Rumors of the Ford Fiesta‘s American demise have swirled ever since the 2016 launch of the seventh-generation model in Europe. On sale for the 2017 model year, the current-gen Fiesta overseas is not the current-gen Fiesta we see here. No, the older model continues on in North America, as whispers of its impending execution come and go.
Most recently, a Wall Street Journal report claimed the Fiesta would end production this year, with the Taurus sedan following it to the grave not long after.
That’s not what VIN decoder document obtained by TTAC claims.
The document, submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, covers 2019 model year Ford vehicles. And there is it, topping the list. The document shows the Fiesta continuing on for 2019, available in S, SE, Titanium, and yes, even ST trims. Sedan and five-door hatch bodystyles continue for all but the hot hatch ST.
The 2019 Ford Taurus appears on the document as well, containing the same four engines as before.
Speaking of engines, there’s something odd going on with the 2019 Fiesta. Ford hasn’t replied to our query just yet, but the three engine options listed for the Fiesta include a 1.6-liter, 123 horsepower four-cylinder, a flex-fuel version of the same engine making 120 hp, and a 1.0-liter Fox three-cylinder making … 197 horsepower. Hmmm…
That last figure is the same power rating as the 1.6-liter turbo found in the current Fiesta ST. Without confirmation of some type of hyper-boosted wonder three, we have to assume there’s a mistake here, as the document shows the “123 hp” 1.6-liter being a GTDI engine — ie, turbocharged, with direct injection. The 1.0-liter EcoBoost formerly available in the Fiesta made 123 hp. Also, the 120 hp 1.6-liter listed in the document is the same naturally aspirated unit found in all but the ST for the 2018 model year.
We’ve heard of a 175 hp aftermarket tune available for current 1.0 EB owners, but 197 hp is nuts. Surely, there’s a little whoopsies going on here.
Still, the confusing power figures — and the strange reappearance of the 1.0 EB — do not take away from the fact the Fiesta appears ready to soldier on for a little while longer, at least. Fiesta sales in the U.S. fell 9.5 percent last month, year over year, with volume over the first three months of 2018 down 5.7 percent.
(Update: Jiyan K. Cadiz, communications manager for Ford’s North American car line, replied to TTAC regarding this story. It seems the door isn’t officially shut on the seventh-gen Fiesta just yet. “We have introduced the new Fiesta for Europe and the Middle East and Africa. We’ll have more to say about other markets at a later date,” Cadiz said via email.)
[Image: Ford]
Just because a model shows up on the NHTSA submission doesn’t guarantee it will be sold, does it?
Maybe Ford has to submit, if it changes its mind later on.
“We’ve heard of a 175 hp aftermarket tune available for current 1.0 EB owners, but 197 hp is nuts.”
Mark Stevenson was musing about doing that on his Fiesta. I wonder if he pulled the trigger.
197 hp/liter specific output? Wow, it must have a turbo for each of its three cylinders :)
Doesn’t the chart show engine E (the one with 197HP) as being an inline 4 cylinder (I4)?
Yeah, but Ford doesn’t sell a 1 liter 4 in the states, so one assumes it’s referring to the 3. But the HP figures are off, so I assume the chart is just borked.
And then there’s Ford Germany announcing a 1.5L 3-cyl ecoboost making 200HP in the Euro Fiesta ST.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/ford/fiesta/97192/new-2018-ford-fiesta-st-specs-performance-prices-and-video
https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/feu/en/news/2018/03/12/all-new-ford-fiesta-st-offers-limited-slip-differential-and-debu.html
The ST is a great machine, I have a 2016 version for my daily fun driver.
Almost pulled the trigger on one today. Shady dealer plus red made me pause though. Really would rather any other color, though I’ve given up on blue or orange.
Mine in is Ford Kona Blue. Don’t see them in that color very often.
I agree, so much fun at everyday speeds.
it’s probably a typo. look at the specs on ford.com for the 2017 fiesta and the 1.6L ti-vct makes 120hp, the 1.0L ecoboost makes 123hp and the 1.6L ecoboost makes 197hp
This. Just a typo. The chart lists the 1.0 as an I4 also…
The Ford dealership where I live hasn’t had one on the lot in years.
I owned a Fiesta and its reliability was out of the ’70’s. It was responsible for two Honda’s being purchased.
Other than the transmission (which was corrected with 2014 models), the Fiesta has very high reliability.
The real question is whether this 2019 is our current body style or the new for 2017 in Europe body style…
Exactly. The new one has a much more attractive interior. Would they soldier on two years after the new one came out?
The previous generation Fiesta was available for 2 years in Europe (2009 and 2010) before production started in North America starting with 2011 models. This is nothing new for updated models to get released at different times in different parts of the world. Happens with other Ford models as well.
This article is correct. I read a post from a Ford dealer on a different forum indicating that the dealer will be allowed to make orders for 2019 Fiestas soon.
Ford has already announced they will be producing a ‘Baby Bronco’ at some point in the future, but Ford does not have a plant to build the new vehicle. Perhaps 2019 will be the last year for the Fiesta, in order for the plant at Cuantitlan Izcalli, Mexico to change over to building ‘Baby Broncos’.
It will be disappointing to see the Fiesta discontinued in the USA. Ford will be without a sub-compact. The already announced next Ford Focus will be the size of a mid-size (although still considered a compact), leaving Ford with no cars smaller than a mid size in the USA. However, the Fiesta is built at around 10 plants around the world, so Fiestas could be imported from elsewhere if necessary (when the Mexico plant is no longer making Fiestas).