Here in the States, we’ll have to wait another good six months to get the passenger version of the new Fiesta, but in Britain, Ford is expanding the Fiesta Van’s range with an eco-friendly, fuel efficient model that joins the firm’s ECOnetic lineup. Priced at £11,635 or about US$19,000 at today’s exchange rates, the Fiesta Van ECOnetic is powered by a 1.6-litre TDCi with coated diesel particulate filter and features with several upgrades over the standard model.
These include a lowered suspension, rear wheel air deflectors, 14-inch wheels with six-spoke aerodynamic covers and low rolling resistance tires size 175/65 R14, the addition of a green shift-indicator light, modified engine calibration and finally, a higher gear ratio.
Ford says that the new Fiesta Van ECOnetic returns a combined fuel economy in the European driving cycle of 76.3mpg UK which is the equivalent of 63.2mpg US and 3.7 lt/100km, with CO2 emissions of just 98g/km.
“The new Fiesta Van has already seen good sales success. Adding the new ECOnetic to the line-up will build on this,” said Steve Kimber, commercial vehicles director, Ford of Britain. “Overall, I expect we will sell around 2,500 Fiesta Vans a year, aiming to take around 25 per cent of the car-derived market.” he added.
