SPORTING GOODS: THE NEW FORD FIESTA SPORTVAN

• New Fiesta SportVan now available
• Fiesta joins popular Transit and Transit Connect in Ford SportVan line up
• Fiesta SportVan delivers 110g/km CO2 and economy of 4.2l/100 km (67.3mpg)*
• Stylish new model offers practicality, sporty looks and driving fun, plus safety, comfort and a long list of standard features and technologies

COLOGNE, March 9, 2009 – Ford of Europe is extending its SportVan collection in 2009 with the all-new Fiesta SportVan, reprising the model which launched Ford's popular SportVan range three years ago.

The new Ford Fiesta SportVan delivers the individual style, practicality and efficiency of the standard Fiesta Van combined with a distinctive, sporty look and a comprehensive list of standard features for even greater comfort, safety and driving fun.

Designed to stand out from the crowd, the new Fiesta SportVan inherits the dynamic styling and fun-to-drive character of the acclaimed, latest generation Ford Fiesta passenger car.

With 16-inch alloy wheels, body coloured sport bumpers, a sport grille and large rear spoiler, this compact panel van clearly means business. On the inside, the driver's environment features specially shaped sport seats for high levels of support, and a leather wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel. The sport seats optionally can be ordered in a classy partial-leather execution. The Fiesta SportVan interior also features standard air-conditioning and a dot matrix multi function display for the trip computer.

New Fiesta SportVan comes with the top-of the-range 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi (90 PS/ 66kW) turbo diesel engine as standard and is available with a closed-loop coated DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter). A healthy peak torque of 212Nm at 2,000 rpm allows the vehicle easily to pull away under all vehicle load conditions.
Fiesta SportVan is frugal and clean too - European Drive Cycle combined fuel consumption is targeted at a notable 4.2 l/100 km (67.3 mpg)* and average CO2 emissions are just
110 g/km. For operators, these results make a significant contribution to low cost of ownership and the sustainability performance of any business.

Agile Chassis
The nicely balanced chassis setup of the standard Fiesta Van, with its front McPherson struts and rear twist-beam suspension, has been revised for the SportVan to give it the on-road driving quality to match the sporty looks.

Stiffer and lower 'Sport' suspension is fitted for safe and agile handling, complemented by standard active safety features like ABS anti-lock brakes including Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), as well as ESP with Emergency Brake Assist (EBA). The passive safety feature list includes standard front airbags and seat mounted side airbags for driver and passenger, with a knee airbag for the driver – an industry first in this segment.

Being a SportVan does not affect commercial practicality in any way. Just like the standard Fiesta Van, the SportVan has a step-less load compartment with a volume of 1,004 litres, a maximum useable load length of up to 1327 mm, and a maximum load box width of
1278 mm (1004mm between the wheel arches). Load heights of up to 936 mm can be accommodated. The roomy load area is shielded from the driver compartment with a standard half-height bulkhead. Solid DIN compliant tie-down hooks come as standard, and an upper bulkhead extension is available to make sure the Fiesta SportVan is fully compliant with the DIN cargo retention specifications.

The SportVan is clearly a member of the new Fiesta family, and shares many of its key qualities with the car on which it is based. The sturdy yet lightweight 3-door body shell is a solid foundation for a safe and agile driving experience offering high levels of durability, low fuel consumption and emissions, and a net payload capacity of more than 400 kg.

(* Fuel economy figures quoted are based on the European Fuel Economy Directive
EU 80/1268/EEC which may differ from fuel economy drive cycle results in other regions of the world)

Technology that Delivers
Using the 3-door new Fiesta passenger car as the basis for the Fiesta Van and SportVan means that commercial customers can benefit from a wide range of customer technologies and features designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable working environment for drivers.

• The new EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering) system delivers high levels of steering accuracy and contributes to lower fuel consumption thanks to the absence of a hydraulic device that would increase inertia and raise fuel consumption.

• The acclaimed Ford EasyFuel capless refuelling system also comes as standard. Ford EasyFuel is clean and easy to use and also has a mis-fuel inhibitor that protects against the wrong filler nozzle being inserted. This feature is a major benefit to commercial customers, particularly for mixed fleets and vehicles that are used by multiple drivers.

• The list of standard features is designed to exceed the expectations of regular LCV customers: Fog lamps, heated front screen and power fold mirrors as well as rain and light auto assist clearly support a safe drive, while standard features like the Bluetooth® wireless mobile phone interface and the 'aux-in' socket with optional USB socket provide exceptional levels of connectivity for mobile telephones and portable music players. SportVan protection is provided by a standard perimeter alarm.

• In addition, a wide range of options and accessories are available, including a selection of infotainment options and audio units, plus a docking station for mobile navigation systems.

"The SportVan versions of both Transit and Transit Connect and the previous Fiesta have already proved popular with owners and operators looking for something a bit different and great fun to use every day for their business," said Henrik Nenzen, Ford of Europe's Director for Commercial Vehicle Marketing and Sales. "The SportVan styling theme fits the new Fiesta van like a glove, and I'm sure we'll see many of these distinctive vehicles in the hands of our small van customers very soon!"