Milestones – 40 Years of Ford Fiesta

The sub-compact Ford Fiesta first appeared 40 years ago in 1976, launching at the same time as a new technology company- Apple. Since then, Ford sold 4,339,149 Ford Fiestas in the UK alone, with global Fiesta sales set to surpass 18 million before the end of this year.

During these four decades, more than one in every 20 cars sold in the UK was a Ford Fiesta. In 2014, the Ford Fiesta became the UK’s best-selling car of all time, overtaking the Ford Escort. It is not only the best-selling car in the UK this year; it has been the UK’s most popular car every month for the last seven years. It is also Europe’s best-selling small car.

The sixth generation subcompact Fiesta is available in North America as a four-door saloon and five-door hatchback, with manual transmission or Ford’s dual clutch automatic transmission. All models are manufactured at Ford’s Cuautitlán Assembly Plant.

Ford manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Thailand, Mexico Valencia, Spain; Dagenham, U.K.; and Cologne, Germany also have contributed to more than 17 million Fiestas being sold worldwide.

Fiesta Timeline

1972

Fiesta conceived as secret Project Bobcat to create a new Ford small car for the world, a mission close to the heart of Ford Chairman Henry Ford II
Work begins in Europe and America to develop the new small car, ranging from its mechanical architecture and design elements to market positioning

1973

Fuel crisis rocks the world, adding urgency to Ford’s vision to create a fuel-efficient, practical small car. Ford Board of Directors gives go-ahead to produce a new small car, code named Bobcat

1974

Construction of Ford’s new 2.7 million square meter Valencia manufacturing complex begins

1975

Engine production begins at Valencia
Fiesta name chosen personally by Henry Ford II for its alliteration with Ford, its spirit and its celebration of Ford’s new connection with Spain

1976

First production Fiesta rolls off the line in Saarlouis, Germany on May 11, 1976. More than 84,000 Fiestas are built in Saarlouis that year
Ford Chairman Henry Ford II and King Juan Carlos of Spain open Ford’s new Valencia Assembly Plant October 18, 1976, launching volume production of Fiesta in Spain
Ghia reveals the first two Fiesta-based concept cars – the Corrida and the Prima – at the Turin Motor Show in November

1977

Ford introduces larger displacement 1.3-litre petrol version of the Fiesta including sporty new S model and a Ghia version
Production of Fiesta in Dagenham, U.K., begins
Export of Fiesta models for the U.S. market begins
Fiesta named Spain’s Car of the Year

1978

Fiesta wins British Design Council Efficiency Award
Ford prepares Group 5 rally competition version of the Fiesta

1979

Millionth Fiesta built for worldwide sales. Special sporty version enters Monte Carlo Rally – this would become the inspiration for the Fiesta XR2
Faberge Fiesta Ladies’ Challenge racing series announced in London by former F1 champion Jackie Stewart

1980

Ford conceives Fiesta Challenge races to create sporting connection for Fiesta

1981

Ford introduces the new Fiesta XR2 with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, stiffer suspension, unique perforated alloy wheels and styling treatments, including optional auxiliary driving lamps. This was the first 160 km/h (100 mph) Fiesta
One millionth Spanish Fiesta built at Ford’s Valencia Assembly Plant
Two millionth Fiesta of European production rolls off line at Saarlouis

1982

Fiesta is best-selling car in its class in Britain and Germany for six years running
Ghia design and coach building introduces Fiesta-based Shuttler Concept

1983

Aerodynamic new Fiesta MkII introduced. This new model was larger and more fuel efficient, available with 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre petrol engines
1.3-litre petrol model launched with a five-speed gearbox
Fiesta 1.6-litre diesel introduced. This overhead-cam, fuel-injected engine would become a mainstay of the Ford line-up for more than a decade

1984

XR2 version of new Fiesta introduced with 1.6-litre petrol engine, single-overhead-cam engine and five-speed gearbox, plus low-profile tyres, improved suspension and brakes
Production milestone of three million reached
First Fiesta runs on lead-free petrol

