MOTOR RIVALS

The next generation Fiesta is unveiled with the most sophisticated range of driver assistance technologies and connectivity features ever in a volume small car in Europe, as part of the most comprehensive and versatile line-up of variants in 40 years of Fiesta history. Ford revealed four distinctive production variants of the Fiesta, including the stylish Fiesta Titanium, the Ford Performance-inspired Fiesta ST-Line, the upscale Fiesta Vignale and the Fiesta Active crossover - the first in a new line-up of Active vehicles to be rolled out across the Ford range in years to come.

Simplified, straighter lines and de-cluttered surfaces deliver more visual strength. The bonnet offers a calmer design with no centre bulge, which allows the new, wider grille to dominate. Sleek headlamps offer a new wrap-around effect that is immediately recognisable day or night.

Powertrain

Cutting-edge powertrains include Ford's multi-award winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine offering up to 140 PS, and a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel offering 120 PS - the first high-power diesel Fiesta powertrain. Ford anticipates CO2 emissions from 82 g/km, supported by an all-new six-speed transmission with innovative friction reduction technologies.

Ford's multi-award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine is offered with 100 PS, 125 PS and 140 PS, and a new six-speed manual gearbox with a reduced friction architecture or an optional six-speed automatic gearbox for the 100 PS variant with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine features advanced technologies including high-pressure direct fuel injection, Twin-independent Variable Cam Timing, and an innovative offset crankshaft design for unparalleled three-cylinder refinement.

Ford's 120 PS 1.5-litre TDCi engine is the first high-power diesel powertrain ever offered for Fiesta. The 1.5-litre TDCi engine is also offered with 85 PS - 10 PS more than the most fuel-efficient outgoing Fiesta - and Ford's new six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.5-litre TDCi engine employs optimised combustion chamber design, turbocharging - including variable geometry technology for the 120 PS version - and sophisticated fuel injection that enhances refinement. Smart Regenerative Charging enhances fuel efficiency by selectively engaging the alternator and charging the battery when the vehicle is coasting and braking.

Ford's 1.1-litre petrol engine shares a three-cylinder architecture with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, and is offered with a new five-speed manual gearbox in 70 PS and 85 PS versions, replacing the outgoing naturally aspirated 1.25-litre petrol engine and delivering more power and anticipated reduced CO2 emissions from 101 g/km.

Chassis

The Ford Fiesta's chassis now offers 10 per cent more cornering grip, supported by Electronic Torque Vectoring Control, which enhances the driving experience by applying a small amount of braking to inside wheels to assist traction and stability when cornering. Braking distances at 100 km/h (62 mph) are reduced by more than 8 per cent. Rear disc brakes feature on models with more than 100 PS.

New double-bonded suspension bushes are twice as stiff as the outgoing Fiesta for sharper steering response. The bushes also bulge in a specific shape designed to better isolate road imperfections, combining with a larger rear twistbeam to reduce the impact of small bumps and road noise in the cabin.

Technology

Ford's SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system will enable Fiesta drivers to control audio, navigation and connected smartphones using simple, conversational voice commands. The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto™. SYNC 3 also offers SYNC AppLink, enabling voice-activation of a range of smartphone apps including Glympse, Aupeo, Spotify, MyBoxMan, HearMeOut, AccuWeather, and Los 40 Principales. Fiesta delivers Bluetooth connectivity and two USB ports as standard, with an integrated CD player offered as an optional extra. DAB radio is available across the range and the first B&O PLAY Sound System to feature in a Ford model.

The Ford Fiesta's floating, tablet-inspired 8-inch colour touchscreen can be operated with pinch and swipe gestures. Also offered with SYNC 3 is a floating 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, and a 4.2-inch colour screen is combined with the MyFord Dock that enables users to store, mount and charge mobile devices such as phones and navigation systems. All Fiesta screens offer class-leading resolution and are up to twice as bright as competitors, making it even easier for drivers to read and navigate on-screen information and functions.

Safety

Fiesta is the first car in its segment in Europe to offer Cross Traffic Alert, which warns drivers reversing out of a parking space of vehicles that may soon be crossing behind them. The feature is amongst 15 Fiesta driver assistance technologies in total, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Adjustable Speed Limiter, Blind Spot Information System, Distance Indication, Driver Alert, Lane Keeping Aid, Lane Keeping Alert and Forward Collision Warning.

Fiesta is the first Ford to deliver an enhanced version of Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection that can detect people who are in or near the road ahead, or who may cross the vehicle's path, using light from the Fiesta's headlights at night. Also offered for the first time on Fiesta is Ford's Active Park Assist with Perpendicular Parking, which helps drivers find suitable spaces and park hands free nose-to-tail and side-by-side with other cars. Traffic Sign Recognition, which is now able to monitor multiple speed limits that apply to individual motorway lanes displayed on overhead gantries, and update the display if the driver changes lanes.

