All this wringing of hands an gnashing of teeth over the stopping of Fiesta production!

It's just a name that has been discontinued. So Ford bring out a new supermini in 2023 - they could always call it - now let me think - FIESTA!

Everyone's happy...

Well........

if Ford are simply discontinuing the Fiesta name, and are planning to bring out an all new small car, what do you suppose the chances of it being anything other than an EV are?

In which case (going by the forum) its probably fair to say, not everyone will be happy!

Maybe they could call it the Virtue. I'm sure (the few) potential owners will be glad to know it would be very good at signalling and steering, though only in a leftward direction.

It is a business decision.

There is value in the Fiesta name - a generally well regarded car. Normally discontinuing a brand name would be negative associations with reliability, performance etc.

But Ford would also be considering whether a new and very different model should be clearly differentiated from its old technology. Many of their competitors will be launching new EVs with new branding.

They may prefer to position Ford as a brand with a future, rather than a legacy product deeply connected with the past. Advertising and marketing can send messages of new technology under a new name.

They may prefer to target a younger market who would associate the Fiesta name with their grandparents' generation. Concern for the environment is apparently stronger in younger age groups in the UK - perpetuating an ICE brand may have negative associations.

would also be considering whether a new and very different model should be clearly differentiated from its old technology. Many of their competitors will be launching new EVs with new branding.

They may prefer to position Ford as a brand with a future, rather than a legacy product deeply connected with the past. Advertising and marketing can send messages of new technology under a new name.

Ford have already launched the Mustang Mach-E as an EV and Mustang is an even older model name than Fiesta, so why can't they launch an electric Fiesta Mach-E ?

They probably don't think the Fiesta name is 'cool' enough for want of a better word. The Mustang is seen as a fast powerful car, a million miles away from the Fiestas image.

Ford tend to chop and change the names. Cortina, Sierra, Mondeo, for example. Zephyr was taken over by Lincoln (unless it was always theirs).

Fiesta would be a good name for a small electric car - they could emphasise the 'e' in fiEsta.

Edited by John F on 31/10/2022 at 09:02