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Brand X
Okay, we know that Ford market a range of go-faster goodies under the tide of X-Pack, and we're also aware that in addition to the saloon model, the Fiesta is available as a van. Now, it didn't take long before some bright spark at Ford cottoned onto the potential here and came up with, you guessed it, an X-Pack Fiesta van! The idea behind it all being to show the potential customers - Mr Bun the baker and his ilk - that he doesn't have to buy just another Fiesta van, but a personalised, superb handling delivery vehicle with all the performance to match.
Having driven the van, I can certainly vouch for its prowess around the twisty bits - but what else could be expected of a car running Bilstein suspension and Pirelli P6 tyres? The combination transforms the Fiesta's handling dramatically, to the extent that a stock vehicle drives like a waterbed in comparison! The suspension is firm-widiout being harsh-and really does fill you with confidence as it zips around corners like it was on rails or something. One problem with such a superior handling car, is that if it did actually break loose, you'd be going at such a rate there wouldn't be an awful lot of the car left should you manage to come across something solid. Still, the thing is to drive within the car's limits. The steering is absolutely positive - understeer being invoked only on the tightest and faster of bends.
Engine? Though still only 1100cc in capacity, the test vehicle performed somewhat better than stock due to its improved breathing courtesy of a four-branch exhaust and Weber 32 DFT progressive carb. The resulting noise from mis set-up was very un-Fiesta like, and is probably best described as sounding like, er well, an MGB actually. Imagine seeing a Fiesta van, but with the accompanying sound of an MGB...
What did it go like then? Pretty impressive, really. Taking all the figures off the speedo, 0-60 came up in 10.9 seconds, and 30 in 3.8. Top speed was the magic ton, and 'booting' it at 80 produced an impressive surge of acceleration courtesy of the progressive carb. Average fuel consumption for the week that I had the Fiesta - which included a high speed blast up to Belle Vue - was just a shade over 30mpg.
As well as ordering your van - or saloon - with the X-Pack parts fitted, all the various bits are available separately for you to fit to your own car. For further information, contact your nearest Ford Rallye Sport Dealer - the location of which you can find by ringing South Ockendon 3434.
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Top-Right - First take a Fiesta van...
Clive Househam
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