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At school I used to make a few extra pennies cleaning people’s cars. A lot of the time, that was Mini Metros and Ford Fiestas. The Metro’s demise was inevitable with the collapse of Rover Group, but the Fiesta had, over 8 generations, lasted 47 years. (The Metro, latterly Rover 100, only lasted 18 years).
With the Ford Fiesta’s retirement, a model that has been a mainstay of British roads, the search is on for its successor. This shift comes at a time when the industry is already navigating through a period of significant change, driven by evolving consumer preferences, the medium-term inevitability of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, and a heightened focus on sustainability.
Ford has managed to hold onto the top spot so far this year with the Puma but I have a simple question:
- Which model/models will rival or surpass the Puma’s market share over the next few years?
For over a decade, the Ford Fiesta had reigned supreme as the UK's favourite car. Its blend of affordability, efficiency, and driving pleasure won hearts and minds. This made it the go-to choice for a wide range of buyers, from first-time drivers to families looking for a practical second car and pensioners looking for a decent runabout.
According to the SMMT the Kia Sportage is in second place YTD February with many other, diverse models in the Top Ten:
Interestingly, none of these, perhaps except the MINI, are “super-minis” – direct successors to the Fiesta crown. Perhaps the UK’s obsession with SUVs of various sizes explains this. And perhaps with the size required for effective BEV’s this is going to stick.
Or perhaps someone has, or will have, a master plan to produce an affordable runabout to delight the masses? I suspect the winner will likely offer a great driving experience and value for money, addresses environmental concerns, and offers advanced connectivity and digital services.
Predicting the UK’s next favourite is challenging given the rapidly evolving automotive landscape. The transition towards electric vehicles, new entrants, changing consumer preferences, and the economic context will all play critical roles in determining which model will make it to the top.
What's clear is that the successor to the Ford Fiesta will need to be more than just a car; it will need to be an icon.
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