The Honda Fit is the third generation of Honda's versatile 5-door subcompact hatchback. For the completely redesigned Fit, the unique combination of these traits and the functionality, fun and refinement they provide have been further enhanced with even greater versatility, fresh styling, a more dynamic and refined driving experience, and substantially upgraded technology and luxury features.

A highly space-efficient new body structure pairs with an all-new chassis to make up a completely new, more rigid and lighter global subcompact platform featuring numerous improvements to front and rear suspension and steering systems that improve overall driving dynamics. The new platform is also lighter yet more rigid and features a longer wheelbase than the previous Fit. The net effect of these improvements is more settled and stable yet nimble and sporty ride and handling along with a steering linearity that gives the driver a sense of oneness with the vehicle. Many of these upgrades have the additional benefit of improving ride comfort and quietness, while the adoption of a new frame structure, including Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) front body structure, benefits safety performance by targeting the highest-available crash-safety ratings of both the U.S. government and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Powertrain

The Fit's fun-to-drive character includes acceleration performance and the Fit increases the fun factor with major advances to its powertrain. A new Earth Dreams Technology™ engine significantly increases power, torque and throttle response and two newly developed transmissions - a slick-shifting 6-speed manual and all-new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with G-Shift Control - increase both performance and fuel efficiency. The 1.5L 4-cylinder engine has a DOHC head with i-VTEC+VTC valve and timing control plus direct fuel injection, the first use of such a system in a Honda subcompact. With reduced weight and friction, increased compression ratio, and other changes, the engine delivers an 11 percent increase in peak horsepower to 130, and a 7.5 percent increase in peak torque to 114 lb.-ft.

With the combination of the new engine and transmissions, the Fit has an EPA fuel-economy rating of 29/37/32 (city/highway/combined)1 for the manual transmission, 33/41/36 for the LX trim with CVT and 32/38/35 for the EX and EX-L trim with CVT. The 6MT is an all-new design for the subcompact Fit with optimized closer individual ratios to aid performance, and a wider overall range to improve fuel efficiency. The newly-developed CVT enhances engine responsiveness by providing quicker and smoother acceleration while improving fuel efficiency with a wider ratio range and reduced internal friction.

Chassis

Significant changes were made to the Fit's chassis to dramatically improve all aspects of ride quality, handling, steering feel and noise. The foundation of these changes is a lighter but more rigid platform with an emphasis on the rigidity of suspension mounting points for improved lateral stiffness. Newly designed front and rear suspension with revised geometry and damper settings plus sprung- and unsprung- weight reductions were also employed to improve ride quality. Steering feel was improved with a new electric power steering (EPS) system with increased rigidity for a solid, accurate steering feel. Braking was also addressed with optimal tuning for a more linear brake feel. The numerous changes result in a smooth and agile ride-and-handling character.

The new front suspension has been redesigned and tuned to improve the shock absorption characteristics of the Fit. Used for the first time on the Fit, a new link between the suspension and stabilizer bar reduces friction to provide more linear operation. The suspension's high-speed damping is improved with the use of a blow-off valve to decrease damping at higher speeds by extending the oil passage. This allows the suspension to act more quickly and therefore allows the wheels to track the road better when surface gets rough. Receiving a similar blow-off valve to improve high-speed damping as the front suspension, the Fit's innovative rear dampers utilize a new dual-path mounting system. This method separates regular damping load, which is fed into the upper shock mount bushing, from higher-impact bound stopper load, which is fed more directly into the body. The design allows more freedom to tune the shock bushing characteristics to improve ride quality and handling. The rear dampers are also mounted with less rearward inclination to allow them to better track road surface changes.

Technology

For the first time all Fit models receive a multi-angle rearview camera, viewable on the LX trim's 5-inch Monitor Audio and the EX and EX-L's 7-inch Display Audio. The camera can show a top view, normal view or wide rear view when the transmission is in Reverse. The camera is located just below the license garnish separating the rear window and solid hatch. LX models feature static guidelines that help drivers gauge how close they are to an object, while EX and higher grades have dynamic guidelines that project the vehicle's future path based on the driver's steering wheel inputs.

Safety

The Fit also features a long list of standard safety features. That list includes Vehicle Stability AssistTM (VSA®) with traction control, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. The new Fit targets the highest available crash-safety ratings: a five-star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the (IIHS). Standard drive-assistive features on all trims include a multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines and expanded view driver's mirror. The Honda LaneWatch display is standard on EX and above trims. The new U.S.-market Fit will be produced for the first time in North America at an all-new plant in in Celaya, Mexico.