1985

Ghia Urby Concept debuts, another vision inspired by Fiesta

1986

Two millionth Fiesta built at Valencia
Lean-burn 1.4-litre petrol engine introduced

1987

CTX continuously variable transmission added to the Fiesta range
Best sales year in Britain with 158,000 Fiestas sold

1989

Fiesta MkIII launched with anti-lock brakes and lean-burn engines, in 1.0-litre and 1.1-litre petrol versions. New Fiesta featured a longer and wider body shape and an increased wheelbase. It was available for the first time as a five-door model, as well as the established three-door shape
Fiesta is first small car in Europe with ABS
In Cologne, the new Fiesta became a work of art as the Goldener Vogel (golden bird) atop the tower of a city museum, the creation of action artist H. A. Schult. The small car with the powerful eagle wings would become a favorite of the Cologners and a popular sight for tourists
New trim level LX joins range between Fiesta L and Fiesta Ghia
Fiesta MkIII adds 1.4-litre petrol – the first Ford engine to meet European emissions standards due to take effect in 1996 – and 1.6-litre petrol engine options
Fiesta XR2i joins the range later in the year with new 1.6-litre twin cam petrol engine and five-speed gearbox as the range’s hot hatch. The XR2i featured flared wheel arches, body-color bumpers and unique trim, plus unique suspension and tyres
Fiesta is named Car of the Year 1989 by What Car? Magazine, U.K.

1990

Introduction of Fiesta RS Turbo at Turin Motor Show. Using the XR2i engine with an intercooled Garrett turbocharger, the Fiesta RS Turbo was 1.6 seconds quicker than XR2i to 100 km/h (62 mph)

1991

Valencia celebrates production of the three-millionth Fiesta in Spain. Vehicle is donated to the Queen Sofia Fund
Banner year – best to date for Fiesta sales with 624,186 sold Europe-wide
Ford Fiesta Courier van introduced

1992

Fiesta RS 1800 introduced. Powered by a 16-valve 1.8-litre petrol engine with improved hot hatch handling, plus five-spoke alloy wheels and a body-color spoiler
Introduction of 1.8-litre, 16-valve Zetec petrol engine
Fiesta is official vehicle of Expo 92 in Seville, Spain
Fiesta sales in Europe achieve their historical peak – 648,781 Fiestas sold

1993

Driver airbag becomes standard

1994

Fiesta tops a half-million units with calendar year registrations of 548,046

1995

European consumers register 540,052 Fiesta cars and Fiesta Courier vans

1996

Introduction of the new Fiesta MkIV with all-new rounded, aerodynamic shape and oval grille. Available with 1.25-litre, 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines, plus a 1.8-litre diesel. Dual airbags standard
Fiesta celebrates another 600,000-plus year in total sales
Fiesta number four million comes off the assembly line in Valencia

1997

Ford Puma sports coupe – created from Fiesta architecture – introduced

1998

Libre Concept based on Fiesta

1999

World premiere of the new look Fiesta and the brand new Ford Fiesta Sport at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

2000

Fiesta gets 1.8-litre turbo-diesel engine

2001

All-new Fiesta MkV introduced at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show
Production of the new Ford Fiesta begins in Cologne and Valencia

2002

All-new Ford Fiesta launched initially in the five-door version with a new line-up of engines, including the new Duratec 1.3-litre and the 1.6-litre 16-valve Duratec petrol engines
Fiesta three-door model, new 1.4-litre Duratec petrol engine and new 1.4-litre Duratorq TDCi common rail diesel engine are intrrduced
Durashift EST automatic-shifting manual transmission introduced
Ford RallyeConcept introduced at Birmingham Motor Show
New Ford Fiesta wins Germany’s prestigious Golden Steering Wheel award from best-selling Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag

2003

Fiesta ST Cup introduced in German touring car racing

2004

Fiesta JWRC Concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show

2005

150 PS Fiesta ST launched – most powerful Fiesta to date – as the first production offering of Ford Team RS
Fiesta S “warm hatch” introduced
Best sales year for Fiesta since 1998 with 358,931 registrations recorded across Europe

