Ford at the St Patrick’s Day Cork Parade

Ten vehicles spanning 100 years of Ford participated in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Cork today, writes Trish Whelan. 

The parade was led by a 1926 Ford Model T touring car with the Lord Mayor Cllr Des Cahill and Grand Marshal Rachel Allen on board.

The range of models also included: 1927 Ford Model TT one ton truck; 1929 Fordson Tractor; 1947 Ford Prefect; 1967 Ford Cortina; 1971 Ford Escort; 1973 Ford Capri; 1978 Ford Fiesta; 1984 Ford Transit; and the new Ford Mustang.

A Ford 100 pageant created by Cork’s Dowtcha Puppets also appeared in the parade. The pageant highlighted Ford through the last 10 decades, with retro style newspaper boys highlighting Ford key milestones from the past 100 years; ‘wacky racer’ style cars interacting with the crowd, each representing a decade of Ford; a three metre tall Henry Ford himself made an appearance followed by performers representing Ford factory workers.

Completing the pageant was a 4.5 meter high Ferris wheel (depicting the Ford assembly line) that displayed 10 classic Ford cars including an autonomous driving car of the future.

“With the actual centenary of Ford in Ireland falling in just four weeks’ time (on 17 April), what better way could we celebrate our rich legacy in this great city, Henry Ford’s ancestral hometown. Cork City Council really excelled themselves this year with a tremendously well organised parade full of colour and fun,” said Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland.

Organised by Cork City Council, the 2017 Cork St Patrick’s Festival runs from today to Sunday 19 March.

Pictured above at Henry Ford & Son Ltd. offices in Cork (l to r) back row: William Cuddy with 1927 Model TT one ton truck; Keith Bryan with 1929 Fordson Tractor; Jim Foley with 1947 Ford Prefect; Albert Harte with 1967 Ford Cortina; Bob Clarke with 1971 Ford Escort; Mark Ginn with 1973 Ford Capri; Alan Deasy with 1978 Ford Fiesta; Micheal Ring with 1984 Ford Transit. 

Front row: Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford Ireland; Michael Rigney with 1926 Ford Model T touring car; Paul O'Sullivan with new Ford Mustang.

Ford to celebrate 100 years at St Patrick’s Day Parade

April 2017 marks 100 years of Ford in Ireland and to celebrate this milestone Ford will have a significant presence in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Cork City on Friday 17 March, writes Trish Whelan.

The parade will be led by a range of Ford models highlighting the decades of production at the Ford plant in Cork.

Ford has partnered with Cork City Council in the erection of a large banner at a stand out site on Grand Parade in Cork City that highlights Ford’s unique historical connection with the City of Cork. The image depicts the iconic Ford Model T (pictured below) which was the car that Henry Ford used ‘to bring motoring to the masses’. It was also one of the many Ford models to be built at the Ford plant, with the last ever Model T produced in the world rolling off the Cork production line in 1928.

Ford’s participation in the parade includes a bespoke Ford 100 pageant display created by Cork’s renowned Dowtcha Puppets company. 

“We are delighted to be involved with the 2017 parade and to be working with Cork City Council and Dowtcha Puppets. Ford has a unique legacy in Cork and indeed, Ireland, so it’s important that we celebrate and mark the occasion appropriately,” said Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland.

Lord Mayor, Cllr Des Cahill commented “Ford transformed Cork 100 years ago, positively impacting thousands of Cork homes and at its peak, the company provided employment for some 7,000 people. Since then, they have maintained a longstanding relationship with the City and the Lord Mayor’s Office. A century on, Cork City Council is extremely pleased to recognise Ford’s contribution to the city through their participation in this year’s Cork St Patrick’s Day Parade.” 

The 2017 Cork St Patrick’s Festival will take place from Friday, 17 March to Sunday 19 March with the Cork St Patrick’s Day Parade taking place at 1pm on Friday. 

Review: Ford Ranger Wildtrak

There's a road across the boggy area from Prosperous to Johnstownbridge in Co Kildare and it is as bad a one as I've driven in any part of the world, including in the high Andes, writes Brian Byrne. So I was very glad last week that I had a Ford Ranger under me as I travelled it. It wasn't by any means a comfortable drive, but at least I had the sense that the car would survive the trip without damage.

It's the latest generation of the Ranger, and the vehicle I was driving was the Wildtrak top of the range. Apart from a number of cosmetic additions, including a cowl behind the back window and a roller-top cover for the bed, it came with the bigger engine than the standard 2.2 diesel, a 3.2 with some amazing luggability.

