2011 Ford Fiesta
The 2011 Ford Fiesta, one of the smallest cars Ford has sold in the US in two decades, is set to arrive in dealer showrooms next summer. Versions sold in Europe and China are already successful and Ford has drummed up more than 80,000 interested customers in the U.S. through an Internet and event-oriented marketing campaign. The Fiesta, which gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway, will be pitched to the market in a barbell strategy, aiming to appeal to both first-time buyers and downsizing Baby Boomers. "This is a whole new business model," says Jim Farley, Ford's executive vice president of marketing and sales. The Fiesta is also "wired" with Ford's Synch system, which channels a wireless connection, music and navigation assistance through a system developed by Ford and Microsoft.