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The Ford Fiesta is a supermini car manufactured by Ford since 1976, lasting seven generations. The Fiesta has been manufactured in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, China, India, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Africa. In 2010, the sixth generation Fiesta (Mark VI)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Still going strong, Ford's youthful spirited Fiesta is celebrating its 30th birthday )〕 was introduced worldwide, making it the first Fiesta model to be sold in North America since the Fiesta Mark I was discontinued at the end of 1980. The Fiesta has sold over 16 million units since 1976,〔(), Autoblog, July 2011〕〔(), Best Selling Cars, March 2012〕〔(), Best Selling Cars, March 2013〕 making it one of the best selling Ford marques behind the Escort and the F-Series. ==Development== The Fiesta was originally developed under the project name "Bobcat" (not to be confused with the subsequent rebadged Mercury variant of the Ford Pinto) and approved for development by Henry Ford II in September 1972, just after the launch of two comparable cars – the Fiat 127 and Renault 5. Development targets indicated a production cost US$100 less than the current Escort.〔 The car was to have a wheelbase longer than that of the Fiat 127, but with overall length shorter than that of Ford's Escort. The final proposal was developed by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia. The project was approved for production in autumn 1973, with Ford's engineering centres in Cologne and Dunton (Essex) collaborating Ford estimated that 500,000 Fiestas a year would be produced, and built an all-new factory near Valencia, Spain; a trans-axle factory near Bordeaux, France; factory extensions for the assembly plants in Dagenham, UK. Final assembly also took place in Valencia. The name Fiesta belonged to General Motors when the car was designed; however, it was freely given for Ford to use on their new B-class car. After years of speculation by the motoring press about Ford's new car, it was subject to a succession of carefully crafted press leaks from the end of 1975. A Fiesta was on display at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in June 1976, and the car went on sale in France and Germany in September 1976; to the frustration of UK dealerships, right hand drive versions only began to appear in the UK in January 1977. Its initial competitors in Europe, apart from the Fiat 127 and Renault 5, included the Volkswagen Polo and Vauxhall Chevette. Chrysler UK were also about the launch the Sunbeam by this stage, and British Leyland was working on a new supermini which would be launched as the Austin Metro in 1980. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ford Fiesta」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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