I've been driving quite a few pickups recently, and enjoying them. The Ranger Wildtrak certainly looks the business, and has the underpinnings to bring its owner to territory which is neither easy nor nice.

Ford launches new ST-Line model range

Ford Ireland has today launched a new ST-Line model range featuring cars with sporty styling inspired by Ford Performance, and offering a range of powerful and efficient EcoBoost petrol and TDCi diesel powertrain options, writes Trish Whelan.

ST-Line versions of the Blue Oval’s most popular models: Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and Kuga are now available from Ford Dealerships across the country. All come with bold exterior and interior designs inspired by Ford’s Fiesta ST and Focus ST performance models. 

The new range has been designed for customers who aspire to the sporty image of Ford’s ST models, but who don’t want the full performance delivered by optimised ST engines and chassis with sports technologies.

The ST-Line range is offered with a range of powerful engines including

Ford’s multi-award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine; sport suspension and body styling; unique alloy wheel designs; and sports seats, sport steering wheel and alloy pedals.

“With our new ST-Line range even more customers can experience sporty style and driving dynamics inspired by our most exciting Ford Performance line-up ever that includes models such as the Focus RS, Fiesta ST200 and Ford GT supercar,”  Ford Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, Ciaran McMahon, said at today’s launch. 

He added that buyers want more specification in their cars - provided they see value for money - and they are willing to pay for it. With this in mind, Ford have removed the entry level trim of some of their cars and most of their vehicle ranges now start with the next Zetec trim. 

The new ST-Line models are available only with high-power engine derivatives that complement the enhanced driving dynamics delivered by sport suspension. 

The Fiesta ST-Line model (pictured above) boasts Ford’s award-winning 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine with higher power outputs of 100hp and 125hp. For the Focus ST-Line, diesel powertrains on offer include a 120hp 1.5 TDCi or a 2.0 150hp option.

We picture the Fiesta ST-Line interior below.

There are some common themes running through ST-Line models. 

Ford Performance car cues in the ST-Line spec include exclusive rock alloy wheels; body-coloured styling kit; sports suspension; sports-style seats; black headliner; sports pedals and ambient lighting.

Sample pricing for ST-Line range include:

The Ford Fiesta 5-door 1.0 Ecoboost petrol 100hp 99g/km starts from €21,350. Some 5pc of January sales were ST-Line.

The Focus 5-door EcoBoost petrol with 125hp 108g/km starts from €24,875, the 1.5 diesel 120hp 98g/km from €25,920 (expected to be the biggest seller), and the 2.0 diesel with 150hp and 105g/km is from €27,370. Nearly 200 Focus ST-Line cars have been sold so far this year.

Moving to the Mondeo: the 5-door 2.0 TDCi 150hp 112g/km is priced from €34,295 while the 2.0 180hp 117g/km is from €36,845, and the Estate 2.0 diesel 150hp with 119g/km from €35,495.

Kuga prices for the 1.5 TDCi diesel 120hp and 115g/km are from €36,145; the 2.0 diesel 150hp 112g/km from €38,725, and the 1.5 EcoBoost petrol with 150hp and 143g/km is from €40,500.

The Kuga ST-Line is pictured below.

Are Eco-Conscious Millennials fuelling record SUV sales?

Motivated by a strong social conscience and keen to rent, stream and share goods and services, the Millennial generation’s revolutionary approach to spending is changing how companies, including carmakers, do business.

More than four in five Millennials believe SUVs have become more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly during the last five years. Having shed their gas-guzzling reputation, SUVs are now on the shopping lists of one in four Millennials in the market for a new car. This statistic came from a Ford Motor Company-sponsored survey of 5,000 people in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK who own a car, or who intend to buy one in the next year. These respondents were aged 17-34.

Ford is introducing an all-new fully electric SUV, with an estimated range of at least 480kms (300 miles), enough to drive from London to Paris. The company introduced three new SUVs in Europe last year, and the new zero-emission model will be one of five arriving by 2020.

“SUV sales are rising faster than any other type of vehicle in Europe, and eco-conscious Millennials are a driving force behind growing SUV demand,” says Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe. “Customers are discovering the fuel-efficiency offered by advanced engines like our new 120hp 1.5 TDCi diesel that meets the latest Euro Stage 6 emissions requirements and delivers 115g/km C02 in the new Kuga, and the multi-award winning 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine in the Ford EcoSport.”

