As my nasty friend, the COLD, is retreating from my body, my head is clearing a bit allowing me to observe more details such as the Jack and the Beanstalk story to which I put my kid to sleep… Kids these days just snooze off before the end of the story leaving an irritated father who wants them to be awake till the end… The Ford Fiesta 1.6S.. Let’s get down to business and leave Jack in his own world..(kid hasn’t seen the Ferrari.. chuckle chuckle)

1.6L, 100BHP(101 PS).. a bit of a disappointment really from Ford.. some more BHP could have really provided that extra grunt(I love the engine response when the Fiesta is floored and it takes off..) and consider the fuel hike… fuel efficiency is another issue which Ford says it has resolved with the new ECU revamped to give the same figures as the discontinued 1.4L petrol variant.. Currently available petrol options include the SXI,ZXI and EXI.. Displacement of about 1600cc with a maximum of nearly 150nm at 3400 rpm.. quite normal and obviously conforming to emission standards.. The 4 cylinder 16 V DOHC(Double Overhead Camshaft… ) with the SEFI (sequential electronic fuel injection) has disappointed auto enthusiasts purely because this was a golden opportunity to take out the competition with more brute power and a better mileage provision could have helped.. What Ford have done though is extensive work on the suspension. By the way, this car does 0-100 in under 12 seconds(wow… I want to see this for myself… raised eyebrows from the competition as their headlamps raise their levels an inch.. )

Very good handling, absolute treat to drive are normal opinions about any Fiesta.. well a reworking of the suspension with better springs(stiffer than previous versions) and work on the suspension setup will give drivers better feedback and control on the roads(absolutely needed considering the increasing jaywalker population..)Now the interesting thing I heard was the valve tuning in the new dampers design with the new jounce bumper design.. smoother ride on the bumps or unexpected cracks in the earth.. this lends better stability and control due to the extra damping provided…(hmm a test drive is in order for observing this..) The gearbox has not been changed and I am itching to take the car for a spin to get a feel of the car as well as test the steering … and yes try a drift as well(Tokyo Drift here I come… but I don’t think Ford dealers wont like taking back a pretty bashed up brand new S variant).. and the standard 5 speed manual transmission(no AT option yet… ouch…)

Safety features include the ABS (Dual Airbags reqd) and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) as well as the provision of dual airbags ( a norm these days..)which I will look at once I get to glance at the car and get free from work(hope I get a lucky break from the boss in the days to come) The interiors are really what I am excited about… Colours like Jasper Blue and Aquarius Blue struck my fancy and a discussion on the interiors as well as the new safety features of the 1.6S(needed for the crazed nuts who drive without sense… ) is on the cards.. So till next time, drive safe, watch for the unruly people who walk like they own the road and of course public transportation… don’t race them whatever you do(doing that in a 1.6S maybe possible… driver discretion is advised)

Catch you later readers

Well Formula One is again a two horse race.. don’t call me a whinny chap.. Ferrari McLaren Ferrari McLaren .. oh come on already we need a break here… Bernie are you hearing this?? BMW is giving both of them a run for their money but that feeling still remains… the two big-guns are going at it and the end of the year might not be a surprise..

I got a look(on the net… not really on the roads..) at the new Mercedes F700 concept with a shape which was bizarre to say the least but considering that it will run on gasoline, giving out very little emission and an automatic gearbox… with the same comfort feel you would expect of the Mercedes .. but boy did was it an ugly looking car(my thoughts ….) Now take a look at the new 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.. Don’t look at the price(trust me don’t I almost lost interest seeing it).. Now that is beauty on wheels .. a bit of the Reventon look and looks which will make any normal car lover go berserk… Well if you drove this car, I am sure you are getting get some serious style points from the womenfolk across the city(let it come here first dear reader, before you jump the bandwagon) 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds and 0-124 mph in 11.8 seconds.. this kind of acceleration is attributed to a new “thrust” mode launch control alongwith the e-gear semiautomatic transmission(means buttons, left brake pedal and keep your eyes on the road.. cause you will fly!!!) A young boys fetish to drive one of these modern day feasts with no one oblige .. now that I am married the wife is the latest thorn in the desire to do so….(tsk tsk)

Well the Fiesta review will continue the next time and this unusual break comes due to my keen interest in the latest Euro 08 with Germany the last blue blood team left in a battle of the minnows… leaving me bleary eyed (someone create a time portal like in the sci-fi films) and with the weight of the office on my shoulders(help its heavy…help) readers do come back as I continue my observations and provide more insight into the Fiesta 1.6S

And on the last note, this interesting story from F1… 1991, Silverstone… title race fought out between Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.. Mansell goes on to win from pole with Senna finishing fourth.. After running out of fuel Senna is stranded on the track and well a long walk back to the pit garage(in the British weather… yipes!) However, Mansell stops and offers him a ride to the pit garage on the back of the car!!! And Senna obliges(wonder whether Alonso would do that for Hamilton now…. Shame if the spirit of the sport is lost and the past serves as a reminder of the sportsmanship motorsports held and hope the present generation is listening…)