By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(December 3, 2016) Ford’s introduction of the 2018 Fiesta at a press event in Europe this week felt a bit like a Volkswagen event. It was filled with new cars that looked like smoothed and updated versions of the outgoing models. How the new model lineup will translate to the cars we see in the U.S. is unknown, though it’s unlikely that Ford will sell the top of the line Vignale, or even the Active model with its SUV-like body kit overtones, here.

Of course, the wonderfully mischievous ST and its pocket rocket personality will go on hiatus when the new model launches, and not return until the 2019 model year.



However, Ford will be ready with an ST Line Fiesta that will be available from launch and appeal to a broader group of buyers. It has special wheels, an aggressive body kit, sportier suspension, and unique interior trim. Which means the actual ST will look and feel more aggressive to set it apart when it launches in Spring 2018.

The full-on ST also will feature a higher output version of today’s 197-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged four. And that may be the first model to pack more than three cylinders under the hood, should Ford in the U.S. follow the lead of its European division. Continental Fiestas will launch with 99-, 123- and 138-hp 1.0-liter EcoBoost triples under the hood, and offer a naturally aspirated 1.1-liter three-cylinder engine with a choice of 69 or 84 hp. Europeans also will get a 1.5-liter diesel with 94 hp that won’t make its way to the U.S.

The chassis has been heavily updated for 2018, which has resulted in a 15% improvement in torsional rigidity. In order to optimize the suspension geometry for the available 18-in. wheels, the front and rear tracks have been widened by 1.2- and 0.4-in., respectively. The MacPherson strut front and twist beam rear suspension setup is carried over, but a stiffer front anti-roll bar is used to improve steering feel.

Inside is where the most changes have been made as the 2018 Fiesta features a simpler instrument panel made from better materials. At the time the current Fiesta was launched, Ford designers touted the center stack’s telephone-like keypad, saying it was perfect for the day’s cell phone savvy generation.

Only they had shifted en masse to flat-screen smartphones with the launch of the iPhone, leaving the Fiesta interior motif behind. This time around, there’s a 6.5-in. (8.0-in. on Titanium and Vignale models) touchscreen that “floats” above the center air registers, and features large, clear icons. Most functions are handled through this screen, though Ford smartly added a pair of large rotary dials and icons below the air vents to control the HVAC system.

The infotainment screen supports pinch and swipe motions, and the Sync3 system will respond to conversational voice commands. In addition, a premium B&O Play sound systems is available as an option. It includes 10 speakers, a cargo area-mounted subwoofer, and a central mid-range speaker mounted on top of the instrument panel where its sound can reflect off the windscreen.

The Fiesta apparently will move upmarket with more standard equipment and the cancellation of the entry-level versions. In Europe, that position will be filled by the Ka+ introduced earlier this year, making the Fiesta pricier than its competition at first glance. Ford says the car will be very competitive on a comparably equipped basis. It’s uncertain which of the 15 driver assistance technologies offered on the European models will make it to North America.

These include park assist, automatic high beam assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping assist, and city braking assist.

The Virtual Driver