The 2011 Ford Fiesta makes its U.S. debut after being sold in other markets for a couple of years. This subcompact car comes as a 4-door hatchback or a 4-door sedan. Hatchbacks are offered in SE and SES trim levels, while sedans come in S, SE, and SEL versions. The sole engine for all models is a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that teams with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual that behaves much like an automatic. S and SE models have standard 15-inch wheels. SEL and SES have 16s, with 17s optional. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, front-side airbags, and a driver knee airbag. A tilt and telescopic steering wheel, height-adjustable driver seat, and capless fuel filler are standard. Among the available features are Ford’s Sync voice-activated control for cell phones and MP3 players, sunroof, keyless engine start, leather upholstery, and heated front seats. A number of dealer-installed dress-up accessories are offered as well.

Planted and secure, the Fiesta inspires confidence despite its size. What Stefan Muenzinger (who is responsible for how Ford’s B-cars drive) said during the briefing earlier in the day was true–the folks at Ford engineered the Fiesta to deliver the best ride possible. Naturally there will be differences in tuning depending on where you are in the word, but what remains certain is that all across the globe, Fiesta owners are grinning in delight.The six-speed Powershift dual-clutch gearbox is more playful and aggressive than that found on the larger Focus. Combined with the 1.6-liter engine and lithe body, the Fiesta will remind you that driving is supposed to be fun. Not many cars in this segment can boast that.

None of the Fiesta’s features mean a thing if owning one will be a pain. Good thing that the Fiesta’s maintenance costs are 32-percent lower than its closest rival. There is also a 24-hour Parts Guarantee for 54 selected parts (that include vital engine, driveline, brake, and suspension components) so should your Fiesta go in for repair, work in the garage will be quick.The best part is the Fiesta’s price. It starts at P670,000 for the 1.4L sedan with a manual transmission and tops off at P816,000 for the Sport version with all of the bells and whistles.

At first glance, this looks like just any other facelifted Ford Focus done up in white sitting in Sime Darby Auto Connexion’s car park by the Federal Highway. But it’s actually something new – find out more on what it is after the jump.

It’s a Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi! I know alot of us more educated motorists have been asking for a new era where we can enjoy the really nice low rev kick of torque and the better mileage that the turbodiesel engines that Europeans seem to love in our daily rides.
When the government upgraded our diesel to Euro 2 last year, it opened some doors for some better diesels to be brought in. Diesel engines that are lighter, smaller and more refined – a newer generation of diesel engines compared to the truck engines that we get in our sub-100K pickups. I know of a friend who bought a Nissan Frontier purely for its diesel engine as he had to travel alot, he wasn’t really interested in a truck.

And then BMW introduced their 320d. It had loads of shove over the 320i and could go over 1,000km per tank if driven frugally. Finally, a diesel compact executive to be enjoyed. You needed deep pockets but not as deep as pockets as 530d or X5 3.0d owners. But it was still priced over RM250k, though during promotions you could get pre-registered units for lower than that.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel with its’ four spokes stands out. The instrumentation is mounted on the wheel. It is easy to use without making any frequent trips to the owners’ manual. Seating space at the back is very comfortable with plenty of legroom that seems larger than most of its’ competitors.

The 2009-2010 Ford Focus TDCi Hatch with its competitive price also scores highly on the safety front and comes with front, side and side curtain airbags. Additionally it has ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and traction control.

Even when you consider the usually thoughtful Ford Focus prices, this model will still face strong competition in the market. The most direct rival to this impressive little car will no doubt be Holden’s Astra where the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel goes almost head to head with the 2009 Ford Focus TDCi Hatch. The Hyundai i30 will be yet another competitor in this rough small car segment.