SCOOP! All-new Ford Fiesta spied

Here are some of the spy images of the all-new Ford Fiesta, spotted by our reader Thilak G, testing near Chennai. The spy pics clearly suggest that the new saloon is bigger than the current-generation Fiesta sold in our market. The new Fiesta saloon (codenamed B299) employs Ford’s global kinetic design theme and is an instant eye-catcher.

The new Fiesta is built on a platform shared with the Mazda 2, and has a wheelbase of 2489mm – almost the same as the current Fiesta sold here. Ford has tuned this platform to its own high standards and this should give it a very comfortable ride and agile handling. With the new saloon, Ford has worked really well to integrate the boot section – it blends well with the ascending beltline of the Fiesta hatch and doesn’t look like a box has been tagged onto the rear of a hatchback. The taillight design works well too.

The nose of the car carries considerable Ford ‘Kinetic Design’ language. Full of sharp cuts, squashed proportions and pinched lines, the next generation Fiesta looks funky and new. The key design elements include large dagger-like headlights, a low-mounted anvil-shaped grille and a nose section that tapers at the front. On the inside, the funky looking dash and high-quality plastics make it feel like a truly modern car.

The next-gen Fiesta will get a more powerful 1.6-litre petrol motor producing 118bhp. The diesel gets 90bhp of max power from its 1.6-litre motor, up from the current 1.4’s 68bhp and it will have a very useful 20.7kgm of torque, giving it a very petrol-like feel.  Also on offer could be a DSG-like dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

With its fresh sharp looks, better interiors and perfect combination of Japanese and European engineering, the new Fiesta could take the game a step ahead for Ford. The new Fiesta is expected to make its official Indian appearance by Jan-Feb 2011 carrying an estimated price tag starting from Rs 6.80lakh, rising up to Rs 7.70lakh.