Sales of Ford’s SUV models in Europe, the compact EcoSport, medium-size Kuga and full-size Edge, grew 31pc in 2016 compared to 2015. 

It appears it’s not only younger drivers that are defying expectations with their choice of car. Ford data shows that the average age of customers buying hot hatchbacks - high performance versions of small and medium sized cars - increased by more than 10pc between 2010 and 2016.

Last year, Ford performance car sales - including the Fiesta ST, Focus ST and Focus RS hot hatchbacks, as well as the Ford Mustang - grew by 60pc for the second year in succession.

Ford to test PHEV vans in London

Ford will test its recently announced plug-in hybrid Transit Connect vans in a year-long trial in London, writes Brian Byrne.

The vans are part of a major increase in the range of vehicles in the brand's range, which will add 13 variants by 2021.

The PHEV Transit Connects will go on sale in 2019. With a pure electric range of 31 miles, they are expected to work on electric power only for most of their work in the city.

A number of partners in the pilot project include Transport of London.

Ford celebrates 100 years in Ireland

In just a few months, it will be exactly 100 years since Henry Ford established the Ford factory on the Marina in Cork City, and Ford Ireland plans to mark the centenary through a number of initiatives in 2017, writes Trish Whelan.

Starting immediately, Ford will launch an extensive new marketing campaign based around the company’s Irish centenary and encouraging consumers to think about the brand differently.

Among the year-long promotions will be a Gala Dinner Event at Cork City Hall on 21 April to mark the actual centenary.

Commenting on the centenary, Ciaran McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland says “Ford has a unique heritage in Ireland, not only through the company’s close family links with Cork, but also through the Cork Ford factory and of course many decades of much-loved Ford cars and vans on Irish roads. And we are still to the forefront in the automotive sector in Ireland with the widest network of dealers (at 52), providing employment, directly and indirectly, to some 1,000 people across the country.”

Ciaran McMahon is pictured above at the Ford family memorial in Henry Ford’s ancestral village of Ballinascarty in Co Cork with the ‘old and new’ of Ford; an original Model T and the new Ford Mustang which was launched for the first time in right-hand drive in Ireland during 2016.  

Just 14 years after he set up The Ford Motor Company in Michigan in 1903, Henry Ford opened the first purpose-built Ford factory to be located outside of North America at the Cork Marina. There is no doubt that Henry’s Cork roots played a big part in his decision to open a plant in Cork. 

His father, William Ford, had emigrated from Ballinascarty with his parents and siblings in 1847 during the Famine and Henry was born in Michigan in 1863. Growing up on the family farm, he developed a strong interest in mechanics concentrating his efforts initially on making work easier for farmers. But Henry soon came to realise the potential of the motor car as a force for good for the development of societies across the globe. 

While he can't be credited for inventing the motor car, Henry brought motoring to the masses with his affordable, yet rugged, vehicles, that he produced through his newly-invented production-line manufacturing technique which has since been copied by almost every car and machinery manufacturer across the globe.

He had hoped the Cork Ford plant would ‘start Ireland along the road to industry’. The company was entitled Henry Ford & Son Ltd, and it was the only Ford entity in the world to include the full name of the company’s founder in its title. 

When the plant became fully operational, Europe was just emerging from a catastrophic World War and Communist Russia was in the midst of a huge modernisation programme so tractors were the vehicles that were most urgently needed. The Fordson tractor was the main product produced by the Cork plant, which in 1929 became the larges tractor factory in the world. The plant also produced passenger models, including the iconic Model T. The last Model T ever produced by Ford, anywhere, rolled off the Cork factory production line in December 1928. 

The Cork factory also produced all the other main Ford vehicles that were sold in Europe from the 30s right up to the 70s and 80s including the Model A, Model BF and Model Y; Prefect; Anglia; Escort; Cortina; and Sierra.

With Ireland’s accession to the EEC in 1973, Ireland had to comply with new rules that lifted the previous restrictions on imports of fully built motor vehicles into the country and this, combined with a depressed car market in the late 1970s and early 1980s, meant that the plant became no longer viable and closed its doors in 1984.

In August 2011, William Clay (Bill) Ford Jnr, great-grandson of Henry Ford, paid a personal visit to Ireland with his family and unveiled a plaque at Ballinascarthy commemorating the Ford family’s connection with the village.

