2011 Ford Fiesta Headed for 2009 LA Auto Show

It's party time. Although we've seen the new Fiesta for some time now, Ford has announced it will officially launch the U.S.-spec 2011 model at the 2009 Los Angeles auto show.

While Europe has experienced the latest Fiesta for nearly a year, the North American Fiesta will arrive at dealers sometime next summer. The subcompact is the second-most-popular vehicle in Europe, having sold 340,000 examples since its launch. The sales figures have helped Ford increase its European market share for the 8th consecutive month, and the automaker hopes the car will be met with similar interest here in the States. Ford claims 97 percent of consumers sincerely interested in the Fiesta don't presently own a Ford vehicle.

We wouldn't be surprised if, in addition to launching the U.S. car, Ford also uses the L.A. show to launch a four-door sedan variant. Such a car has long been in the cards for North America, as indicated by the "North American" Verve concept shown at the 2008 Detroit auto show.

Europe Since 1999, Ford Posts Highest Market Share

Not only is Ford doing well in its home market; it's also making waves in Europe. According to sales data, Ford of Europe posted a 5 percent increase in new car sales in its 19 main markets and its highest market share since 1999.

Riding on sales of the Fiesta and Ka small cars, Ford's market share rose by 0.6 percent to a total of 9 percent last month. Ford sold 125,200 vehicles in its main 19 markets in Europe, but overall sales - which include all 51 markets of its European region - fell almost 9 percent, to 136,500 units in July.

Ford is the number two automaker in Europe, behind Volkswagen.

Ford was undoubtedly buoyed in some countries, like France, Germany, and Italy, by "cash-for-clunker" programs. Ford's head of marketing in Europe, Ingvar Sviggum, said those programs are artificially boosting sales and will have to be phased out gradually.

"Despite the positive impact of various national vehicle scrappage schemes, the overall trend is still negative and the underlying market is week," Sviggum said in a statement.

Ford Pictures

Specifications :

• Auxiliary oil cooler
• 4,601 cc 4.6 liters V 8 front engine with 90.2 mm bore, 90.0 mm stroke, 9.3 compression ratio, overhead cam and two valves per cylinder 99W
• E85 fuel 87
• Multi-point injection fuel system
• 35.0 gallon main E85 fuel tank 29.1
• Power: 168 kW , 225 HP SAE @ 4,800 rpm; 286 ft lb , 388 Nm @ 3,500 rpm