Ford is celebrating a year of success for its best-selling small car, recently collecting the 26th major European honor for the Ford Fiesta in Bucharest – the Romanian Car of the Year award.

Over the past 12 months, the Ford Fiesta has been lauded across the globe, winning over 70 prestigious awards in 14 countries and regions to date – Australia, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Germany, Indonesia, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Catalonia. In China alone, the Ford Fiesta has collected an astonishing 44 accolades so far! (See the list.)

Car of the Year
The awards have included national and individual publications’ overall Car of the Year awards and best supermini and B-segment honors – all awarded for the Fiesta’s all-round qualities. Other awards have been for Fiesta’s design or manufacturing excellence, and several for the Fiesta’s impressive environmental performance, most notably for the sub 100g/km CO2 Ford Fiesta ECOnetic model.
The large number of accolades the car has received highlights how well it has been received by the global media.
More importantly though, is the success new Fiesta has met with from customers, with over 540,000 examples sold since the car was launched just over a year ago. Of those, over 492,000 sales have been in Europe, where Ford Fiesta is the No.2 best-selling car overall, and the No.1 top-seller in its segment year-to-date.

Quotes
“We are extremely proud of the latest Fiesta model both in terms of what it has achieved and what it represents. The Fiesta is one of the vehicles that are key to how Ford Motor Company is transforming itself globally. We’re delighted that so many car buyers have chosen it, and that so many opinion formers have acknowledged its many strengths.”
– John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe

“With the Ford Fiesta continuing its global rollout in North America in early 2010, we hope it is only a matter of time before our best-selling car adds to its impressive collection of accolades.”
– John Fleming, Chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe

It’s been said that you can’t live – much less “live the dream” – in L.A. without your own wheels. In a town where image is everything, young up-and-comers are well advised to be seen in a vehicle that projects how hip and socially vibrant they are. Enter the Ford Fiesta.

The Ford Fiesta is used to being noticed online. After all, it had a starring role in the Fiesta Movement, a marketing platform that lives in the social media space. Its newest role will be on the new series, If I Can Dream, where this exciting new car will serve as an integral part of the cast.

If I Can Dream follows five young people as they pursue their dreams in Hollywood. All the while, their lives will be captured and streamed online in real-time, 24/7 on www.ificandream.com. In addition, a 30-minute show will be broadcast each week exclusively on Hulu, a Web site that offers popular TV shows and movies from commercial networks.

The show is also a natural extension of Fiesta’s vibrant life online. Like Fiesta Movement agents, the cast of the show will communicate with fans and followers via social media.

The Ford Fiesta already has the attention of socially connected consumers months before it goes on sale in North America next summer,” said Fontaine. “So when 19 Entertainment approached us to cast the Fiesta in If I Can Dream, it seemed only natural. The role that 19 Entertainment and Ford have created for Fiesta is really exciting and will provide viewers a different look at the cast members through amazing technology and the Fiesta.”

Fiesta has it all – and more
Going on sale in the summer of 2010, the all-new Ford Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, with sharp reflexes and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers’ expectations. With 15 class-exclusive technologies and projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, Fiesta brings fuel economy and convenience together.

It’s also designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable. In fact, Fiesta is expected to deliver best-in-class safety, convenience and connectivity with segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system, an expressive color palette and available graphics.

Quotes
“This is a natural role for Fiesta to play. Fiesta’s substantial role will allow customers to interact with the vehicle firsthand and experience the technologies and features before the vehicle goes on sale.”
– Connie Fontaine, Ford Brand Content and Alliances Manager

“I am determined to continue challenging convention and pushing the boundaries of mainstream entertainment. The next frontier is the video world of authentic real-time interaction. If I Can Dream experiments with technology to provide for the first time a complete open-door experience that allows the viewer to experience reality in a way never before attempted.”
– Simon Fuller, creator of If I Can Dream