Ford Motor Company today delivered the global debut of the
next-generation Ford Fiesta at a special “Go Further” event in Cologne,
Germany.
Jim Farley, executive vice president and president, Europe Middle
East and Africa, Ford Motor Company, was joined by Mark Fields,
president and chief executive officer, Ford Motor Company, to unveil
four new production versions of the next generation Fiesta to an
audience of 2,500 dealers, employees and media at the company’s Cologne
Niehl manufacturing facility – the home of Fiesta.
Supported by members of the Ford teams from around Europe who have helped to transform the company, Ford at Go Further also:
- Revealed new research that underscores the potential for Ford’s
self-driving vehicle technologies to improve quality of life for
customers and announced testing of autonomous cars on European roads
will begin next year - Unveiled distinctive and sporty new Ford Transit Custom Black
Edition and Sport series vans; as well as the new Ford Edge ST-Line
sports utility vehicle (SUV) - Announced new cylinder deactivation technology for the the
multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost – an industry first for a
three-cylinder engine - Revealed that the Le Mans-winning 2016 Ford GT and 1966 Ford GT40
race cars will be available as part of the exclusive LEGO Speed
Champions range of models
“Four years ago, at the first Go Further event, Ford promised a
leaner, smarter business in Europe with great products and new
technologies – and we’ve over-delivered through the talent, ingenuity
and passionof our people,” Farley said.
“We have delivered an all-new SUV line-up; set the performance car
segment alight with our Focus RS and Ford Mustang; strengthened the
backbone of our business with our award-winning commercial vehicle
range; and re-written the rulebook on compact engines with our 1.0-litre
EcoBoost – and that’s before we get to the next generation Fiesta.”
Not one, not two, but four fun-to-drive Fiestas
Ford revealed four distinctive production variants of the next
generation Fiesta: the stylish Fiesta Titanium, the Ford
Performance-inspired Fiesta ST-Line, the upscale Fiesta Vignale and the
Fiesta Active crossover.
Featuring an elegant exterior, ergonomic interior that offers a
floating high-definition touchscreen and Ford’s sophisticated SYNC 3
communications and entertainment system, Fiesta also will be the first
Ford to deliver a premium B&O PLAY Sound System.
The expanded Fiesta range will offer more personalisation options to
customers than ever before, and enhances the sporty, fun to drive
character that has delighted generations of customers.
The next-generation Ford Fiesta debuted with a spectacular unveil to
music performed by the award-winning DJ Yoda assisted by a “YuMi”
collaborative robot. Ford is among first auto makers to develop a new,
closely integrated approach to car workers and collaborative robots
working together on the assembly line. DJ Yoda and “YuMi” performed a
setlist of tracks from 1976 onward in celebration of Fiesta’s 40th anniversary this year.
Smart Mobility for improved quality of life
A new Ford-commissioned European survey* has revealed that that
drivers believe enjoying passing scenery, catching up with family and
friends, and reading a book are among the main perceived benefits of
travelling by self‑driving car.
Ford also announced the company will expand testing of autonomous
cars to European roads next year, in addition to extensive testing in
the U.S.
Ford is currently expanding into both an auto and a mobility company
by pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility – its
plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the
customer experience data and analytics. The company is committed to
making self-driving cars available for millions of people and earlier
this year announced plans to triple its autonomous vehicle development fleet making it the largest of all automakers.
New Transit Custom Black Edition and expanded Sport series
The dynamic new Transit Custom Black Edition van offers four
eye-catching colour schemes with contrasting roof, mirror caps, skid
plate and side stripes, and unique black 17‑inch alloy wheels.
The Transit Custom Sport series van with signature twin bonnet
stripes can also now be ordered in a much wider choice of bodystyles,
including van, kombi and double-cab-in-van models in both short and long
wheelbase versions. The Tourneo Custom people mover can be specified
with the same Sport package.
These striking new Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom models are
powered by the game-changing 170PS Ford EcoBlue diesel engine, and
Tourneo Custom is also now offered with new features and technologies
including a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, a
unique-to-segment rear air suspension system, and attractive new 17-inch
alloy wheels.
Ford also revealed the new Ford Edge ST-Line SUV – which joins the
Ford Fiesta ST-Line, Focus ST-Line, Mondeo ST-Line and Kuga ST-Line
models – delivering Ford Performance-inspired styling, high
specification and powerful engines.
Award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost inspires industry-first innovation
Ford powertrain engineers have defied industry expectations to
deliver cylinder deactivation technology that will improve fuel
efficiency and CO2 emissions for the multi-award-winning 1.0‑litre EcoBoost engine, without sacrificing refinement.
Ford’s compact and powerful 1.0-litre EcoBoost will be the first
three-cylinder engine in the world to feature cylinder deactivation. The
technology can disengage or re-engage the cylinder in 14 milliseconds –
20 times faster than the blink of an eye – and combined with advanced
solutions to counteract vibrations, will be imperceptible to drivers in
terms of operation and engine performance.
Ford GT racers join exclusive LEGO range
Ford and The LEGO Group have joined forces to offer the 2016 Ford GT
and 1966 Ford GT40 race cars as part of the exclusive LEGO Speed
Champions range of models, featuring iconic high performance road and
racing cars.
The two new buildable models follow in the tyre tracks of the popular
Ford Mustang and Ford F‑150 Raptor pickup sets already on sale, and
celebrate Ford’s motor racing achievements in the world-famous Le Mans
24 Hours endurance race.
Ford made an historic return to Le Mans this year, taking victory
with the new Ford GT race car exactly 50 years after recording a 1-2-3
clean sweep at the 1966 race.
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing drivers Dirk Müller and the full WEC team –
Andy Priaulx, Harry Tincknell, Olivier Pla and Stefan Mücke– represented
Ford’s victorious 2016 Le Mans team at Go Further, where both the 1966
and 2016 race cars were on stage.
Further special guests joining Ford executives and European team
members to celebrate the company’s contribution to sport included Sennan
Fielding, a 20-year-old star of the Ford British F4 championship that
features single-seat race cars powered by Ford’s 1.6-litre EcoBoost
petrol engine.