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Global Viewpoints
Ford Fiesta gets Focus treatment
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Ford's sporty new Fiesta Zetec-S.
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Ford has given its top selling Fiesta a Focus look. The company is disseminating its New Edge styling through the range, so the Fiesta gets Ford's family front end with trapezoid headlamps, new style radiator grille, and redesigned hood, bumpers, and front fenders. Equipment changes include head and chest side airbags. A high-performance Fiesta Zetec-S includes a 1.6-L engine producing 76 kW (102 hp). The car has a distinctive body styling package.
Ford is well aware of the need to ensure that its sporty cars sound sporty to those inside, while meeting passby-noise legislation requirements. The sound of the Zetec-S has been largely achieved by tuning the air-intake system, based on research and acoustic engineering expertise originally developed for the company's Puma sports coupe. For the Fiesta, the installation includes a quarter-wave tube and a Helmholtz resonator within the air cleaner assembly, and a relocated porous air-intake duct.
Ford says that efforts have been made to avoid unwanted noise intrusion that could be caused by the increased output of the engine. New seals have been fitted behind the front wings, and there is additional insulation between the engine compartment and cabin. The engine-mount system has also been optimized.
Stuart Birch
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