The Daily Car

Ford has just unveiled the very first official its new Fiesta supermini, ready for the real car to be shown off at the Geneva Motor Show on the 4th of March, 2008.

The new Fiesta will share many components with the Mazda2, just like its predecessor did. But whilst the previous-generation Mazda2 proved a bit of an embarrasment, the new model is really great, which should bode well for the new Fiesta. Ford’s new baby should prove as good as the Mazda, we hope; a pleasingly light and thus fun-to-drive car.

There will be a total of five engines on offer when the Fiesta goes on sale: two TDCI diesel engines and three petrol-powered units. Derv fans will choose between a 1.4- and 1.6-litre engines with 67 and 89bhp respectively. Meanwhile, the petrol line-up includes 1.3-, 1.4-, and 1.6-litre engines, all of which will drive the front wheels.

Autumn will likely see the introduction of a special, ecological Fiesta called the ECOnetic. This will rival the VW Polo BlueMotion and its sub-100g/km CO₂ emissions will allow for road tax exemption.

Today’s pictures show a 3-door car but a 5-door model is also likely to be available. A number of other versions are also rumoured to be on the way, including a small MPV.

Škoda will take on the likes of the Daihatsu Terios, Fiat Sedici, Suzuki SX4, VW Polo Dune and Fiat Panda 4×4 with this - the enlarged, Scout badged version of the Roomster supermini-MPV.

On sale next summer in the UK, and to be unveiled at the Essen motor show in Germany, the Scout should cost about 14 thousand quid. Apart from the 1.2 litre basic engine, all motors from the normal Roomster will be carried over from the previous car.

This won’t be a proper SUV, however, with just 2-wheel drive at the front. That said, it will at least look the part with 16-inch rims (17-inchers are an option), and roof rails, topped off with underbody protection.