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New Ford Fiesta XR2 Cars

Ford Fiesta XR2 Cars the early 1970s, European demand from consumers for small cars was rising. Even Ford's smallest model, the Escort, was a conventional front-engined, rear wheel drive Fiesta XR2 Cars. yet competitors were launching smaller, front wheel drive Fiesta XR2 Cars, like the Fiat 127 and the Peugeot 104. The effects of the 1973 energy crisis were also increasing demand for smaller Fiesta XR2 Cars. BMC (which had since merged into British Leyland) had entered the mini-car market with its Mini in 1959, while the Rootes Group had launched the ultimately less successful Hillman Imp in 1963, but times had moved on and people looking for small Fiesta XR2 Cars now wanted practical hatchbacks instead of conventional sedans. GM had entered the modern supermini market with its conventional Opel Kadett City/Vauxhall Chevette three-door hatchback twins early in 1975.

The original plans for the "Bobcat" was actually signed off by Henry Ford on 15 September 1972, more than a year before the Arab-Israeli War and the oil price surge that it triggered, so the project is best seen as a response to competitors than as a direct response to the oil crisis. The plans specified a desire that the new Ford Fiesta XR2 Cars cost US$100 less to produce than the Ford Escort. In addition, the car was to have a wheelbase longer than that of the Fiat 127, but with overall length shorter than that of Ford's Escort. The final proposal was put together by Tom Tjaarda at Ghia.

Bobcat was approved in autumn 1973, with Ford's engineering centres in Cologne and Dunton (Essex) collaborating. Customer clinics were held across Europe, targeting female buyers in particular.

Ford estimated that 500,000 Fiestas a year would be produced, and built an all-new factory near Valencia, Spain; a transaxle factory near Bordeaux, France; factory extensions for the assembly plants in Dagenham, Essex, and Saarlouis, Germany. Final assembly also took place in Valencia.