2011 Ford Fiesta Preview

Model Lineup

Ford plans to sell the new Fiesta in four trim levels: Base, SE, SES Sport and SEL. Base models include a long list of standard safety features plus air conditioning, stereo with four speakers, auxiliary audio input jack, and floor mats. A Convenience package adds remote keyless entry, CD/MP3 player, and automatic locking doors to the base model.

Fiesta SE models include features of the base car's Convenience package plus a message center, upgraded cloth upholstery and interior d_cor, power windows, visor mirrors, and a handful of other items. To access a wider variety of options and special exterior colors, purchase of the SE trim level is mandatory. SES Sport and SEL models add premium audio, unique interior trim, ambient interior lighting, LED driving lights, cruise control, heated side mirrors with turn signal indicators on the outer housings, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The new Fiesta comes standard with a 4-way adjustable driver's seat and cloth upholstery. A 60/40 split-folding rear seatback is standard, as well as a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and Ford says the cupholders are designed specifically to hold everything from a can of Red Bull to a 7-Eleven Big Gulp. Notable options include heated seats, leather seats, power sunroof, and an ambient lighting system that offers seven colors to choose from.

Hardware

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is equipped with a 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder engine making 119 horsepower and 109 lb.-ft. of torque, connected to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. Ford says the Fiesta will get as much as 40 mpg on the highway, and once the tank is dry the owner can fill up without needing to remove a gas cap thanks to Ford's capless fuel filler system.

The optional 6-speed automatic is dubbed PowerShift. Ford says it provides the lively response and fuel economy of a manual transmission combined with the convenience of an automatic, meaning that buyers who can't operate a clutch pedal won't be penalized at the pump, or in stoplight drag races.

To help preserve momentum, Ford says the Fiesta's front strut, twist beam rear suspension is tuned for sporty, European driving dynamics. Standard wheel size is 15 inches, with a 16-inch wheel offered on higher trim levels and a 17-inch Ford Racing wheel available through dealers. Front disc, rear drum brakes with ABS scrub whatever speed the Fiesta achieves.

To help save fuel, an electric power steering system is used, and it includes Pull Drift Compensation technology to correct for crosswinds and pavement crowning as well as Active Nibble Control to quell vibration from an out-of-balance wheel or warped brake rotor.

Safety and Technology

Ford offers an impressive list of standard safety features on the new 2011 Fiesta. Included in the base price are dual frontal impact air bags, dual side-impact air bags for front-seat occupants, side-impact head air bags for both rows of seats, and a knee air bag for the driver. The Fiesta can also be outfitted with Ford's AdvanceTrac stability and traction control system, and the company touts the Fiesta's use of strategically placed high-strength steel in and around the car's safety cage. For buyers in wintry climes, heated side mirrors are available on the SES Sport and SEL models.

In terms of technology, the 2011 Ford Fiesta debuts with several features that will appeal to tech-savvy buyers, including the Ford Sync wireless communications and entertainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and turn-by-turn navigation. Sync also includes 911 Assist, which automatically contacts emergency personnel in the event of an air bag deployment and directs rescuers to the car's location even if occupants are unable to communicate.

Also available on the 2011 Ford Fiesta, depending on trim level: premium audio with Sirius satellite radio, automatic climate control system, and an Intelligent Access keyless locking and ignition system with push-button starting.