Ford Fiesta Mk 2 2nd Generation
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Production | 1983–1989 |
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Assembly | Almussafes, Spain Dagenham, United Kingdom Cologne, Saarlouis, Germany |
Body style | 3-door hatchback 3-door panel van |
Engine | 957 cc (58.4 cu in) Kent/Valencia I4 1,117 cc (68.2 cu in) Kent/Valencia I4 1,298 cc (79.2 cu in) Kent/Valencia I4 1,298 cc (79.2 cu in) CVH I4 1,368 cc (83.5 cu in) CVH I4 1,597 cc (97.5 cu in) CVH I4 1,608 cc (98.1 cu in) Diesel I4 |
Transmission | 4-speed BC4 manual 5-speed BC5 manual CVT automatic |
Wheelbase | 2,286 mm (90.0 in) |
Length | 3,565 mm (140.4 in) |
Width | 1,567 mm (61.7 in) |
Height | 1,360 mm (54 in) |
The Fiesta Mark II appeared towards the end of summer 1983 with a revised front end and interior, and a bootlid mirroring the swage lines from the sides of the car. The 1.3 L OHV engine was dropped, being replaced in 1984 by a CVH powerplant of similar capacity, itself superseded by the lean burn 1.4 L two years later. 957 and 1,117 cc engines continued with only slight alterations and for the first time a Fiesta diesel was produced with a 1600 cc engine adapted from the Escort.
The new CTX continuously variable transmission, also fitted in the Fiat Uno, eventually appeared early in 1987 on 1.1 L models only. This gearbox provided a quick and economic driving experience, despite the resemblance of the sensation of the continuously variable transmission to that of a slipping clutch.
The second generation Fiesta featured a different dashboard on the lower-series trim levels compared to the more expensive variants.
The XR2 model was thoroughly updated with a larger bodykit. It also featured a 96 bhp (72 kW) 1.6 L CVH engine as previously seen in the Ford Escort XR3, and five-speed gearbox (also standard on the 1.3 L CVH models). The engine was replaced by a lean-burn variant in 1986 which featured a revised cylinder head and carburettor; it was significantly cleaner from an environmental viewpoint but was slightly less powerful as a result (95 bhp/71 kW).
A truly "hot" Fiesta was never produced by the factory to avoid impacting on sales of performance Ford Escort variants but many aftermarket conversions were available, the best-known being that by the English firm Turbo Technics boosting power to a well documented 125 bhp (93 kW), which easily outclassed its "standard" rivals. Ford appreciated the high quality of this conversion and was keen to look after its customers: the installation was undertaken by approved fitting centres and all the warranties remained valid after.
The face-lifted, facing competition from the Vauxhall Nova and Austin Metro, was one of the UK's top supermini. In its best-ever year, 1987, over 150,000 Fiesta models were sold in the UK, though it missed out on first place in the sales charts to the Ford Escort.
The second generation Fiesta lives on as the donor vehicle for Quantum Sports Cars' 2+2 convertible with several hundred manufactured at the factory in Stourbridge before production moved to Kingsbridge.
Related
Technical
Specifications
Engine type(s) Inline-4: Petrol, Ford Kent/ValenciaOHV, Ford CVH, and Diesel Capacity 957–1,608 cc (58.4–98.1 cu in) Power 45–96 bhp (34–72 kW) Max. speed 88–101 mph (142–163 km/h) Acceleration 0–60 mph (97 km/h) 8.7–19.0 seconds