Wedding day wish comes true for Mustang fan!

Sharon Crowe, from Celbridge, Co Kildare, has long been a fan of the Ford Mustang and always hoped she could drive to the Church on her wedding day in the car, writes Trish Whelan.

Unknown to her, her partner, Irish Army Sergeant Peter Buckley, secretly arranged for a red convertible Mustang Fastback to collect his bride on the morning of the wedding, just before Christmas.

Sharon was bowled over when she saw the Mustang pull up outside her house. “It was really a lovely surprise. I have always loved the Mustang so it made me feel really special to be chauffeured in such a stunning car on our wedding day.”

Peter and Sharon married in Ballymagarvey Village, Co Meath on 15 December and jetted off to Marbella for their honeymoon.

Sharon’s Wedding Day Mustang was a 2.3, 317hp EcoBoost petrol right-hand drive model. The Mustang went on sale here early this year. 

Self-driving cars would enable 'enjoying the scenery'

Ford Fusion autonomous test cars in the US.

Eight in ten motorists across Europe says they'd 'relax and enjoy the scenery' if they were in a self-driving autonomous car, writes Brian Byrne.

The survey commissioned by Ford also shows that seven in ten would use the time in the car  'chat on the phone' and almost two-thirds would 'have a bite to eat'.

Some 16pc of respondents said they'd be quite happy to send their children to school on their own in an autonomous vehicle.

Ford plans to start testing autonomous cars on European roads next year, and is planning to provide autonomous vehicle ride-sharing service in the US in 2021.

Ford has committed to going direct to 'Level 4' autonomy, meaning the car is able to drive unmonitored in a specific use case such as a city area.

Ford reveals new Fiesta

Ford has unveiled its new generation Fiesta at an event in Cologne which pitches the car at a more upmarket position in the supermini segment, writes Brian Byrne.

The seventh iteration of the nameplate has a much cleaner design and will be available in a crossover style as well as the Titanium, ST-Line and Vignale grades.

The recent launch of the Ka+ 5-door hatchback into the segment has allowed Ford to upscale the Fiesta, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

The new Fiesta goes on sale in Europe next year,

At the ‘Go Further’ event in Cologne, Ford also revealed details of two new special edition Mustangs for the European market — Black Shadow and Blue Edition.

An ST-Line grade of the new Edge large SUV was also shown, as well as new versions of the Transit Custom Sport which include one with rear air suspension.

The company also outlined details of its latest 1.0 EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine, which will have cylinder deactivation technology, the first engine in this format to feature the system.

Carmakers combine for charging stations

Four of Europe’s largest carmakers are joining forces in a plan to set up a network of ultra-fast charging stations on the continent’s main roads, writes Brian Byrne.

They are BMW, Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen Group and the plan calls for the installation of some 400 stations across Europe which are brand-independent and use the Combine Charging System standard.

Each company has committed ‘substantial investments’ to set up the network, showing their belief in the future of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

Other car companies will be encouraged to come on board the joint venture.

New Fiesta reveal tomorrow

Ford is revealing a seventh-generation Fiesta at an event in Cologne, tomorrow, the latest in a line of the nameplate which began in 1976 (above), writes Brian Byrne.

The car will be pitched more upmarket than the current model, and is expected to feature more upgrade interiors and higher levels of technology to bring it into line with more recent Ford models.

The new Fiesta is expected to share the same global platform as its predecessor, so dimensions won't change very much.

A move away from the long-serving 4-cylinder engine option is also likely, leaving it in slightly down-sized form for the new Ka+ just arrived in Ireland. The award-winning EcoBoost 1.0 will then be the primary powerplant for the new Fiesta.

(Pic by Rudolf Stricker - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

New Ford Ka+ first drive

The Ford Ka+ which is now on sale in Ireland is expected to change the brand's profile in the small car segment writes Trish Whelan. It's not an upgrade of that model but a completely different car to the city car nameplate which has been around since 1996. Indeed, it is quite close in size to the Fiesta, and may well draw some of its customers from that supermini's segment.

The Ka+ is also a 5-door, whereas the previous Ka as a 3-door 4-seater kept Ford from competing in 85pc of its segment where people wanted a car with five doors and that could seat five people.

"We know that was a key factor and put off many customers," Ford Chairman and Managing Director Ciaran McMahon explained at the car's launch yesterday at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at Stratford in London where the 2012 Olympic Games took place. "We need to re-establish Ka+ on the market as an entirely different vehicle and to re-educate customers that it is not a replacement for the old Ka."

