Ford Gears Up for a Big Year Ahead

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- Highly anticipated Fiesta ST delivers impressive performance and fuel efficiency with a 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine

- Fiesta to be available with award-winning 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine – which combines agility and affordability with fuel economy

- All-new Ford Kuga is first Ford vehicle in Australia to be equipped with Emergency Assistance system[/COLOR]

Ford is setting its sights high in the coming year, getting ready to release a stable of all-new vehicles, which are head-turners, fuel-efficient, smart and fun to drive.

The Fiesta ST performance hatch will complement the arrival of the new Fiesta, while the eagerly awaited Ford Kuga will make its way into showrooms across the country next year. These global vehicles all share Ford’s superior levels of quality, safety, technology and fuel efficiency.

“Ford Australia is continuing to evolve and provide our customers with new and exciting vehicles and we expect our 2013 arrivals to create a lot of excitement,” according to Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano.
“Next year we’re continuing our technology and smart story with the some high-quality global vehicles that cater to the differing customer wants in the market,” he said. “From driving enthusiasts to young families and small business owners, we have something for everyone.
“We’ve also gone further to provide an enjoyable driving experience, be it with driver assistance technologies or smart in-car features.”
One smart feature becoming more widely available is the award-winning Ford SYNC system, which was launched in the Focus this year and will arrive in the Ford Kuga. The hands-free in-car connectivity system enables drivers to make calls or select music from devices connected via Bluetooth or USB, while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

All-new Fiesta ST
Ford has confirmed that the halo Fiesta ST three-door will be available in 2013.
Sporting the turbo-charged 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission, the all-new Fiesta ST serves up some exciting numbers. With an expected output of 132 kW and 240Nm, the hot hatch will deliver a 0-100km/h time in less than seven seconds. At the same time, the EcoBoost technology delivers a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the previous European Fiesta ST.

Developed by Ford’s Team RS, the new model improves on ride and handling with a specially tuned chassis that sits 15 mm lower than the standard Fiesta; Ford’s enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system; and three Electronic Stability Program modes.

These technologies were tested over 5000 km of driving on Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The high-contrast interior features unprecedented levels of equipment and specification to suit the sporting driver, with standard Recaro sports seats appearing in a Fiesta ST for the first time. The new bold and dynamic exterior design drives home the high performance message and features the latest Ford design signatures including a large trapezoidal grille.

“We’re delighted to be bringing a new generation Fiesta ST to Australian performance enthusiasts in 2013,” said Ford Australia General Marketing Manager, David Katic. “With the Fiesta ST joining the new Focus ST, we will again be able to deliver a choice of affordable small performance cars that are designed to deliver a unique blend of stand-out styling and dynamic on-road performance with true practicality for everyday use.
“The Focus ST is quickly gaining cult status among performance enthusiasts and we expect the Fiesta ST to do the same.”

Fiesta
The updated Fiesta arrives in 2013 with the award-winning new 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine.

The 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has already been named the 2012 “International Engine of the Year” and credited with being a game-changer for petrol engines globally with its fuel efficiency engine and low emissions.

Apart from the arrival of the 1.0-litre engine, the stylish new Fiesta hatch will deliver a bold new exterior; an interior optimised for ergonomics; and will become the first vehicle in the Ford Australia lineup to be equipped with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine.
Fiesta will also arrive with Ford’s acclaimed SYNC connectivity system.

All-new Ford Kuga
The all-new Ford Kuga not only combines striking design and functionality with a rewarding driving experience, but it also introduces innovations such as the hands-free “open sesame” automatic tailgate, which can be opened and closed simply by sweeping a foot under the rear bumper.
The compact SUV will be Ford’s first vehicle in Australia to be equipped with the SYNC-based Emergency Assistance system, which helps connect vehicle occupants with emergency services following an accident, providing vehicle location and opening the line for communication.
A range of driver assistance technologies, including the parallel parking aid Active Park Assist and sensor-based Blind Spot Information System will also be available. The smart Ford Kuga All-Wheel-Drive system also pre-emptively reassesses conditions 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the AWD power split to give the driver the best blend of handling and traction.
There will be a choice of two powertrains: Ford’s popular 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine or the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine. Both can be paired with Ford’s advanced six-speed automatic gearbox.

“We’re really excited by the arrival of the Ford Kuga as it will provide a welcome addition to our SUV lineup,” according to Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano.

“It is an important vehicle for our customers as it will introduce EcoBoost technology into our SUV lineup and a host of new features to the market.

“Also, EcoBoost technology has been acclaimed around the world and its availability in the Ford Kuga is a positive endorsement for our customer-focused Smart technologies.”

The Ford Kuga has already won the inaugural Popular Magazine Car of The Year Award in the United States, where it is available with a range of EcoBoost engines.

The compact SUV has also just been awarded a 5-star EuroNCAP crash safety rating.

The Ford Kuga and the Fiesta will add another technology story to the Ford Australia line-up with the availability of fuel efficient EcoBoost engines. Powerful EcoBoost engines are already available in the Focus ST, Mondeo and Falcon.

The Ford Kuga arrives in the second quarter and Fiesta and Fiesta ST in the third quarter.

Source: Ford Media [/SIZE]