SPY PICS: Three-cylinder for facelifted Ford Fiesta?

Work is well advanced on a minor facelift for the Ford Fiesta, as can be seen in these pics taken in Northern Europe by the master spy photographers at Carparazzi.

It is anticipated external changes will be subtle, concentrated on new headlights (featuring integrated LED for daytime running lights?) and other frontal details shared with the EcoSport SUV. This particular vehicle in the spy snaps is believed to be powered by Ford's 1.0-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, according to Carparazzi.

The spy photographers have heard around the traps that the three-cylinder engine will power an ECOnetic model in the notoriously diesel-shy American market. Whether it comes to Australia is a question yet to be answered. For either the petrol ECOnetic model or the 1.6-litre EcoBoost Fiesta ST to make it here depends on demand and logistics. There's no guarantee that the three-cylinder engine will be one of the future powertrain options for Thai-sourced Fiesta production, for instance. And it's the AAT factory in Thailand that supplies Australian-spec Fiestas.

Ford Australia recently pulled the plug on the diesel-powered Fiesta ECOnetic, but the three-cylinder EcoBoost version might provide local consumers more of what they want from a fuel sipper — including the American-friendly self-shifting transmission.

Public Affairs Director for Ford Australia, Sinead Phipps, told motoring.com.au that any decision concerning the three-cylinder Fiesta for the local market must be contingent on total demand throughout the Asia/Pacific region.

"That's something we obviously need to look at, in terms of what makes sense with our line-up, because our full Fiesta line-up now comes from Thailand," she said. "So we would need to look at what makes sense, not just for Australia, but also around the rest of the region."

Ford Australia could go it alone and source three-cylinder variants from Europe, although the landed cost would likely erode the car's competitiveness against lower-priced opposition in the light-car segment. And leaving aside the car's ultimate price and market position, there are other concerns... parts and servicing, for example.

"If we were to look at potentially sourcing one derivative from Europe, that adds complexity not only to us, but to our dealers as well," said Phipps. "Those are the things we need to take into account before we take that decision."

Perhaps, however, the Fiesta ST could be sold here in due course. It's a car with a bit more profit built into its landed cost —plus it offers niche appeal missing from the bread-and-butter models. Even if we do miss out on three-cylinder models and the Fiesta ST, we are bound to see the facelift here.

"Yes, elements of it... at least," confirmed Phipps.

The facelifted Fiesta should make its global debut within the next few months.

— with Carparazzi

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