Definitely sharp enough to erase any lingering memories of the odious Aspire, the mirthless Festiva, or even the fun-if-seriously-rust-prone first-generation Fiesta from the late 1970s, this spanking-new Ford Fiesta, set for a Geneva Show debut, puts to the pavement the company's dynamic new "kinetic" design language, previewed to great acclaim in its Verve hatchback and sedan concepts. The new Fiesta is set for a multi-stage release in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia, and yes, even the Americas, starting this fall and continuing through 2010. At this point, Ford has five powertrains in the works, ranging from a 1.4-liter turbodiesel with 64 horsepower to a 1.8-liter gasoline four producing 114 horsepower. And for Brits eager to dodge London's new gas-guzzler charge, there'll be an ECOnetic ultra-low-emissions model that spews less than 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. For now, however, we'll let the pictures speak for themselves. We think the car, from its artfully sculpted exterior to its mobile phone-inspired cockpit, is a complete knockout, and further proof (after such charmers as the Mini Cooper, the new Fiat 500, the new Renault Twingo, and the about-to-be-unveiled Toyota iQ) that the world is in the midst of a full-on small-car design renaissance. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long to partake in the fun.
More photos after the break, courtesy of the Ford Motor Company.
