#FiestaMovement

Ford is back to its old tricks this year as it announces a plan to revive the “Fiesta Movement” campaign it used four years ago to introduce the sub-compact to U.S. buyers.

GM has been hiring marketers away from other companies for some time now, most notably Joel Ewanick—of El Camino infamy—from Hyundai. The first rule of automotive marketing: there’s no loyalty in the business.

If you “like” electric vehicles, you’ll want to check out Ford‘s new electrified Facebook Fanpage. Dedicated to educate enthusiasts and curious consumers, fans will be able to find and share information about Ford’s electric vehicles.

If you’re already a fan of this page, you’ll know that it’s where Ford first revealed the information about the all-new Focus Electric. Now, you can use the page to discover what electric choices are available and how to make the switch to the electric lifestyle.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle, the Ford Electrified Vehicle Facebook page is a great tool to use to help you understand the differences between electrified vehicle technologies. The page is also an outlet where fans can interact with Ford, post questions and leave comments about the company’s electric vehicles.

The page offers links to videos and photos of Ford’s electrified vehicles, and provides information about the powertrains in each vehicle. There are areas for discussion between fans, user polls, a place where fans can direct questions to Ford’s electric vehicles team, and a calendar for upcoming events.

“We’re committed to engaging in an ongoing dialogue with our fans in a way that provides value for the time they choose to spend with Ford online,” said Scott Monty, Ford digital and multimedia communications manager. “As we’ve proven with Fiesta Movement and the Explorer reveal on Facebook, it’s important to pay attention to what people are saying, and for us to be able to respond and provide a unique experience for them as well.”

To become a fan of Ford’s Electrified Vehicle, click here.

As Ford Racing just announced, they will be supplying 43 Fiestas to the Team O’Neil Rally School in New Hampshire in order to create the Fiesta Rally School. The O’Neil Rally School will outfit each Fiesta with a roll bar, rally suspension, and off-road tires so that aspiring rally drivers can safely learn the Scandinavian flick and other sideways rally driving techniques.

Ford‘s marketing campaign for the upcoming Fiesta compact has gone on for just over a year, and consumers are getting anxious about having to wait for the car to hit showrooms.

The experience starts in the showroom, where kiosks play Fiesta Movement videos and act as photo booths for new owners. But it doesn’t end there. New owners will get an interactive USB that is pre-loaded with an audio tutorial explaining the Fiesta’s features and how to use them.

In an all-new approach to vehicle launching, Ford is choosing to reveal their hotly anticipated Explorer on Facebook, rather than at a traditional public launch. Ford has already shown a few teaser shots of the car on the popular social networking site, but nothing substantial has been leaked- expect a full reveal next month.

Anyone who grew up playing the Resident Evil games on Playstation knows that the best way to stop a zombie attack is with a large caliber firearm. For those who believe in non-violent resistance, Ford‘s new Fiesta commercial will show you away to make a clean getaway using features like the Fiesta’s keyless entry and push button starter. Jonathan, the ad’s protagonist, is able to escape a certain death at the hands of the undead, but his Yaris and Fit driving friends are not so lucky.

Rather than the typical “car porn” commercial favored by automakers, the Fiesta ad is shot in an informal, conversational style, almost like a Jackass stunt, but with much higher production values. Ford has already made huge strides with the Fiesta’s online social media campaign, with company executives claiming that 60% of the car buying public are aware of the vehicle already.

Hit the jump to see the ad for yourself.

Ford is patting itself on the back today, claiming a tremendous success for its Fiesta Movement social media marketing initiative. According to the American automaker, the Fiesta movement helped drum up interest for the new sub-compact with 6.2 million YouTube views, 750,000 Flickr views and almost 4 million Twitter impressions. In total, Ford claims this results in 125,000 people interested in the new Fiesta.

Exactly how many of those 125,000 will actually purchase a Fiesta remains to be seen, but we have to admit Ford is doing an incredible job on the marketing side these days, from the EcoBoost to the Fiesta.

The Fiesta goes on sale this summer starting from $13,320 for the sedan and $15,120 for the hatch. All models come equipped with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 120-hp. Ford rates the car’s fuel economy a 29/38-mpg (city/hwy) for the manual, and 30/40-mpg for the six-speed automatic.

See AutoGuide’s review of the new Fiesta at the link below

2010 Ford Fiesta: First Drive

Official release after the jump:

Ford kicked-off what it calls the “Fiesta Movement” yesterday when 140 new European-built Ford Fiestas were unloaded at ports in Baltimore and Oxnard, Calif.