The WP and WQ Fiesta.
Launched in early 2004, the WP Fiesta was Ford's local replacement for the KA! Where the KA! had limited appeal due to its 3-door manual only spec, the Fiesta was the real deal.
At first glance, the German built WP Fiesta looked fantastic. Sure, it had a feminine look, but those pumped wheel arches gave it some muscle. Ford offered the car with 3 and 5-door body styles and three trim levels that included the entry level LX, the mid-spec Zetec and the top end Ghia.
The range was powered by a DOHC 1.6-litre engine teamed with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed torque converter auto. The engine really stood out from the competition, the larger 1.6 capacity used across the range made 1.3 and 1.4 competition look stingy. With 74 kW at 6000 rpm and 146 Nm at 4000 rpm, this all-alloy with its 11.0:1 compression ratio was best run on 95 or 98-ron fuel.
As was the norm for European Ford's, the best part of the Fiesta was the agile chassis. I drove a Zetec many times and loved the superbly direct and well weighted steering. The ride was firm and the engine zesty.
By late 2005, Ford launched the updated WQ Fiesta. This update focused on subtle styling changes. There was a new front and rear bumper, revised head and tail light graphics, and some minor interior trim changes. The big news was a new addition to the model lineup..................more on that shortly.
