Fiesta Sedan

[fordpoplier]

I just read that 2010 Fiesta for the US market will be a sedan!

 

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/hat ... index.html

 

Perhaps this is old news but it first filled me with horror, then I went searching for some pics and I don't rekon it looks that bad although not very Fiestaesque

 

 

[Pillock]

There's been saloon versions of the previous model Fiesta for the south american market I believe:

 

and this is the Ford Ikon, an Indian car based on the model before that:

 

 

Quite interesting to read an American review of a European car, given that we're normally quite critical the other way around (won't go around corners, flabby handling blah blah). They seem pretty impressed which surprised me, I still picture ALL Americans driving 4.2 litre V8 tanks so figured a 1.6 max engine size would WTF??? them out. I did like this quote though...

(as a lot of Europeans do, all day) at 90 mph

Yes, we all do 90mph all day. The autobahns, they're right the way across europe and pass by my front door don'tchaknow?

[Richard]

I used to do 90mph a lot of the time before they invented speed cameras.

[VWPowered]

90kmph im ok

[garycox]

Looks just like a shrunken Mondeo...

[Father Ted]

Looks just like a shrunken Mondeo...

And for that very reason I think Ford would shif them if they launched them in this country. Perhaps not mega volumes, but certainly the Doris and Sid group who want to downsize but not look like they have downsized, or perhaps they prefer a boot to a hatch? So long as it would get Sids golf clubs in the back and Doris's cakes for the WI meet, I bet they would sell.Of course Beige and white would be the only colours they would come in.

[Guest]

Not so sure about that, when there's a 4 door version of a car usually sold as a small hatch, they seem incredibly difficult to shift in this country for reasons unknown. The Suzuki Baleno saloon for example.

[garycox]

The Polo from the 90s sold a few didn't it?

[Pillock]

Yeah, sold 'a few' where the hatch seemed to sell loads and loads. Going back to the Mk2 Polo there were a few more saloons sold but still vastly outnumbered by the hatch and coupe.

 

Dunno, on one hand I'm sure it wouldn't cost much (eg the Festa Sedan is indian, RHD country, so all the tooling is there) but not sure they'd sell loads.

 

Although I was surprised that they do a saloon version of the latest Focus, thought they'd got burned with that on the Mk1. Sure I only saw about a dozen out on the road, as opposed to thirteen trillion hatchbacks.

[Volksy]

 

Doesn't the focus share a lot of its genes with the Volvo S40, if so I guess they already had a saloon of sorts pretty much designed..

[trigger]

I've seen Renault Clio 4 doors in Spain

 

 

A Citroen C3 4 door whilst looking for that photo

 

 

And even a Suzuki Swift 4 Door.

 

[Heep]

Yikes, that Swift looks all wrong

[garycox]

They all look a bit shonky IMO, just like the hatch with a box lobbed on the back, The new Fiesta looks more like it's supposed to be a saloon...

[andrew e]

A sexy saloon is the FIAT Linea

 

[GrumpyCat]

A sexy saloon is the FIAT Linea

Available from this Brazilian dealership...enjoy. http://tinyurl.com/5r2bqq

[Albert Ross]

If the saloon version bombs every time, why was the Volvo 340/360 saloon so popular then? Admittedly every third one was a beige CVT, but go on, tell me................

[Richard]

Did they sell a lot of the 340/360 saloons? I don't remember seeing that many of then, not in comparison with the hatch versions anyway.The Ford Orion did well enough, as did the Renault 9. Maybe that's the answer, give the saloon version its own identity.

[autohausdolby]

Dunno about that, look at Ventos. Jettas seem to be fairing better these days though.Back in the day, our old FoMoCo rep told us that Yanks see hatchbacks as downmarket, even though they are clearly far superior cars to saloons. That's why they soak up all the 4 door versions of hatches that Europeans are too sensible to buy.

[Pillock]

I reckon mid-sized saloons cater for the old geezers, two proud to admit they can't cope with a large saloon any more. A nice Focus estate or something looks bigger, but isn't as likely to cause them hassle in Aldi's carpark. Fast-forward ten years when said old geezer can't see 10ft in front of him and you need an even smaller car. Saloons do seem more 'executive' though, didn't Ford drop the hatch version of the Granada citing reasons such as 'businessmen don't like draughty necks when the boot is opened'

[andrew e]

Thats why you got the double hatch on the XM

[alfetta]

Most small saloons are an afterthought and look shite....But a big gaping hole for the hatch doesn't do much for rigidity. Saloon versions always seem more refined and stiffer.