Last week Ford finally took the wraps off the all-new 2009 Fiesta hatchback. The US is going to receive the Fiesta as a 2010 model, but supposedly only has a sedan.
Well if Ford's marketing chief, Jim Farley has his way the hatchback could also make it to our shores. Apparently Farley was the reason that the Verve Hatchback Concept was shown in Detroit, when originally Ford only planned on showing the sedan version (The Fiesta is based on the Verve Concept). Farley insisted that the hatchback that debuted in Frankfurt also be shown on our shores to gauge US reactions to the car.
Would you rather have the hatchback than the sedan when it debuts in the US for 2010?
Full Story: Autoblog
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Comments (27)
Yes they should bring it to the U.S. considering that ford decided to drop the Focus hatchback in the U.S.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | February 23, 2008 6:18 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 18:18
Yeah, it will sell. It is pretty badass-looking for a tiny car, at least compared to our relatively small selection of small cars in the United States.
It will sell. Besides, I'm seeing more and more small cars everyday.
Posted by Joan of Arc | February 23, 2008 6:50 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 18:50
duh...need I say more?
Posted by Atrus | February 23, 2008 6:57 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 18:57
As a current owner of a ZX5 SVT Focus, I've really come to appreciate the versitality of the hatchback design combined with great handing. I think it's great to see more sporty and practical hatchbacks being introduced to the US market.
Posted by Autobot | February 23, 2008 7:05 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 19:05
That question is along the lines of "should the price of gas be lower?"
Posted by Mazda6 Guy | February 23, 2008 7:29 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 19:29
Let me see...if I wanted to buy a car in the U.S. made by Ford, it would be either:
1) Mustang (like it)
2) Focus (the best feature is the radio--not the car)
3) Fusion (rather vanilla, but like it)
4) Taurus (refreshed Five Hundred - ugh)
Two for four is not a good average in the auto industry. Therefore, If it's designed by Ford Euro, then please bring it over.
Posted by Jim | February 23, 2008 10:11 PM
Posted on February 23, 2008 22:11
I think that the hatchback is far superior in styling to the sedan. I never really appreciated hatchbacks and wagons until I got my Toyota Matrix. So nice to be able to set a 50 inch flat screen TV down and slide it in for transport with room to spare. When I used to drive a sedan I couldn't have done that in a million years. Hatchbacks are really a better solution.
Posted by aktunka | February 24, 2008 1:05 AM
Posted on February 24, 2008 01:05
I think that the hatchback craze in Europe is very justified - without adding significant weight to a car, manufacturers can offer more interior space, better rear visibility, more rear leg room, and a shorter rear overhang. The only noticeable downside is a bit more road noise, but proper dampening can eliminate that.
It amazes me that we have a small handful of hatches in the US, especially with all of the crap we Americans buy/own. It's funny to actually examine a modern sedan, though - with how high the trunks are, sedans are inches from being hatches. At least with the hatchback, rear visibility is improved significantly over the 6" tall piece of glass above modern sedan trunks.
Posted by Tony | February 24, 2008 2:28 AM
Posted on February 24, 2008 02:28
yes, as an ashtray for the Escalade
Posted by bill | February 24, 2008 11:45 AM
Posted on February 24, 2008 11:45
The car looks very pretty. I don't see any reason not to bring it to the U.S.
Posted by Seiya | February 24, 2008 12:44 PM
Posted on February 24, 2008 12:44
I think that one of the reasons that hatchbacks are so popular in Europe is probably due to a large percentage of those that own a car own only ONE vehicle and it needs to do as much as they can get it to do for them. The vehicle needs to be small and nimble for their generally smaller streets and parking areas as well.
In the US, many people own multiple vehicles with wide streets and plenty of parking. Get a car with a trunk and a truck for when you need to move things seems to be the mentality. For me, I will go with hatches and wagons from now on whenever I can.
Posted by aktunka | February 24, 2008 1:12 PM
Posted on February 24, 2008 13:12
Am I seeing things or the door is not aligned properly with the body and the rear side window? The chrome on the door looks higher than the side window, as does the black part on the top. It definitely looks like there is a kink in there.
The same goes to the trunk lid. It does look higher on the right side than on the left, and in both cases we can see through the space between the trunk and the bumper and peek at the sides of the headlights.
