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Official Press Release Information Below
News Release - Fiesta For 1982
Significant changes and improvements to the Ford Fiesta for 1982 are announced today.
The Fiesta has been Britain's best-selling small car throughout 1980 and for the first six months of 1981 and now accounts for 7.8 per cent of total car sales this year, in spite of new competitors in its market segment. Although there has been a reduction of over 8 per cent in the total market in the first six months of this year, Fiesta registrations have risen by over 18 per cent.
The changes to the range for 1982 will enable the car to consolidate and improve on its position.
They include the introduction of a new high-performance 1.6 litre model to be known as the Fiesta XR2, the adoption of a new double-life exhaust system and further refinement of the suspension, seating, external appearance and appointment of all models in the range.
Revised Suspension
Improved ride comfort for the Fiesta has been achieved on the 1982 models without compromising either handling or roll stiffness by adopting lower spring and shock absorber rates at both front and rear. In addition, rear wheel vertical travel has been increased from 179 mm to 190 mm. At the front, the wheel rate has been reduced from 19.5 kgs/cms to 17.6 kgs/ons and at the rear from 22.5 kgs/cms to 18.0 kgs/cms.
The Fiesta S model, however, retains its original suspension rates and wheel travel.
New Seats
Completely new front seats are fitted to all Fiestas. On L models and above, fully-reclining back-rests are fitted and on these versions the seats have integral see-through "A"-frame head restraints.
The new seats are larger, more comfortable and give improved back and thigh support without reducing the amounts of leg and headroom for either driver or passengers. Rear seats are improved by the addition of contoured foam pads built into the backrests, and new trim materials are being introduced into the range.
Interior refinements include the adoption of illuminated switches which change colour from green to orange when brought into operation. On Ghia and XR2 models there is a multi-function digital clock which can display time, elapsed time or date: on Ghia models cloth trim upholstery is used on door panels and arm-rests.
All 1.3 and 1.6 litre Fiestas are fitted with maintenance-free solid-state electronic breakerless ignition systems and both 1.1 and 1.3 litre S models have 13 in. diameter sports road wheels and 155/70 low profile steel-belted radial-ply tyres.
Twenty different body colours are now available for the Fiesta range of which eleven are new for 1982 and include, for the first time in volume production, black. Additional protection for the bodywork is provided by deeper-section front and rear bumpers with extended plastic end-caps reaching to the edges of the front and rear wheel-arches to give maximum protection.
ISSUED BY THE PRESS OFFICE - FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
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