Ford Fiesta production ends after 47 years
After almost half a century as one of Britain's most popular cars, the final Ford Fiesta has rolled off the production line
Ford has announced that the final Fiesta has rolled off the production line, marking the end for what is Britain's best selling car of all time. With the last model having been built Ford's factory in Cologne, the facility is soon set to undergo a transformation for the production of all-electric models.
Having first entered production in 1976, the loss of the Fiesta follows a trend of other companies killing off their supermini models due to shrinking market share and low profit margins. Ford initially axed the three-door model in early 2022 due to waning demand, but announced the cancellation of the remaining five-door version in October last year.
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With production spanning 47 years and over seven generations, Ford sold a total of 20 million Fiestas during this period. While the base Fiesta became a staple of British motoring over the years, the fettled range-toppers are what evo will miss most. From the XR2 to the RS Turbo, Zetec S and the introduction of the ST nameplate for the Mk5 Fiesta, it's the longest standing hot hatch we've seen to date. With the excellent Mk7 ST200 and most recent Mk8 ST cementing themselves as two of the best hot hatches of recent times, those years of expertise shone through.
While the likes of the Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 and Volkswagen Polo remain as alternatives, the ordinary Fiesta offered a class-leading chassis that helped make it one of the most accessible driver’s cars on the market. The loss of the range-topping ST is also a significant one for the performance car segment, standing up as one of the most entertaining hot hatches money could buy.
There is no direct Fiesta replacement in the works, with the next-generation Ford Puma EV said to be its spiritual successor.