2006

Fiesta enhanced with voice activation and Bluetooth
The Fiesta Sporting Trophy – a new Ford rally one-make championship based around the FIA World Rally Championship – is launched

2007

Limited edition Fiesta Zetec S 30th Anniversary launched in Radian Yellow with a chequered roof
Ford Verve concept debuts at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

2008

All-new Fiesta MkVI unveiled at Geneva Motor Show
MkVI Fiesta goes into production in Cologne, Germany; Valencia, Spain; and Nanjing, China, with new 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol and sub-100g/km CO₂-emitting 1.6-litre Duratec diesel engines*
Fiesta ECOnetic becomes the UK’s most fuel efficient five-seat family car with 3.7 l/100 km (76.3 mpg) fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions of 98 g/km
Fiesta ST performance model debuts with a 2.0-litre Duratec petrol engine, offering 150 PS and top speed of 129 mph (208 km/h)

2009

Fiesta makes North American debut at the LA Auto Show
Fiesta’s Kinetic Design styling wins the Red Dot design award
Named ‘Car of the Year 2009’ by What Car? Magazine, U.K.

2010

Fiesta is the best-selling vehicle in Europe in first quarter with 140,496 cars sold in first three months of the year, and 68,630 in March alone
Fiesta’s 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine sees power increased to 95 PS and three petrol engine options benefit from CO₂ emission reductions
Fiesta RS World Rally Car previews at the Paris Motor Show

2011

Fiesta S1600 special edition offers 1.6-litre, 134 PS Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine
Fiesta RS World Rally Car makes its competitive debut with a clean sweep of the podium at Rally Sweden
Sixth generation Fiesta achieves production milestone as the one millionth example leaves the production line in Cologne
Fiesta celebrates 35th anniversary by achieving a total of 15 million sales worldwide and benefits from interior and exterior upgrades and revisions

2012

New Fiesta goes on sale in Europe with bold styling, smart technologies including Active City Stop and MyKey, and seven engines with sub-100 g/km CO₂ emissions
New Fiesta makes its debut in North America at Los Angeles Auto Show equipped with award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine – later certified as the country’s most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car
Dynamic new Fiesta ST unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show
Fiesta is Europe’s top-selling small car of 2012, with one purchased every two minutes on average**

2013

182 PS Fiesta ST goes on sale. Ford receives nearly 10,000 orders in Europe in its first six months – twice as many as projected
Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost is named 2013 Women’s World Car of the Year
Ford wins Dynamics Team of the Year and Ford engineer David Put wins Dynamicist of the Year at 2013 Vehicle Dynamics International Awards for development of vehicles including Fiesta ST
Fiesta is named Supermini of the Year by What Car? Magazine, U.K.
Ford Fiesta is No.1 selling in Europe for the second year running at 293,663 cars

2014

Ford debuts two-tone Fiesta Red Edition and Black Edition models. Equipped with a 140 PS 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – the most powerful 1.0-litre volume production engine ever – they offer more power-per-litre than a Bugatti Veyron or Ferrari 458 Speciale
In its first year of worldwide sales, the Fiesta ST wins 22 industry awards
More than half the competitors enter round seven of the FIA World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta, creating a new entry ratio record in world rallying
Ford Fiesta is the No.1 selling small car in Europe for the third consecutive year

2015

The all-new Fiesta R2 rally car is introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, powered by Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine
Three new Fiesta colors are offered – Magnetic, Candy Red and Silver Silk – alongside styling, equipment and comfort upgrades
New 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine delivers 3.2 l/100 km fuel efficiency and 82 g/km CO₂
Stylish Fiesta Black and White Editions are introduced
Fiesta is Europe’s best-selling small car for the fourth year in a row

2016

Ford unveils the new 200 PS Fiesta ST200 at the Geneva Motor Show, delivering 6.7 second 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration. It is the most powerful production Fiesta ever
Fiesta celebrates 40 years of production, with more than 17.6 million sold worldwide