European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 16, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday february 16, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 13 larger yes same Price As old Model new Ford fiesta a neat Little car the Ford fiesta a Little car witha big following first appeared on the automotive scene 13 years ago. Since then nearly 5 million of them have hit the  now it s time for a new fiesta an last week Ford introduced the new Model to the automotive press. It is neat Little car a bit larger on the outside than its predecessor and also offering More room for its passengers. It s also fun to drive and is destined to do Well. The new fiesta will make its Public debut next month at the Geneva Auto show March 9-19 and will arrive on the european Market in mid april. The Small car Market is a Tough one and has grown a great Deal since the launch of the original fiesta in 1976, but Ford has done Well in this Market. Dan Iel go Audevert the Boss at Ford of Ger Many in Cologne said at the press con Ference when the fiesta arrived on the Market in 1976, there was no great future predicted for it. Critics said the for mini had arrived much too late and that this Market belonged Only to the Small car specialists in France Italy and eng land. But the critics were in error. The fiesta was headed for one of the greatest successes in Ford  Ford has invested nearly $ 1 billion units development of the new fiesta but is holding the line on prices the new fiesta 3-door version 55 he 1.1-liter engine costing the same As last year s Model 14,760 Marks about $8,000 including the 14 percent value added tax. This is the least expensive car in the fiesta lineup while the most expensive Model is the sports oriented xr2i at22,565 Marks about $12,300. Engines include the 1.1-liter with car Buret or or with fuel injection 1.4-liter Carburettor and 1.6-liter injection for thexr2ialong with a 1.8-liter diesel. The fuel injected engines Are equipped with3-Way catalytic converters and meet . Emission standards. All of the Gas engines use unleaded fuel. There Are no plans at present to sell the fiestas in the United states however As the korean built festival takes care of Ford s Small car needs there. The new fiesta models will be Avail Able in either 3-door or 5-door design with the various versions including the Clos and xr2i the sporty s and xr2i models offered Only in 3-Doorform. The Cox version of the new Ford fiesta.  is powered by the 1.1-liter, fuel injection engine. Is a Hydraulic mechanical anti lock braking system is optional on All of the new fiesta models equipped with Man Ual gearboxes. Automatic is optional on some models. Everything in the front wheel drive fiesta is Brand new from front to Back Ford stresses with the new car having Only the name fiesta in common with the old Model. The new fiesta is 3.9inches longer than its predecessor nearly an Inch wider and is built on a 96.4-Inchwheelbase, an increase of 5.9 inches Over the old Model s. It has a drag co efficient of 0.35, an acceptable figure for a Small car. We drove the 1.1-liter fuel injected la Model 50 he and the 1.4-liter Cox 73 he and enjoyed both cars the suspensions especially impressive on winding Back roads. Top Speed for the1.1 was about 90 Miles an hour while the 1.4 topped out just Over the 100 Mph Mark. Top speeds on these two cars is not what it s All about but the output for these engines is impressive. So is fuel Economy the cars in the 1.1-liter Range averaging Well 9ver 45 Miles to the gallon when run consistently at about 60  the fiesta s 11-gallon tank this gives a Range of More than 500 Miles. The 1.1-liter engine revved freely audits 5-Speed Gearbox was especially easy to use. The Interior on All of the cars i nicely done and a six footer has Ade quate legroom and headroom in both the Driver and passenger seats. The fiesta can seat five adults but ideally it would be better with four or two adults and three children under age 10 or so. The dash is of Quality design with indentations for maps and the instruments Are easy to read through the two spoke steering wheel. The Glove Box is quite Large and there s a storage Box above it plus storage bins on the front doors. The trunk which is lighted offers plenty of room for a Small car and the rear seat backs split on a 70/30 basis fold for Ward with ease to create More room for extra cargo or lengthy objects. Wrapping it up the new fiesta is a extremely attractive Small car and if you re looking for one in this category and Don t need . Specifications you la want to Check it out. It would also make an Ideal second car. Randy Barnet Auto columnist try Oscar Given of for testing trans car an cafes concessionaire that offers both car conver Sion and shipping programs has been approved by the Epa to oper ate a Plum Tesmo testing and catalyst retrofit program overseas. According to Ernst d. Gros Smann chairman of trans car this Means that the catalytic converter can be installed in Germany at the port of Bremerhaven prior to Theca s shipment to the United states. The vehicle s owner will receive certification of retrofit which allows the owner to import his vehicle with out posting a Bond. Grossman says that for those using commercial shipping serv ices this alternative is much More economical for the owner than is the posting of a Bond and the having the converter installed in the United states. . Dodge spirit family Sedan offered in 3 versions the new Dodge spirit a mid Market four door family Sedan has just arrived on the military Market overseas after making its debut in the United states last month where it is being Soldin three versions the Standard spirit the More fully equipped be and the top of the line is. Both the Standard spirit and the leave 4-Cylinder, 2.5-liter fuel injection engines of 100 horsepower while the top of the line is gets this same engine but with turbocharging and 150 he. The new2.5-liter Turbo engine replaces the 2.2 liter Turbo previously offered in various Chrysler corp. Automobiles. The new Turbo engine is optional on the spirit and be while the spirit is May be purchased with an optional 3-liter v-6 normally aspirated engine of 141 he. When equipped with the 3-Literv-6 engine a 4-Speed automatic trans Axle is optional but on the 2.5-liter engines Only a 3-Speed automatic is Avail Able As an option. Standard throughout the Range is a five Speed manual with the 1989 Dodge spirit is with Turbo engine. Overdrive fifth gear. Dodge terms its new front wheel drive spirit a True midsize Sedan with seat ing for six passengers with the optional50/50 front seat configuration. The car seats five passengers when equipped wit the Standard bucket front seats. Standards on the spirit Sedan include rack and Pinion Power steering a handling suspension package Power brakes discs front and Drums rearm pm stereo radio with two speakers Interior Remote fuel door and deck lid releases Side Demister child guard locks on rear doors intermittent Windshield wipers and pi95/70 All season touring tires radials mounted on 14-Inch wheels. Wheelbase on All spirit models is 103.3 inches a full 3 inches longer than the Aries 4-door Sedan. Overall length is 181.2 inches height is 55.5 inches an Overall Width is 68.1 inches. Dodge stresses that its engineers have achieved significant advances in the control of Chassis noise vibration and harsh Ness All factors combining to make the spirit one of the smoothest Riding cars inthe compact  the fuel Economy figures Range from 21to 29 mpg combined depending on the engine choices. The manufacturer s suggested retail prices Are $9,995 for the Stan Dard spirit $11,195 for the spirit be and 12,495 for the spirit is with Turbo Power. Chrysler military sales officials i Frankfurt report that some Dodge spirit models have just arrived and Are Avail Able for Sale at this time. For Complete details on the new spirit 4-door sedans special military prices etc., prospective buyers May Contact Chrysler Dodge Plymouth sales representatives at the cafes new car sales Points on the Var ious bases in Europe.