Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Achieves 81 MPG

Ford Fiesta is already a successful model, especially in Europe were buyers purchased the model through government incentives schemes. Often praised for the fuel efficiency it provides, the new Fiesta is capable of achieving even better figures when powered by an ECOnetic engine. For example, the new model burned only 2.9 liters of gasoline per 100 km (that's around 81 mpg) during the lice Springs to Cooper Pedy leg of the Global Green Challenge.

On a separate front, the US-based carmaker announced today that its new Fiesta reached the 500,000 units sales mark, after surpassing the 470,000 sold units milestone in September.

"Customers around the world are recognizing the new Fiesta delivers on the global Ford DNA — eye-catching design, innovation, outstanding driving dynamics and great value," said Jim Farley, group vice president of global marketing and Canada, Mexico and South America.

Ford will also introduce the new Fiesta in the United States at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year, with sales to begin locally next summer. The company claims it has already received 50,000 inquiries for the new Fiesta, mostly thanks to the results of the Fiesta Movement programme - US consumers were invited to test the new model and share their opinions on popular online social networks such as Facebook or MySpace.

"This is the perfect time to show the North American Fiesta," said Sam De La Garza, Ford Fiesta marketing manager. "The Fiesta Movement will have wrapped up, and after hearing so much about this car leading up to the reveal, everyone will finally get to see what we are so excited about."