As a result, the Fiesta has the biggest footprint (i.e. wheelbase and track dimensions) in the segment, without being the segment's biggest (i.e. length and width dimensions) vehicle.
Ford's stated intent of "engineering enjoymnet" required "innovative ways to eliminate the frustrations about owning a small car."
Jeremy Main, the chief programme engineer for Ford small cars, says the company had some specific package efficiencies in mind when it created Fiesta, including the ability to do "what many other small cars cannot" and "eliminate many of the frustrations of small-car life."
On that list he includes room to install a childseat, carry fold-up baby buggies, take passengers and luggage not passengers or luggage, and swallow those flat-packed furniture cartons so popular with newly-weds.
Fiesta was given an exterior shape that Leach says fooled a group of potential customers that was given an early look, since they couldn't understand how "such a spacious interior could possibly fit into the stylish exterior."
Inside, says Leach, Ford raised the seats to give that "command seating" sense that seems to be taking over on both sides of the ocean, and created an interior that "communicates Fiesta's desire to share more than an overt driver orientation."