The American market is clamoring for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Ford may have just delivered with the 2009 Fiesta. The UK's AutoExpress says the Fiesta "is going to turn heads with its large, swept-back headlamps, steeply rising waist and high-mounted rear lights." What might impress U.S. buyers who remember the feature-free Ford Fiestas of the 1980s, is that the new model has "lots of features more commonly seen in big cars. Our range-topping Titanium model had optional keyless start, cruise control, a trip computer, powered mirrors, automatic lights and wipers, plus five airbags -- but no sat-nav, even as an option."

Edmunds says that the Fiesta marks a change in Ford's operating philosophy: "Mother Ford has finally decided that the most profitable way to build cars is to create one really good one and sell it to everybody ... And Ford is betting it all on the 2009 Ford Fiesta, a small car meant to make the best of these troubled times. It's supposed to be the Model T, Volkswagen Beetle and Honda Civic all rolled into one." Despite appreciating the European Fiesta's styling, Edmunds notes "the sedan version of the Fiesta that's heading for the U.S. is unlikely to have as much visual appeal." Still, when the 2010 Fiesta hits American showrooms scared by a soft economy and high gas prices, they predict "well-engineered, well-built and desirable small cars such as the Fiesta stand to profit. The Fiesta might not be as good to drive as the Focus, but it's a better all-around car for the times we live in."

While introducing several European models to the U.S. is part of Ford's turnaround plan, Motor Trend explains why the company hasn't done it earlier. "The reasons why Ford hasn't done more to synergize its U.S. and European lineups are many: export and currency issues, federalizing the cars for the U.S. market, keeping the factories running in the U.S., and more than likely a culture where Ford U.S. and Ford of Europe essentially act as competitors instead of comrades."

While GM has been reasonably successful at importing some European models to the U.S. (the Saturn Astra and Vue are based on Opel models, while the Pontiac G8 and Chevy Camaro were developed by GM's Australia-based Holden), MT says, "Ford's U.S. car lineup is in dire need of an infusion of fresh product," and "Ford of Europe has the cure. The Fiesta is a fine step in the right direction, but only a baby step. And don't chintz out and just bring the sedan, bring all the variants."

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