The Ka+ has class-leading front headroom and rear legroom, and has 21 stowage locations in the cabin. "It's very roomy inside, it's also taller, drives really well, and both engines offer great fuel economy. It's a fantastic package and we believe it will meet the requirements of today's discerning customer. We have a huge opportunity with this new car," the Ford Ireland boss added.

Initial estimates of sales in Ireland are around 300 for next year but Ford hope to double this figure for 2018.

"We believe we have the package right with value for money," Ciaran McMahon said. Keeping things simple, Irish customers can choose from two grades - Studio and Zetec. Power is from a 1.2 petrol engine outputting 70hp or 85hp depending on grade.

The Studio grade gets 15-inch steel wheels, body-coloured bumpers; chrome upper grille; front fogs and daytime running lights; AM/FM radio with a device dock for charging your phone etc; speed limiter; ESP; trip computer and remote central locking. The Zetec adds manual air con, 15-inch alloys; Ford SYNC with App/Link; leather steering wheel; cruise control; and MyKey.

We were supplied with Zetec models for our drive around London suburbs and busy streets - an ideal test route for this city car which took it all in its stride. The car is agile and quite fun to drive. It offers a claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.0 L/100kms (56.5mpg) so is frugal. C02 emissions are 114g/km.

From the off, this little number didn't disappoint in any way. The car is easy to get in and out of, I was able to get a lovely driving position, and the cabin has an overall feeling of spaciousness. Seats are very comfortable and materials are of a good quality. There was even good knee room in the back and good boot space of 270 litres which can take two large suitcases. Rear seats have a 60/40 split. All vehicles ordered for Ireland come with a spare wheel.

Ciaran McMahon sees demand still remaining in the sector in which it competes as it accounts for 20pc of the overall market and feels it is a segment 'ripe for picking' with a new car like Ka+ which he said has come a long way to meet the needs of the customer.

The car is designed to appeal to young, cost conscious customers as it is priced at €13,650 for the Studio  and at €14,650 for the Zetec. It is available on a special PCP deal from €29 per week which will help drive traffic at the showrooms. The PCP involves a down payment of 30pc deposit.

Ford also expect the Ka+ to be an attractive proposition to older people as it offers ease of getting in and out. The car is built in India and comes with a 7-year 100,000kms full factory warranty.

A new Fiesta is due next year which will be larger than the current model, and more expensive according to Ciaran McMahon.

Ford's Ka+ arrives this week

Ford’s newest small car, the Ka+, arrives in Ireland this week at a starting price of €13,050, writes Trish Whelan from the media launch event in London.

The 5-seater replaces the long-serving original Ka, and is a 5-door, 5-seat powered by a 1.2 petrol engine with a choice of power outputs. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard.

It is shorter than the current Fiesta, but taller, offering class-leading headroom. A 270L boot space can be extended by lowering the 60:40 split seatbacks.

An innovative element is a dock on the instruments area to mount and charge phones or portable navigation systems.

There are two grades, Studio and Zetec, the latter with the higher power engine.

In addition to normal financing, the car is available on a PCP deal from €29 a week.

Safer parking, accident avoidance measures coming from Ford

Ford is planning to have systems in its cars within two years which will help eliminate one of the most nerve-wracking manoeuvres for drivers — reversing 'blind' out of a parking space, writes Brian Byrne.

Being developed at the company's European Research & Innovation centre in Aachen, Germany, that particular system is designed to detect approaching unseen vehicles and people and automatically brake the car.

It's just one of a suite of technologies devised to make parking easier and safer, steer safely around emergencies at highway speeds, detecting cyclists ahead, and preventing wrong-way motorway driving.

Parking incidents are responsible for one in four accidents in the UK, and parking is the manoeuvre which a majority of motorists says causes them the most stress.

An in development Evasive Steering Assist uses radar and a camera to detect slower moving and stationary vehicles ahead and provides steering support to enable drivers to avoid a vehicle if a collision is imminent.

A related use will detect and identify cyclists in the road ahead and can automatically apply the brakes if a collision is imminent and the driver does not respond to warnings, helping reduce the severity of accidents or avoid them altogether.

Updated Kuga coming this month

Ford's heavily revised Kuga is arriving in the brand's Irish dealer showrooms in the coming weeks, in time for the 171 sales period, writes Brian Byrne. Prices start at €33,345.

