Apologies, and some good news

When there's a long weekend, and you've got a race on the Saturday, then you're flying overnight to Europe, then you're in a hotel where you have to go sit in the stairwell to grab a wireless Internet signal because there is none in your room, it can be a bit difficult to keep up a blog!

So I apologize for the few days' gap in my posts.

I am here to test-drive some of Ford of Europe's cars, notably the current Focus and its variants (none of which we currently get, boo hoo) and the next-generation Fiesta, which we will get (yay), starting in late 2010. I will have full details on all of the above in next week's Wheels print edition.

Meantime, I can tell you some good news. When Ford first announced they were bringing a "B-Segment" car (that would be the Fiesta) to North America, they said it would only come as a four-door sedan. They said there was no market for a hatchback in Canada or the US.

Um, yes, that's why Toyota doesn't have a hatchback Yaris. No wait, yes they do.

But that's why Nissan doesn't have a Versa hatchback. No wait, yes they do.

But that's why Honda doesn't have a Fit hatchback. No wait, yes they do. In fact, that's ALL they have.

But Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Chevrolet Aveo, Suzuki Swift + - well, you get the point.

So at this year's Detroit Auto Show, Ford showed the Verve concept car which is as near as dammit is to swearing the two-door hatchback Fiesta. The public and press reaction, plus some subsequent market research, indicated that either they were always wrong (my guess; hence every other car maker's decision) or the market had changed (also true).

So while Fiesta will launch here as a four-door sedan (built in a former F-Series pick-up truck plant in Mexico, which also tells you how the market has changed), it wiil be followed in very short order by a hatchback. A four-door hatch as opposed to a two-door, but that makes even more sense.

Good on them for making this change.

I think you're gonna love this car.

Sorry; no four-door sedan photos yet.

Comments

[Ryan]

Any word on whether they're bringing the Mazda2 over? You know, the Fiesta without all the Ford? Had heard a rumour that it was supposed to be here this month, but haven't heard anything lately.

[Jim Kenzie]

Hi Ryan:

In response to your query, I contacted Mazda Canada today. They have not made any announcement of whether the Mazda2 is coming here or not. But you would think if it made sense for Ford to bring the Fiesta here, it would equal or more sense for Mazda to do the same. We'll see - it may be production-constrained, because the car has been a huge hit in every market where it has been launched so far.

BTW, don't put down Ford! First, they learn a great deal from Mazda, which Ford says is the fastest company in the world now for developing new products - better than Toyota. Ford also helped that company survive some years ago. European Fords also have some of the best vehicle dynamics in the world, and in cars that are built to sell at quite low prices.

Let's hope the Yanks take to the Fiesta - more on Fiesta this weekend in Wheels.

Cheers,

Jim