Wednesday 16th July 2008

Ford Fiesta Zetec S

Ford unveils the new warm Fiesta

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Ford has wheeled out a warm Fiesta in the shape of the Zetec S which will debut at the British Motor Show. The company says that it gives ‘driving enthusiasts a new benchmark in affordable driving fun’, which for the record is 0-60mph in 9.9 seconds and a 120mph top speed.

However if recent Fiestas are anything to go by the Zetec S won’t be all about straight-line speed and should have a decent enough chassis, although we’ll have to wait and see just how good. The car gets a 120bhp Duratec Ti-VCT engine which has 20bhp more than the old Zetec S but still uses less fuel and generates less CO₂.

It comes equipped with five-spoke, 16in alloy wheels, projector headlamps, front fog lamps, a deeper front bumper, side mouldings and a rear spoiler. Inside there is a leather steering wheel and bolstered sports seats as well as side airbags and air conditioning.

The car will also be available with a 1.6-litre 90PS Duratorq TDCi and will be launched in the UK in Autumn.

 

[martaay]

hating that back end

[Eddy5]

Agreed, it looks like messed up Honda Jazz at the rear. Front 3/4s looks great though

[minimoog]

If car waistlines get any higher there'll be no room for side windows at all.

[DamoLLb]

0-60 9.9! Even if the chasis is going to be sweet, isn't that just a little too slow?

[toys]

16" wheels? They look tiny!

[pbirkett]

DamoLLb said:

0-60 9.9! Even if the chasis is going to be sweet, isn't that just a little too slow?

Isnt it still quicker than the old one? The Zetec S was never really billed as a "hot hatch" anyway. Still think its fugly though.

[jup]

Yeah That doesn't look good from either of those pics, and it shows how fat cars have got lately, those 16 inch wheels look tiny on there!

[Fetchez la vache]

"Car looks worse when splattered with spoilers and side-skirts" shock

[rfn]

So it's got 20 more bhp, yet it's no quicker than the old one? Hardly a "Hot Hatch" now is it Ford. Even the luke-warm offerings from other manufacturers are quicker than that!

[RobCrezz]

How is it slower to 60, when its lighter and got more power...

[sprinter885]

Dammit !
Another car that I'm going to have trouble identifying from the rest when I pass one >!???

[moanthebairns]

to bulky for a fiesta.
Why are the windows so high, saftey reasons. I like my windows level!

Edited by moanthebairns on Wednesday 16th July 12:19

[Negative Creep]

That back end is horrible, looks as if it's taken a shunt that's pushed it up

[tom2019]

personally i like my one (06 plate)

It has the same 0 - 60 time which is confusing. The thing with ford is they strangle the engines so much , anyone know the reason.

Honda can get 140 bhp out of there 1.6 !

[sad61t]

RobCrezz said:

How is it slower to 60, when its lighter and got more power...

The joys of modern legislation led design:

Probably got insanely long gearing to trim the CO2 emissions, so change up from redline to somewhere well under powerband in the next cog. Result is that in real world driving I'd guess it gets no-where near the official CO2 & MPG figures.

The teeny wheels are an optical illusion caused by the vast sidepanels and high 'kind-to-pedheads' bonnet line.

[Baffled Spoon]

The rear of the car is awful. It's also surprising to see it has the same 0-60 time as the old car despite being 21bhp up on power. I think I'll stick with th Mazda 2 sister car.

[flattotheboards]

Is it just me or does this car look like a korean car. More power - less weight ye no difference in performance now theres an achievement.

[rfn]

Baffled Spoon said:

The rear of the car is awful. It's also surprising to see it has the same 0-60 time as the old car despite being 21bhp up on power. I think I'll stick with th Mazda 2 sister car.

Forgot to say - Mazda2 3door in white, looks MUCH nicer .

[wab172uk]

Don't like the rear end, and those wheels look tiny.

[MrTappets]

Dog in wolf's clothing, and how come 16" wheels look tiny all of a sudden?