With styling cues taken from the US-built Edge large SUV, introduced to Europe earlier this year, the Kuga, Ecosport and Edge all now share a rugged family SUV look and give the blue oval brand a range of vehicles to compete in each of the crossover growth segments.

The car is also gaining new engines, including a 120hp 1.5 diesel and 1.5 EcoBoost petrol units in 120/150hp variants. There are FWD and AWD versions, and automatic transmission is available.

Interior changes include a new large touchscreen in the centre dash, and there are fewer switches and buttons. The third generation of Ford's SYNC connectivity and entertainment system is part of the package, and owners of both Apple and Android system phones can access internet and use selected apps.

Other technologies on the revised Kuga include hands-free perpendicular parking, and a cross-traffic alert system for safer reversing out of a parking space. Ford's active city stop now operates at higher speeds.

Kuga now also offers new grades — ST-Line and Vignale. The model was first produced in 2008.

Ford launches 171 Real Deal offer

Ford Ireland is offering reductions of up to €4,250 in a '171 Real Deal' event on orders placed by 4 December, writes Brian Byrne.

A new 7-year warranty is also being introduced, and there will be a new ST-Line grade on Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo and Kuga. This features sport suspension and body styling, unique alloys, sport seats, perforated leather steering wheel and alloy pedals.

The new Ka+ small car (above) will be available with a 0.0pc finance deal that offers repayments from €29 a week. The car will be arriving in dealerships over the next few weeks for test drives.

Typical reductions on top of the range models are Ford Fiesta Titanium with a reduction of up to €3,000, Ford EcoSport (up to €3,850), Focus Titanium (up to €3,750), Kuga Titanium+ (up to €4,250), and Mondeo Titanium+ (of up to €2,200).

Ford helps in 'ride the green wave' trials

Ford is testing a system that will help drivers in urban areas with lots of traffic lights 'ride the green wave' in a non-stop journey, writes Brian Byrne.

The system, part of a trial in the UK of connected cars systems, provides a recommended speed to drivers which will help them avoid red lights.

The information for the system is provided by roadside transmitters connected to the lights system.

In addition to making a commute smoother and less frustrating, the idea has positive implications for fuel consumption and car emissions.

It's been estimated that in the UK, drivers on regular commutes typically spend the equivalent of two days a year stopped at red lights.

Ford is providing hybrid Mondeos for the trial, which involves 16 partners and is partly funded by the British government.

Ford's fastest Fiesta arrives

Ford’s fastest Fiesta is now on sale in Ireland at a starting price of €32,190, writes Brian Byrne.

With 200hp available, the Fiesta ST200 is substantially more powerful than the ST version launched in 2013 and is capable of the 100km/h sprint in 6.7s.

The engine is still a 1.6 EcoBoost and the acceleration bump is achieved both by modifications to the power unit and a shorter final drive ratio.

It was launched here during an event to celebrate 40 years of the Ford Fiesta, held at Weston Aerodrome and involving former Top Gear ‘Stig’ racing driver Ben Collins who showed the capabilities of the new car.

Ireland's oldest Fiesta is from Co Galway

Ford Ireland has crowned a 1978 Ford Fiesta owned by John Egan, from Tuam, Co Galway, as the oldest Fiesta in Ireland.

The search for the oldest Fiesta is part of Ford’s celebration activities to mark 40 Years since the 1976 launch of the Ford Fiesta in Europe.

The presentation took place at Weston Airport near Lucan in Co Dublin in an event which featured The former 'Stig' from the Top Gear programme, Ben Collins, demonstrating the new 200hp Fiesta ST200.

The event also brought together some 40 Fiesta enthusiasts from across Ireland who drove in a range of old and new models in a convoy of 40 Fiestas along the M4.

Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland, said the Fiesta has been part and parcel of growing up in Ireland over the past 40 years with practically every household having its own connection with the car

John Egan said he was delighted that his car was named Ireland’s oldest Fiesta. "It was my ‘every day car’ up to quite recently, but now I only bring the car out to shows and practically every weekend, it is on show somewhere in the country”.

Participants at the event had the opportunity to ‘ride along’ with Ben Collins during demonstration drives in the Fiesta ST200.

The Ford Fiesta has sold more than 17 million units around the world since its launch in 1976. In Ireland, some 180,000 Fiestas have been sold.