Could this Ford be The One?

MANILA, Philippines - As good as Ford Group Philippines’ cars and trucks are, it has yet to hit one out of the park with the mainstream passenger car market. But that may soon change with the coming of the all-new Ford Fiesta, a stylish subcompact that will soon be available in 4-door sedan and 5-door hatchback configurations.

The Fiesta is a 5-passenger subcompact squarely aimed at the Honda City/Jazz and Toyota Yaris/Vios market. The car sports clearly distinctive and sporty lines characterized by a slinky profile, a viper-like front fascia, and brash multi-spoke wheels. The interior is no less inspired with a futuristic dashboard and contoured seats belying its “economy car” roots.

No specifications were released as of press time, but the European model of the Fiesta is powered by an aluminum alloy 1.6-liter, 16-valve inline-4 “Duratec” engine with variable camshaft timing technology. The chassis underpinnings consist of front MacPherson struts and a twist beam rear suspension, with front disks and rear drum brakes. The European models’ available transmissions consist of a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed “Powershift” automatic. The 98-inch wheelbase puts it on par with the Honda Jazz and slightly ahead of the Toyota Yaris. Of course, mechanical specifications may yet change when Ford officially launches the Fiesta sometime in Q3 of this year.

In the meantime, the company is inviting potential buyers to “connect with the Fiesta” through a digital campaign. Three online portals have been developed to engage a wider market of online users and fans. ConnectwithFiesta.com allows readers to connect with fellow Fiesta followers from across the region to witness the campaign. Ford.com.ph, on the other hand, is the corporate website for showroom and service location and product information. And of course, it would not be complete without a Facebook account. With a reported 9 million-strong friend base in the Philippines, the “Ford Fiesta in the Philippines” Facebook site is aimed at bringing Filipino Facebook users into the Fiesta, err, festival.

So, why should you bother joining? Because you might win a Ford Fiesta Scale Model (1:18) prize. Clicking “Like” on the “Ford Fiesta in the Philippines” Facebook page gives the user access to join the Fiesta Scale Model giveaway promotion tab, where five winners will be randomly selected until September 30, 2010.

“Ford Group Philippines connects with a new generation of Filipinos who live their lives connected to the digital space. Our experience across the world tells us that the Ford Fiesta is the vehicle of choice for this active breed of bold, stylish, and confident individuals who love to be engaged through different touch points,” says Steven Tan, Ford Group Philippines’ Vice President of Marketing and Sales.

It looks good, the (potential) specs look promising, and Ford is going viral. Could the Fiesta be The One car that will cement its foothold in the Philippines? We shall soon see.