Ford Fiesta Receives Durashift Automatic Transmission

Following the success it had with the new Fiesta, American manufacturer Ford has decided to fit the Fiesta with the Durashift automatic transmission. The gearbox will be mated to the 1.4l Duratec petrol engined Fiesta, developing 96 PS.

The new transmission will allow the Fiesta to get from naught to sixty in 13.9 seconds, while delivering 43.4 mpg (5.4l/100 km), better than the regular version, and a CO2 emissions rating of 154g/km on the EU combined driving cycle 1.

Bringing the new transmission to the Fiesta required some alteration to be made to the vehicle. Ford engineers worked on improving accelerator pedal response, as well as on tuning the car's electronic throttle to generate a sharper response.

“Typcially, around 10 per cent of small car buyers specify an auto option, so convenience technology is an important addition to a range that now offers an option for every taste and need,” Chris Meurs, Ford Fiesta product manager said.

The 1.4l Durashift Fiesta comes to complement the range already available in the UK and will be offered in three trim levels: Style+, Zetec and Titanium. Starting price for the new version is £13,195.

As we told you earlier, Fiesta has already proven to be a hit. The car was Ford's best-selling model in March, also selling 52,800 units worldwide since the beginning of the year. In the UK, the Fiesta took full advantage of the local scrappage scheme and brought Ford another sales boost, contributing to the 3,000 orders the American manufacturer received for its vehicles in May.