Can't wait to see productions pictures of this car, the prototype already looks wrong, how can the moldings be fixed now? heh. Too late.
All this screams "I'm a cheap car" to me.
Posted by Sphere | February 25, 2008 12:24 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 00:24
Hatchback > Sedan
Posted by Sabby | February 25, 2008 8:19 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 08:19
Gods yes.
By that I mean: The only reason for them not to is if they fear they can't compete in the market niche for small hot hatchbacks.
(Looks at the record of American manufacturers in that market segment.)
Hmmm, can I change my answer?
Posted by kw | February 25, 2008 9:48 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 09:48
Yes, yes! It will sell, Ford, get your head out of your @$$ over what will and won't work in the US and just ask the people!
Posted by Knight3058 | February 25, 2008 10:57 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 10:57
Yes, but they're morons so they won't do it.
Posted by Topper | February 25, 2008 11:04 AM
Posted on February 25, 2008 11:04
Simple 3 letter answer. YES. As stated above there are really only 2 Ford cars I'd even consider buying now. The Mustang and the Fusion. This would make a total of 3 good looking/performing cars in their lineup. Bring it!
Posted by Gary | February 25, 2008 12:54 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 12:54
Absolutely yes. The only way I would buy a car that small is if it were a hatchback. I don't think it would be as versatile without it.
Posted by DivideByZero | February 25, 2008 1:21 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 13:21
If I am not going to get the Mazda2 then they better at least give me the Fiesta. I want a 4 door hatch.
Posted by Nerd | February 25, 2008 1:31 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 13:31
Unfortunately, TOPPER has it right. It will never happen.
Posted by Scott | February 25, 2008 2:00 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 14:00
Good god the sedan version is hideous, but somehow this hatch version actually looks really good. I'm sure this thing will be horribly underpowered (for my tastes), but if they came out with a sporty turbo version, I would buy this. Oh and if I trusted ford's reliability.
Posted by gm0n3y | February 25, 2008 2:04 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 14:04
The Sedan is great looking, but the hatch really shows off this design.
Ford : At the very least, bring it to Canada :D
Posted by Mark D | February 25, 2008 11:28 PM
Posted on February 25, 2008 23:28
Cool design. If this comes here(US) it will be a big hit.
Posted by Oto | February 27, 2008 12:05 AM
Posted on February 27, 2008 00:05
While they're at it, bring over the Euro focus already! No one here likes the current one for anything other than it's radio(SYNC is amazing, btw).
Posted by Knight3058 | February 27, 2008 11:17 AM
Posted on February 27, 2008 11:17
Yes yes and more yes. You know why small hatches do not sell well here? Because no one offers a good one, we'd rather overpay for a good car in a segment we really did not want to buy in than pay the MSRP or lower for a bad car in the segment we wanted.
If manufacturers actually brought small, stylish hatches (with decent performance variants) to the US, they would sell. Unfortunately, the manufacturers won't bring better hatches here unless interest in the segment picks up, and interest doesn't pick up because there are no good small hatches here.
Its the same way with radio when people complain good music isn't played. Producers say "well then why isnt the "good" music tearing up the charts?" Answer: "Because the charts are tore up by songs that receive the most airplay, and you don't play the "good" music." And when people request it, the response is "we are actively monitoring this segment but until we see further interest in it, we will not change our current offerings."
Posted by Allen | February 28, 2008 1:07 PM
Posted on February 28, 2008 13:07
@Mark D:
Hells yes! Canada gets it cheaper than here I think, I would definitely purchase the Canadian one and import it (aka: drive it right over the border).
Posted by Allen | February 28, 2008 1:20 PM
Posted on February 28, 2008 13:20
Oh, my... What a silly question. Look at the interest being generated by hatchbacks and liftbacks. How many of the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fits and Smart Cars are tooling around in the cities these days? To me, sedans are an older, outdated look that lost appeal in the 90s - sadly, we were never presented with much of an option to choose anything else. Younger, more utility-minded buyers (like myself) would love to see more hatchback options in the US. Too bad the marketing 'gurus' within the industry don't deliver what has obviously been a big desire for years in the states...
Posted by Shawn | November 11, 2008 12:38 PM
Posted on November 11, 2008 12:38