2011 Ford Fiesta Makes Its L.A. Auto Show Debut in Hollywood

Any sign of summer tires or a performance grade? Didn't think so.

Hmmm.

Hmmm again. I don't know. It's so 1990's looking.

Anyone else see an alien head in the center stack? Or, the crossed flag Corvette insignia?

Since 99% of Americans have never driven the Euro model I would say whether or not it handles exactly like the Euro version is irrelevant. This car will sell based on price, mileage, looks and features. Although this post doesn't really tell you much of anything this car blows the Fit and Yaris away in features and mileage. I think the best hwy mileage on the Fit is 34 or 35 and this car will get 40mpg. Impressive.

The sedan is awful, and I think a big mistake long term. It looks like one of the uglier Hyundai or older Kia models, but just being a sedan in this size category is just wrong.

When you get into the smaller size categories, space efficiency is everything. Ford should have stuck with the hatch, and possibly offered a slightly extended wagon version if they felt they needed a second model.

They may sell a few more sedans initially, but will establish the Fiesta brand as just another boring, ugly, cheap little car. They did the same already with Focus, but at least a sedan in that size of car does not suffer as much from the practicality and space efficiency losses. Focus sedans are still ugly and cheap and less useful than the Focus hatchback. Ford blew it with the strange looking Focus wagon's looks, but that was at least a decent car.

I think the sedan is pretty hideous but I do like the hatch. It looks large in the pictures, so I'll be interested to get inside and see how spacious it actually is. Again with the interior materials, its hard to tell from the pictures so I'll have to have a look inside.

Ok, so is the Fiesta supposed to a competitor to the subcompact Honda Fit class type of vehicles, or compact cars like Civic/Corolla? Apparently another Focus is on the way as well, so Ford really needs to differentiate the two vehicles. I would have preferred to see the Fiesta as a hatchback only like the Fit, with a bunch of versatile features. Save the sedan for the Focus.

Some of you guys are forgetting that Americans prefer sedans. I bet Ford will sell far more Fiesta sedans than the 5 door hatch. So Ford has to build the sedans. Just watch the sales numbers next spring when they start to come in. Personally, I don't like sedans. Hatches are far more versatile and generally look better than their sedan counterparts. And as for the Fiesta, this is probably the best looking hatch offered by anyone in this class of car. Hope to have one in my driveway by next fall.

iamz, I get it that up until now Americans have bought more sedans, that's why I mentioned the Focus having gone that route. Ford should not have given them a clearly inferior Fiesta option of a sedan body, because it is less functional, uglier, and will ultimately degrade the model's reputation.

Americans are generally not used to the smaller classes of cars, they have not learned as the Europeans have that hatches are the much superior option. By giving the market an inferior sedan option right off the bat, Ford will gain some extra sales early in the model's life, but buyers and non-buyers will come to the conclusion that Fiesta and cars in its class are too small to be really useful in their lives. Instead, they are "all I can afford in a bad economy" rather than a versatile, useful, fun addition to their lives.

They will never take the chance on learning to live with a hatchback, instead will stay with what they know (sedans), based on their experiences in larger classes of cars. But really good small cars do things differently than larger cars, just as trucks do things differently from cars.

Honda dropped the Civic hatchback only when the Civic grew into a larger size category. The early Civic hatches were brilliant cars, the earliest Civic sedans were cramped cheapies with a tiny truck opening, just a kid's car.

eric:

This is to compete with Fit and Yaris. The Focus will be larger, more expensive and more powerful. Likely less efficient as well. I am curious as to exactly how cheap this car will be with all this equipment.

I'm appreciating the design of the hatch, and the interior and color options are striking. This will be a major hit.

I think it's fascinating that people are fighting over Ford offering a sedan option. They're offering both! If you prefer one over the other, great.

I also think it's funny when people bring up how popular hatchbacks are in Europe. You seem to forget that hatchbacks have been available in the US for decades! It's only on the last few years that hatchbacks (and wagons) have mostly disappeared. Why? Because they weren't selling.

Ford is offering both. Quite honestly, they're taking a chance by offering a hatch again. I really don't understand the complaints.

Dear God! Why did they give it that hideous three bar grill?! The 4 door sedan brings back bad memories of the current focus. Please only sell the 4-DOOR HATCHBACK here. the 3 bar grill should have only been placed on the trucks. the tonka truck look doesnt need to be grafted on the cars.

That truck grill on the Fiesta sedan is disturbing. I'm interested in buying a small car and the Fiesta hatch looks promising. I think a portion of young buyers will seriously take into account handling. Especially if it offers a level of fun that isn't built into the Fit from the factory. I'm going off of the Fiesta vs. Fit Face-Off.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/strategies/2009/08/face-off-ford-fiesta-versus-honda-fit.html

Sedan variations don't have to be uglier than hatches. The 92-95 Civic coupe was a good looker IMO.

sedans of this size tend to look awkward because of the short wheelbases and short rear decks. There is nothing different with regards to the Fieta. Most subcompact sedans look somewhat lame.