#2011FordFiesta

Ford has agreed to pay nearly $3 million in fines for violating air-quality laws. According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) this penalty relates to the sale of vehicles in the Golden State with non-compliant on-board diagnostics (OBD) systems .

According to reports, some Fiesta owners have been complaining about the dual-clutch automatic transmission. The so-called PowerShift transmission, which is built in a joint venture by Ford and Getrag in Mexico, has been causing its owners some headaches. Some owners have complaied about hard shifts, while others have spoken out about the transmission not shifting up at all at higher speeds.

That’s probably due to the fact that the SYNC system was developed by Microsoft, and since Bill Gates is not exactly best friends with Steve Jobs of Apple, the lack of communication between the two systems was likely deliberate.

So unless you have a RIM or Android operating system, your SYNC system could not be all that it could be. However, Ford has now announced that the next generation of SYNC will feature AppLink, which will happily talk with your iPhone, and this system will be first available to Fiesta customers.

Among the first apps to work with the SYNC system include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher news radio and OpenBeak. More apps adaptability is on its way says Ford.

So if you’ve been ignoring Fords because your iPhone didn’t work in them, rest easy now, all has been resolved.

Download SYNC AppLink at www.syncmyride.com

Hit the jump to see the press release.

Ford has launched an iPad app focused (no pun intended) on the 2011 Fiesta subcompact. The app is intended to act as a brochure for the car, as a way of taking advantage of the multimedia features of Apple’s tablet computer.

With manufacturers increasingly going to electronic brochures, the iPad app is a novel way to promote your new vehicle – although we will always love the tactile elements of a paper brochure, and would be a little upset if they went the way of the dodo. But for Fiesta buyers, most of whom have lived their entire lives with digital devices, the iPad app is likely going to appeal to their target demographic.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

[Source: Ford]

Great news for Ford – the 2011 Fiesta earned a 2010 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This marks the first time a mini-car has picked up an award since the introduction of a new roof strength test.

Recently Ford engineers drove a modified Fiesta concept car from Ann Arbor, Mich., to San Mateo, Calif., as part of a new technology experiment. Along the journey it was the Fiesta, and not the folks inside it, Tweeting about the trip.

Ford is making a major push in marketing their Fiesta to the trendy, hip youth market of tomorrow…or today’s automotive enthusiasts. From teaming up with Ken Block to custom commercials on American Idol, to the impressive Fiesta Movement social marketing phenomenon, Ford seems to have a lot of bases covered. Their emphasis has been on customization and personalizing the trendy Fiesta, offering versatility and custom graphics. But now Ford has taken another leap by announcing their Fiesta body kits and accessories.

Starting with the aesthetics, Ford will be releasing a four-piece body kit for the Fiesta which includes a front air dam, side skirts and rear valence. Custom graphics ranging from tattoo-style, bubbles, flames and even ninja blades. For the interior, illuminated door sills, LED cup holder lights, armrest and a shift knob that’s illuminated with a gear number can all be added.

Obviously these aren’t for everybody, but you can’t knock Ford for trying to appeal to somebody. The more boring accessories are pretty run-of-the-mill including floor mats and splash guards. One thing’s for sure though, the Fiesta should be quite successful and we’ll be seeing quite a lot of them in the near future.

View the official press release after the break.

GALLERY: Ford Fiesta Body Kits and Accessories

Read AutoGuide’s Ford Fiesta First Drive by Clicking Here

Ford has just received the official EPA fuel economy rating for its new Fiesta sub-compact, with a 29/40 mpg (city/highway) with the dual-clutch six-speed automatic. This makes the Fiesta a class-leader in fuel economy in the sub-compact segment, beating out the Fit by 5-mpg and the Yaris by 4-mpg on the highway.

The Fiesta with a five-speed manual transmission achieved 28/37-mpg (city/highway).

“The new Fiesta is yet another car in Ford’s lineup that delivers class-leading fuel economy,” said Barb Samardzich, vice president, Global Powertrain Engineering. “From Super Duty to Fusion Hybrid and the new Mustang V6, Ford is committed to fuel economy leadership with every new vehicle it introduces in all segments.”

In order to achieve the impressive fuel economy rating, the Fiesta is powered by a 120-hp 1.6-liter Duratec 4-cylinder engine that features Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT), a deceleration fuel shutoff  and electric power steering.

Pricing for the new Fiesta starts at $13,320 for the sedan and $15,120 for the hatch. See AutoGuide’s review of the new Fiesta by following the link below:

2011 Ford Fiesta First Drive

Official release after the jump:

Ford is excited to announce the start of production for its new six-speed PowerShift dual clutch transmission, set to appear in the new Fiesta, is now underway. “Who cares,” you’re most likely thinking. Well, this little transmission is actually quite a big deal for several reasons, like fuel economy and performance.

Ford Motor Company has just officially introduced North America to the Fiesta sub-compact, bringing the popular European hatchback model to the United States and Canada. In addition, Ford has built and introduced a sedan version of the car – designed and built specifically for the North American marketplace. The Fiesta marks Ford’s return to the sub-compact segment for the first time in over a decade, since the Aspire was phased out in the late ’90s.

Ford has just officially revealed the North American market version of the Fiesta hatchback, its widely popular and successful model currently on sale in Europe. Debuting alongside the hatch, is an all-new Fiesta sedan, designed specifically for North America. The Fiesta marks Ford’s return to the sub-compact segment for the first time in over a decade.

Just a day before Ford will officially take the wraps off the U.S.-Spec version of the new Fiesta, a few CGI images of the car have shown up on the automaker’s website. Along with the hatchback version we also get our first look at the sedan, which was built specifically for the North American market. We’ll wait to see the car in person before passing judgment but so far it seems like the Euro-spec model’s more progressive style has been toned down a bit, with more soft round corners and less sporty edges. At least that’s the way the front of the car looks. Most other angles seem pretty much identical.

With Ford getting ready to launch the Fiesta sub-compact in North America, the big American automaker decided to bring over a few of the European-spec models to give the media an idea of what to expect. Competing against cars like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo and Hyundai Accent, Ford arranged for AutGuide to drive the Euro-spec Fiesta and even test out its handling characteristics against some of the competition on an autocross course.

Ford recently launched a new website dedicated to the 2011 Fiesta (due out in early 2010) and the option sheet lists a turbocharger kit!