 over the regulation Corolla/Focus/Golf no matter how bad the reliability and not all of them are lemons, most will keep going for twenty years if you want them to without much trouble. It’s also the reason people buy Alfa Romeo 147s, they are the same price as a base Focus and you know you want one, so why not?
I have a base Citroen C4 in my collection and I have had nothing but good reliability from it so I think it just depends on what one rolls of the factory lines.
I think Brit’s have cars in their blood a lot more than Australians do. We have put out some of the world’s best driving machines and that is why sometimes we say “sod the reliability, I want that one.” instead of wondering if that was a sound choice. In Britain, you can’t turn your head without seeing a fun-to-drive Focus, Australia however, is full of Corollas. Enough said.
Oh my, didn’t realize how much I babbled on there. To sum up, yes, a Mazda 3 or a Toyota Corolla will be a better ten year experience as far as reliability goes, but not as far as general enjoyment, character, prestige and looks go. And of course what people think of you (I think anybody who drives a Toyota is boring, and they usually are). It’s the buyers choice, go for Euro chic or Asian bleak. Fun to drive or reliability every single bloody day for the next ten years? I know what I’d pick.
PS – If you buy a European car and keep it for ten years, think of all the phone calls “Sorry boss, car trouble, can’t make it in until lunch time.” All those mornings of work you stand to miss.
Ha Ha Alex well babbled mate. One thing you failed to point out is the dull looks and handling of the Corolla/Auris, Avensis, Yaris, Aygo and soon the strange and quirky forthcoming iQ.
Basically Toyota have loads of little cars which generally sell better than big cars here (UK). Remember that our depreciation values are way higher than Australia. I for one was amazed at what folk will pay for knackered crap cars in Australia. Most mainstream cars have done their time after 160K kilometres, yes they still go but cost loads to repair and are frankly awful to drive a la my 180K pug 406.
Oooh my i’m babbling
Marcus,
How has mondeo tanked in sales?
It’s hitting Ford’s company targets?
If you can remember the 80’s Ford’s small and medium vehicles, the laser and telstar dominated the sales charts along with falcon.
I don’t see why Ford can’t sell a meaningfull amount of small vehicle again.
I’d hate to see how you would run a marketing or business, you would give up before you started!!
Ummm, Adam (Aka Mada) the 80’s was a life time ago, build a bridge mate……. and drive your Ford Model-T over it !
The Ford of then was a very different company to the Ford of today.
As I am basing my comments on facts, for the last 15 years, Ford have not sold their small cars at all well, they are nothing but cellar dwellers…..and unfortunately for this car, it will be much the same, give or take a few months of pent up sales, it will be left to slowly die in sales over time…..
Sam R,
If ford had have brought the Focus here and renamed it a “Laser” im sure it would have remained a strong seller.
you cant put a price on name plate familiarity, especially in the small car class. I started to touch on this in another blog.
Nissan also shot themselves in the foot by not carrying on the “Pulsar” name plate.
Toyotas corolla must have been laughing its tits off when it saw its main competition make that move.
I also doubt much of the small car buying public know where their cars are manufactured.
the name change was the killer for fords superior Focus.
they brought it here because its a hotcake in euro land.
Alex and Cupid Stunt, thanks for the information.
I was watching a recent Top Gear episode where they did a jump over cars. The cars seemed to be all 10 year old Euro hatchbacks.
10 year old hatchbacks here still go for good money as they are still usually in good nick and are reliable they are also mostly Japanese. I am driving a 10 year Pulsar SSS and it is in perfect condition.
Seems wasteful but I hear in Japan cars are pensioned off after 4 years.
I suppose it is just a different attitude to cars here, we expect them to last 10 to 20 years and will not buy them if they don’t.
Style and substance by the bucketload and at its starting price one thinks its a much dearer car….S*X SELLS!
Sam R – take into account the fact that modern cars are far cleaner regarding emissions, so it would make sense the pension off cars but 4 yrs is too early really.
I read somewhere that a 1980’s car has 20 times the pollutants than a car made twenty years later.
Given repair costs are higher here we push cars into the graveyard a bit sooner. Take my elderly 99 Pug 406. Its worth about $1000, now the cam belt needs replacing along with a service its basically pointless throwing good money after old. Soon i’ll trade it in for some poor mug to pay repairs on.
SamR, you are very right, it’s all about attitude. I have a friend at work and he has a car that he really wants and a car that he feels he should get, a Mazda MX-5 and a Lexus IS250. He feels that he should buy the Lexus on the off chance he should need to transport extra people or put a lot of stuff in his boot, however, in reality it’s never more than him and his wife, they only ever use the boot for the weekly shop (and they don’t buy much) and he really wants an MX-5. That’s exactly it though, I think Australians are always preparing for having to move house or take 5 people in complete comfort. In the UK, you want an Mx-5, you buy an MX-5. And that’s why we buy more convertibles, superminis, hot hatches…
Cupid,
Our aussie mades are cheap as chips to repair and service compared to others.
it sort of makes it a viable proposition to hang onto one for a while if you want to
Yes Andrew M. I was surpised at how little it cost to maintain cars over there whenI was in Mel. Took my clunky crap TF to have the front wheels balanced. Cost $10! Double it and add a bit more for pommieland.
Just had the Vectra 20K mile service at the main dealer £170 about AU$370. New rear rotors and pads £235 AU$500.
“New rear rotors and pads £235 AU$500.”
Cupid Stunt that is another reason Euro cars cost a fortune to run. Most Japanese small and medium size cars here NEVER need to change brake rotors under 160,000km and maybe not even after that.
The Astra and Focus here are infamous for huge servicing bills at 30,000km or 40,000km for new front and rear brake rotors and pads. They seem to be made of cheese.
Not a problem on performance models but a big one on economy models.
Yeh I know mate. GM use seriously poor discs, guess its all a ploy to get you back in the workshop for creaming them for a discount. I read stories about Astras having to change discs at 27K kilometers. The after market ones tend to go further at 130000K’s.
Sort it our Ford and GM
Marcus,
I didn’t realise you had a crystal ball?
Ford of 2008 if a very different Ford of 15 years ago…
Hello…
Marcus,
Based on facts?
How is telling porkies about how mondeo is selling using facts?
It’s selling as FORD expected.
That’s the FACTS.
great little car but Australian car buyers are morons and the general person who knows nothing about cars will always go a japanese brand or a holden….shame!
Looks at the focus….Europes best selling small car of all time..bring it over here the stupid Aussies still buy a Barina! idiots!
More profound words of wisdom from the intellectual Guru known as Daniel. Are you saying all Australians are morons or just the ones that buy Holden, I’m not too sure?
Just the ones that by holdens! the average aussie with no idea would always buy a holden over a ford…though does that mean all aussies or just the ones that buy holdens…you decide!
Marcus….you are a totoal idiot…….must be a Holdenwoo driver. The new Fiesta is obviously a great little car and will be a success for Ford all over the world including Australia. Go get back in your Barina.
Stupid Cupid, whether you like it or not, Daniel San is correct. The blue oval is nowhere in this country. Merry Christmas angry
Its called marketing Forza………..nothing to do with Australians being morons!
Ford simply don’t do enough of it here!
Merry Christmas Cupid hope you had a great one !xoxox
Quote [Daniel]: Looks at the focus….Europes best selling small car of all time..bring it over here the stupid Aussies still buy a Barina! idiots!
I’ve seen far more Focuses [or Focii] on the roads than I hve Dae-rinas…. particularly XR-5s