Despite making its global debut more than six months ago, the new-generation 2018 Ford Fiesta remains unconfirmed for an Australian debut. Likewise, the cult hero Fiesta ST, revealed in February, is no closer.
The Blue Oval revealed the new iteration of the ‘regular’ Fiesta family last November, in Cologne, Germany, and it has already been launched in key markets throughout Europe where the B-segment is strong.
Australian dealers are still slowly selling the superseded Thai-made model, however, and Ford Australia has given no indication that the new MY18 model will come here to replace that car when stocks are eventually exhausted.
For now, though, the company says it has good stock of regular models in the current Fiesta range, with only Europe having switched to the new generation.
“We have not confirmed Fiesta, ST or otherwise, for the local market at this stage. We will make announcements in due course,” the company told us today.
As we recently reported, sales of light cars in Australia are struggling badly at the moment, prompting many brands to shuffle their smallest cars down the priority list here.
Meanwhile, performance car fans might be slightly alarmed to hear that the cult-hero Fiesta ST hot hatch also faces a murky future in Australia, despite being a smash hit among critics and punters alike.
Ford revealed the new version of the ST, with a 147kW/290Nm three-cylinder turbo engine and six-speed manual ‘box, about three months ago, but once again Ford Australia is yet to firm up any local launch.
The company’s local dealers are about to take delivery of the final shipments of the outgoing German-produced Fiesta ST, with production of this version having now ended.
If it had locked any version of the car in, it would be atypical not to tell us as much, even on the down-low. We understand that it’s possible the Fiesta ST may not come at all, and even if it does, possibly not until 2019.
We will keep you posted on this story as we find out more. If and/or when Ford does announce it’ll keep the Fiesta here, you’ll be first to know.
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