Ford's new ultra-frugal Fiesta was unveiled at the British International Motor Show, completing the company's small, medium and large car ECOnetic line-up.
The wraps came off the 76.3mpg Ford Fiesta ECOnetic – Britain's greenest family car with CO2 emissions of 98g/km. On sale from £11,800 by the end of this year, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic joins existing Mondeo and Focus ECOnetic models.
Ford Focus ECOnetic has led a 38 per cent sales surge in the first half of this year generated by Ford's sub-120g/km CO2 vehicles – all powered by Dagenham's 1.4/1.6 TDCi engines. Earlier this month the sub-140g/km Ford Mondeo ECOnetic went on sale.
Ford Fiesta ECOnetic
The Fiesta ECOnetic becomes the most fuel efficient new five-seater family car in the UK. With CO2 emissions at under 100g/km, Ford Fiesta ECOnetic is zero rated both for road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) and for the 'showroom tax' element of VED introduced for the first year of ownership in this year's Budget.
Aerodynamic body styling, lowered suspension, low resistance tyres and low friction oil all help the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic achieve ultra low CO2 emissions. Additionally a green shift indicator in the instrument cluster highlights the optimal point to change gear to maximise fuel economy.
Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain chairman and managing director, said: "Many drivers are prepared to be green - but still want comfort, performance and an affordable price. ECOnetic answers that demand.
"Ford's ECOnetic range, complete with new Fiesta, delivers style with a green conscience."
Fiesta ECOnetic – what's different?
Aerodynamic rear air deflectors
Lowered suspension
Optimised rolling resistance tyres (175/65R14) and low friction oil
Green shift indicator light
Modified engine calibration
Transmission final drive ratio changed from 3.37 to 3.05
The new Ford Fiesta ECOnetic joins the Ford Focus ECOnetic, which went on sale earlier this year and achieves CO2 emissions of 115g/km and fuel consumption of 65.6mpg (combined cycle). The Ford Mondeo ECOnetic went on sale this month and offers large car comfort combined with fuel economy of over 53mpg and CO2 of 139g/km.
About British International Motor Show
The British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.
The first British Motor Show organised by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) was held at Crystal Palace, London in 1903. It subsequently moved to Olympia in London, where it was held each year for 32 years. From 1937 until 1976 it was held at Earl's Court in London, before moving to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham in 1978. The NEC hosted the show every other year until the last show there in May 2004. The 2004 show was moved from the traditional October date to May to avoid conflicting with the other two major autumn motor shows in Frankfurt and Paris. In 2006 the motor show was returned to London, taking place at ExCeL in London Docklands.
