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Ford has added its Durashift automatic transmission to the Fiesta range.

The transmission will be mated to a 1.4-litre Duratec petrol engine and Ford has tweaked the throttle response to create a more sporty drive.

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The automatic Fiesta gets from 0-62mph in 13.9secs, averages 43.4mpg and emits 154g/km of CO2.

Chris Muers, Ford Fiesta product manager, said: “...Read the full article

once again the automatic option is restricted to a petrol engine.  Why is this when it is generally accepted that slushmatics (I presume that's what this is) work better with turbodiesels?  There is usually a smaller penalty on performance and economy.

I assume that the Durashift is a conventional torque converter automatic which is never going to be great fitted to a 1.4lt engine, so why don't they fit the Powershift dual-clutch transmission to this car, it would be ideal surely.

A powershift diesel or simply a CVT petrol would have been better IMO. This petrol + convential auto combo really spoils the power and economy of the engine. In manual form its a good 2 seconds quicker to 60.

This is available thanks to the fact that the Fiesta is going to be sold in North America.

And small diesel automatics are as common as the Dodo in the land of the Big Mac.

Greg1:

This is available thanks to the fact that the Fiesta is going to be sold in North America.

 

North America is only getting the 1.6VCT - in manual and automatic form. Would it not make more sense for the automatic here to be hooked up to the 1.6 so acceleration is a little more sprightly? The economy would not be far off the 1.4 going on figures for the manual. Then again those buying small automatics tend to be over 70 and acceleration is a not a word in their dictionary.

theonlydt:

North America is only getting the 1.6VCT - in manual and automatic form. Would it not make more sense for the automatic here to be hooked up to the 1.6 so acceleration is a little more sprightly?

Aha!  Thanks for spotting the engine difference...what on earth are Ford doing!  Making extra work for themselves - absolutely agree; the difference in performance between the two would be negligible.

Am I right in that the Kuga still doesn't option an auto?  I was told that by a Ford salesman when it was due out.  Is that still the case?  If so, they must have missed more sales than Volvo did with their hatchbacks during the 1980s by not optioning an auto.  It's crazy.  ALL cars should have an auto option.  Once you've driven one for a few months you'll never go back.