Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Ford's tiny Fiesta might get a sharp new look and a luxury-focused trim … at least in Europe

Ronan Glon
By

Ford Fiesta ST200
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Ford is preparing to give the pocket-sized Fiesta a midlife refresh that will bring a revised look, and possibly a new range-topping trim level.

Now in its seventh-generation, the Fiesta was introduced in Europe in 2008, though it didn’t land on our shores until the 2011 model year. Ford will keep the sub-compact from getting too long in the tooth by giving it a new front fascia that falls in line with its latest design language. Expect Focus-esque sharp headlights and a wide grille up front, while the rear end will receive revised tail lamps.

Recommended Videos

The Fiesta won’t be new under the skin. Instead, it will ride on an evolution of the architecture that underpins the current model, a strategy adopted by a few of Ford’s competitors including Volkswagen and GM’s Germany-based Opel division. The suspension will be tuned to obtain a quieter, more comfortable ride, and the next Fiesta will likely be marginally lighter than its predecessor.

Italian magazine Omni Auto speculates that Ford will crown the Fiesta lineup with a range-topping trim level called Vignale.  Already offered on the Fusion and the S-Max minivan, among others, the Vignale trim will bring a more upscale look accented by an extra dose of chrome trim, and niceties such as leather upholstery and real contrast stitching in the cabin. The Blue Oval might choose to sell the Fiesta Vignale exclusively on the Old Continent, where luxed-up sub-compacts are more popular than in the United States.

A vast majority of the Fiestas sold in Europe are equipped with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder engine, so Ford is expected to drop the bigger 1.4-liter, four-cylinder altogether. A 1.5-liter turbodiesel will be available on the other side of the pond, and Ford will continue to build a hot-rodded, ST-badged variant of the Fiesta for speed aficionados. It’s too early to tell what mechanical modifications Ford will make to the U.S.-spec model.

The updated Ford Fiesta is tentatively scheduled to make its debut in the fall, though Ford has announced plans to sit out the Paris Auto Show so we won’t see it in the French capital.  It will make its North American debut at either the Los Angeles Auto Show or next year’s Detroit Auto Show.

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Modern cars are a privacy nightmare, and there’s no way to opt out
Elon Musk smirks while pointing.

Cars are changing, and quickly. Electric cars are on the rise, and at the same time, manufacturers are pushing autonomous driving technologies -- even if we're still a while away from actual self-driving cars. But there are other aspects about cars that are changing too -- the fact that they're becoming increasingly connected, and increasingly computer-controlled. And, with all the data that cars can collect, privacy is becoming increasingly important.

Turns out, however, cars aren't that great at preserving your privacy. In fact, they're terrible at it.

Read more
The state of EV chargers in the U.S. right now: We have a long way to go
What a future Mercedes-Benz EV charging hub might look like.

Charging is changing in the U.S. -- and quickly. Tesla has all but won the war for the standard charging connector, meaning that charging will likely get a whole lot more convenient in the near future. But on top of that, charging networks are also expanding -- with the likes of Mercedes-Benz jumping in on the action.

Earlier this year, Mercedes announced that it would be building charging stations in partnership with MN8 Energy. More recently, it shared that it was finally planning on opening up the first of these stations in October.

Read more
The fastest electric cars, ranked by 0-60 mph acceleration
porsche taycan electric car acceleration test on aircraft carrier deck prototype

Electric vehicles benefit from instant torque, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're quick.

The more affordable electric cars, like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Hyundai Kona Electric, are zippy around town, but nothing to brag about on a drag strip. However, higher-end models like the ones we're looking at here can keep up with some of the most powerful gasoline-burning sports cars in the world -- and in many cases beat them.

Read more