American car giant Ford is currently celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ford Fiesta — a vehicle that has become Britain’s most popular supermini and has been manufactured throughout Europe, Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. The car has also been sold in locations across Australasia and Japan, with more than 10 million units sold worldwide to date; its appeal is very clear to see.

To honour the huge success of this supermini, join used Ford Fiesta Van retailer Van Monster as they look at the highly decorated history of the Fiesta:

How did the Ford Fiesta come about?

We have to go back to 1973 to find the origins of the Ford Fiesta, where an energy crisis witnessed a significant increase in the price of fuel as a result of problems in the Middle East.

During this period, those working at Ford began to look into the manufacture of a small and frugal car that could compete in an emerging world; tapping into a shifting consumer mindset. The brief for this vehicle was simple — to manufacture “the most outstanding small car the world had ever seen” which could provide adequate competition to the Fiat 127, the Renault 5 and the Volkswagen Polo.

After three years of work on this project, known as Project Bobcat, the original Ford Fiesta was given its global premiere in 1975.

Soon after this reveal, the first Fiesta came off a production line in Spain and was given its name by Henry Ford II in respect to its country of origin. Consumers in France and Germany were able to get their hands on this exciting new supermini in 1976, before making its debut in England the following year.

How has the Ford Fiesta evolved?

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk1

Production years:1976 – 1983

0-60mph time:19.1 seconds

Top speed:81mph

Miles per gallon:41.5

Key features:

  • The first front-wheel-drive car by Ford made available worldwide.
  • Made available as both a three-door hatchback and a three-door panel van.
  • Britain’s best-selling supermini in 1978.
  • Winner of the 1978 UK Design Council Efficiency Award for ‘exemplary contribution to the reduction of running and maintenance costs’.

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk2

Production years:1983 – 1989

0-60mph time:18.7 seconds

Top speed:86mph

Miles per gallon:43.9

Key features:

  • Made available as both a three-door hatchback and a three-door panel van.
  • The first time that a Fiesta was made available with the option of a diesel engine.
  • Also the first time that a Fiesta was made available with a five-speed manual gearbox.
  • Introduction of wraparound headlights complete with indicators.

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk3

Production years:1989 – 1997

0-60mph time:17.6 seconds

Top speed:88mph

Miles per gallon:49.3

Key features:

  • Made available as both a three-door and five-door hatchback, as well as a three-door panel van.
  • The live beam rear axle on the Fiesta Mk2 was removed and replaced with a semi-independent torsion beam setup.
  • Winner of the 1989 Car of the Year award by What Car?

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk4

Production years:1995 – 1999

0-60mph time:11.6 seconds

Top speed:106mph

Miles per gallon:44.4

Key features:

  • Made available as a three-door and five-door hatchback, two-door coupe utility vehicle, three-door panel van and three-door high cube panel van.
  • More curved design when compared to previous Fiesta models.
  • Introduction of an oval grille.
  • Interior presented with a completely new dashboard design.
  • Introduction of an entirely new suspension system and improved chassis for enhanced handling ability.
  • Britain’s best-selling car in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk5

Production years:1999 – 2002

0-60mph time:12 seconds

Top speed:104mph

Miles per gallon:44.8

Key features:

  • Made available as both a three-door and five-door hatchback, three-door panel van and three-door high cube panel van.
  • Presented with new bumpers and an overhauled wheel design compared to the Ford Fiesta Mk4.
  • Britain’s best-selling supermini of 2001.

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk6

Production years:2002 – 2008

0-60mph time:13.7 seconds

Top speed:103mph

Miles per gallon:44.9

Key features:

  • Made available as a three-door and five-door hatchback, four-door saloon and three-door panel van.
  • The first Fiesta range to be sold in Asian and Australian markets.
  • Presented with a squarer exterior design and a more spacious interior when compared with previous Fiesta models.
  • Presented with many pieces of advanced technology, including automatic headlights, automatic windscreen wipers, power folding mirrors, Bluetooth accessibility complete with voice control and a Trip computer.
  • Winner of What Car? magazine’s Best Used Supermini of 2006 in regards to the 2003 1.4 Zetec three-door variant of the Fiesta Mk6.

 

Model: Ford Fiesta Mk7

Production years:2008 – current date

0-60mph time:6.9 seconds

Top speed:139mph

Miles per gallon:47.9

Key features:

  • Available as both a three-door and five-door hatchback, as well as a three-door van.
  • Interior boasts a state-of-the-art Ford Sync in-car communications and entertainment system.
  • Presented with advanced technology such as a keyless entry system, a ‘Ford Power’ start button and an EcoBoost engine that can deliver the same amount of power and torque as a larger engine but with 20 per cent improved fuel efficiency and 15 per cent reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Winner of a raft of awards, including:
  • What Car? magazine’s Car of the Year 2009.
  • What Car? magazine’s Best Small Car of 2014.
  • CarBuyer Car of the Year Awards’ Best Small Car of 2014.
  • Auto Express Awards’ Best Supermini of 2014.
  • What Car? Used Car Awards’ Best Used Small Car of 2014.

Van Life