2011 Ford Fiesta is Awarded NADAguides Car of the Month for May 2011

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

News Highlights

• NADAguides, the leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, names the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta the NADAguides Car of the Month for May.  
• The 2011 Ford Fiesta was selected as the NADAguides Car of the Month based on the vehicle's quality of engineering inside and out, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, overall value, and wealth of features above and beyond what is expected in its class.
• Increased consumer interest for the Ford Fiesta on NADAguides.com also played a role in the vehicle's selection as the Car of the Month.  NADAguides' market analysts saw an increase in consumer interest for the Ford Fiesta of nearly 55 percent during the first quarter of 2011, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, and expect to see that percentage continue to increase over the coming months considering rising gas prices and the Fiesta's ability to reach 40 mpg on the highway.  
• NADAguides analysts agree that the Fiesta's tagline – "It's a Pretty Big Deal" – is extremely fitting for this feature loaded, sub-compact vehicle that scored a "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).   The technology, performance and options of the Fiesta are not typically found in a sub-compact vehicle priced under $20,000, and NADAguides analysts foresee this vehicle making a large impact on Ford's overall sales in the coming months with 2 body styles and 5 trim levels available to car shoppers.  

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Key Quotes

• Troy Snyder, Director of Product Development at NADAguides: "The exterior of the Fiesta has an aggressive, sporty and edgy look with modern lines sure to give the foreign sub-compact makers a scare in the design department.  As for performance, sub-compact vehicles usually leave you feeling like you got what you paid for, but not the Fiesta – it is impressive and delivers a vehicle above expectations, setting a new bar for the competition."
• John Felice, General Manger Ford Lincoln Marketing: "We believe the 2011 Fiesta sets a new standard in the small car segment so it is rewarding to see it researched to such a high level by car buyers. This recognition is a further sign of the momentum we have built with our range of fuel efficient, technologically advanced new products that customers want to learn about and own. It is successful and popular new products like Fiesta that will continue to differentiate Ford Motor Company as a leader."

2011 Ford Fiesta Highlights

• Engine:  The all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta comes standard with a 1.6-liter twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT) Duratec® I4 Engine built to make the Fiesta able to conquer both quick sprints and long distance travel effortlessly.  The Ford Fiesta manual achieves 28 MPG city and 37 MPG highway.  Ford also offers its Fuel Efficient Technology which includes a powertrain control module and aerodynamic designs, or buyers can upgrade to the optional Super Fuel Economy (SFE) Package which includes additional aerodynamic details such as underbody shields and blockers on the lower grill – the Ford Fiesta SE with the SFE package achieves up to 40 MPG. With Dynamic Ride and Handling, Ford-Tuned Suspension and an available PowerShift Six-Speed Automatic Transmission the analysts at NADAguides found the Ford Fiesta to handle and feel like a sports car, providing confidence even at higher speeds. 
• Interior:  The analysts at NADAguides feel the interior of the Fiesta gives the driver more than expected.  With a power moonroof, heated leather trim seats and ambient lighting the Ford Fiesta feels like a luxury vehicle.  Ford put a lot of thoughtful design into the interior of the Fiesta including a cell phone-inspired center console which offers an intuitive user experience, available painted metallic accents, soft-touch materials and durable, tailored-looking seat fabrics.  
• Technology:  The Ford Fiesta comes with Ford's revolutionary automotive audio and navigation technology – SYNC® in-car Connectivity System.  Additionally, the Ford Fiesta offers an LCD Message Center, Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, and Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filter.  
• Safety: Selected as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) the 2011 Ford Fiesta offers seven standard airbags including a driver's knee airbag and Side Curtain Airbags, a Safety Cage of Boron Steel, Integrated Blind-Spot Mirrors, and AdvanceTRAC® ESC.  IIHS gave the Ford Fiesta a rating of "Good" for frontal offset, side impact, and roof strength.  
• Price/Warranty: The 2011 Ford Fiesta 4 door Sedan S starts at $13,320 while the 4 door Hatchback SE edition starts at $15,120. Standard warranty on the 2011 Ford Fiesta includes three years, 36,000 mile basic and five years, 60,000 mile drive train and roadside assistance.  

About NADAguides Car of the Month Award

The NADAguides Car of the Month award provides consumers with practical information on new cars, trucks and SUVs chosen by the analysts at NADAguides for exceptional performance, efficiency, features, options and appeal.  Criteria used to determine the Car of the Month includes: quality of engineering, fuel efficiency, safety equipment and ratings, pricing and overall value, sales trends, consumer market interest on NADAguides.com, and test drives performed by NADAguides market analysts.  Car of the Month vehicles are eligible for the NADAguides Car of the Year award.

About NADAguides

NADAguides (www.nadaguides.com) is the largest publisher of vehicle pricing and information for new and used cars, classic cars, motorcycles, boats, RVs, and manufactured homes. NADAguides offers in-depth shopping and research tools in addition to the most market-reflective pricing available. The company also produces software, mobile applications, raw data, web services, web-syndicated products and print guidebooks.

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