Ford Fiesta Van: For Beer Runs Only
This is the realest minivan of them all.
Add this little hatch to the list of things we can't drive in America: a Ford Fiesta panel van. This 2-seat Fiesta hatchback, on sale in Europe since 2009 -- how did we not know about this? -- was just revamped for 2012. It boasts fuel-saving features that are either not available yet on U.S. Fords -- auto start-stop, battery-charge regeneration -- or as hard-to-find Super Fuel Economy packages on the Fiesta and Focus -- underbody coverings, low-rolling-resistance tires. With a 6-speed manual transmission and a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder Duratorq diesel engine, the Fiesta van can return 86.5 mpg on European test cycles, Ford says.
Of course, a Fiesta with the rear bench removed is still a tiny Fiesta, and so there's only 35 cubic feet of cargo space. The discontinued Chevrolet HHR Panel, a retro-styled compact crossover, swallowed almost 63 cubic feet without being much bigger. The only 4-cylinder cargo van on sale now is the Ford Transit Connect.
Don't count on the Fiesta van to come here, and don't stay awake dreaming of sleek, high-top vans like the bodacious new Transit Custom. We still have to rent super-thirsty Econolines until a new Transit arrives to replace them in the next few years.
[Source: Ford]
I don't have a use for a tiny fuel efficient car and looks aren't the most important thing on my list but they could at least TRY to make it a little bit attractive, and make it big enough for a case of beer instead of a six pack. Would anyone not buy it because the mileage dropped to 80 mpg but it looked nicer and had a little more space? Doubt it.
"With a 6-speed manual transmission and a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder Duratorq diesel engine, the Fiesta van can return 86.5 mpg on European test cycles, Ford says."
Why does Ford tell us this, and then not offer diesels in the US?
Are they just rubbing it in our noses?
Unless it's offered here in America, I no longer want to hear about it!
The new van is available with a choice of engines: 1.25-litre 82bhp Duratec 16-valve petrol unit
The petrol engine has combined fuel consumption of 49.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 133g/km.
Wow, 133g/km is what my 2.0L 140HP diesel generates (132g/km). The gasoline engine really is a basket case.EXPLORE NEW CARS
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