Ford is offering yet another duty-free gem to South African motorists in the form of a new entry-level turbo-charged Fiesta.
Earlier this year Ford took advantage of a trade agreement applying to cars with an engine size of 1000cc or less to snip the prices on Fiesta 1-litre EcoBoost Trend and Titanium models while also adding an Ambiente auto.
New to the range this month is a five-speed manual version of the Ambiente, which sells for R198 900, versus R208 900 for the six-speed PowerShift model. Like the latter, the manual Ambiente gets the lower-tuned EcoBoost which is rated at a still-rather-decent 74kW versus the 92kW offered from Trend upwards. All versions push 170Nm.
For reasons that we can't quite fathom, Ford is still offering the 1.4-litre normally aspirated Ambiente (71kW/128Nm) for the same price as the new 1.0T equivalent.
Ambiente models are fitted with air conditioning, electric front windows, remote central locking, heated and powered mirrors and a six-speaker CD/USB/Aux Sync audio system with Bluetooth connectivity and steering-mounted controls. Key safety features include ABS and dual front airbags.
Upgrade to the Trend and the R11 000 premium gets you 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, colour coded mirrors, rear power windows and a height-adjustable driver's seat, to name the key differences.
All Fiestas come with a four-year/60 000km service plan and four-year/120 000km warranty.
FIESTA PRICES
1.4 Ambiente manual - R198 900*
1.0T Ambiente manual - R198 900 (new)
1.0T Ambiente PowerShift - R208 900
1.4 Trend manual - R204 900
1.0T Trend manual - R209 900
1.0T Trend PowerShift - R219 900
1.0T Titanium manual - R229 900
1.0T Titanium PowerShift - R239 900
1.6 TDCi Ambiente manual - R218 900
1.6 TDCi Trend manual - R225 900
1.6T ST manual (3-door) - R282 900
*Not a typo