RPO83

Cork, June, 2001 - With the all-new Fiesta having just arrived in their showrooms, Ford Dealers of Ireland have launched a campaign to find the oldest existing model of Ireland’s best selling car. All Fiesta owners in each county are being invited to help in the search by filling out an entry form at their local dealer. Those participating, regardless of the age of their Fiesta, will be placed in a draw to win a weekend away in a choice of Irish destinations.

For the owner of Ireland’s oldest Fiesta, a very special offer is in store: a brand new Fiesta for the price of the original model! It will mean the owner of Ireland's oldest Fiesta will have the opportunity of purchasing an all-new Fiesta for just €3003, the price of the 1997 Mark 1 Fiesta! The new Fiesta retails from €14,395 (ex Cork).

Since its introduction here 25 years ago, over 140,000 Fiestas have been sold, making it Ireland’s best ever selling car. Over the period it has topped the yearly sales charts no fewer than 11 times. In 1996 it became the first car in Ireland to amass sales in excess of 100,000.

‘The exceptional heritage of Fiesta in Ireland makes it the ideal model on which to centre a campaign of this kind,’ comments Denis McSweeney, Marketing Director, Ford Ireland. ‘It has been part of the family for countless households down the years and has been an ‘entry model’ for tens of thousands of young drivers. While it wasn’t the first of the superminis, it certainly went on to define the segment and brought huge growth in the small car segment.’

‘We are hoping that relatives and friends of Fiesta owners will encourage them to come forward and partake in the quest. Aside from the overall winner, a Fiesta owner in each county will win a weekend away in Ireland.

Already hailed by the motoring press, the all-new Fiesta is set to continue the nameplate’s proud achievements on the Irish market. It features the spaciousness of cars in a class above it, with spectacular improvements in rear leg and head room (the latter the equivalent of a Ford Galaxy!). The boot, too, is large enough to carry two sets of golf clubs.

Powered by a choice of new 1.3 and 1.4 petrol and a cracking 1.4 new common rail diesel engine, it takes the renowned driving quality of the Fiesta to new heights, with cornering and handling that makes both town and country driving real fun. Standard on the new Fiesta is Ford’s Intelligent Protection System (IPS), introduced on the Mondeo, making this the safest small car Ford has ever produced.

__________________
*Retired.