It's hard to believe that diesel cars have been around for more than three decades, but Ford is now celebrating 30 years since it first launched a diesel-powered car in the UK. The company now sells nearly 119,000 of them every year, suggesting that the brave move was a wise one.<\/p>\n
In fact, diesel models now account for more than a third (38.5 per cent) of all Ford car sales. This makes the original launch of the diesel Ford Fiesta in 1984, a particularly significant landmark for the American-based manufacturer.<\/p>\n
Now, 30 years on, today's Ford is still making its mark on the car world, with the most modern Fiesta being named Small Car of the Year 2014 for the third year in a row by Diesel Car magazine. The model has also taken its place as the UK's best selling car for the past five years, and has become a common sight on Britain's roads since its 1980's launch.<\/p>\n
Ian Robertson, Diesel Car editor, said: "It's the hottest small car on the market thanks to a winning blend of class leading driver enjoyment, affordable running costs and a wide range of derivatives to suit all budgets and tastes."<\/p>\n
The original 1,608cc diesel engine was improved in 1986 to boast 1,173cc, becoming the core of Ford's machines for the next two decades. However, in 2007, the company's 1.8-litre diesel was replaced by its low-carbon Duratorq TDCi turbo-diesel common-rail engines. This gave drivers a 1.6-litre capacity, with the added bonus of a 1.4-litre TDCi engine soon after.<\/p>\n
Today, Ford crafts its diesel Fiesta models to be greener and more efficient than ever, making them the perfect solution for personal leasing, or even for a fleet of company cars. All Ford Fiestas boast emissions of under 100g\/km of CO2, while the 1.6-litre ECOnetic with Auto-Start-Stop returns a combined 85.6mpg, with CO2 emissions as low as 85g\/km.<\/p>\n
Drivers across the country can get behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta for as little as £115 per month, making it a viable and affordable option for personal and professional car leasers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"