Friday 31st March 2006

Fiesta gets techno toys

Limited edition includes hands-free kit

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Ford Fiesta Freedom

In a bid to capture the techno-savvy new car buyer, Ford has issued a special, limited edition Fiesta.

The Fiesta Freedom get £800 worth of the equipment to make mobile phone calls, use satellite navigation and control the stereo without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. It's them first time this level of technology has been available in a small Ford car:

• Bluetooth technology to handle phone calls
• Voice control for radio channel
• CD track selection (MP3-compatible).

Customers who sign up to a special deal with Vodafone, which costs from £25 per month, get a G3 Nokia N70 phone, cradle and Tom Tom Mobile 5 satellite navigation that is viewed through the phone, to be used inside or outside of the car.

Additional features include remote central double locking and tailgate release, electric front windows, rear spoiler, leather steering wheel with aluminium trim and silver trim on dashboard. Exterior tweaks include 15-inch alloys, heated body-coloured mirrors, body-coloured door and tailgate handles, front fog lights (oh no! Ed), and a badge. It's no quicker though...

UK marketing man Mark Ovenden said: "Mobile phone use has increased dramatically in Britain in the last five years and this generation wants connectivity in all areas of their life. Fiesta Freedom is the ultimate hands-free accessory and I'm sure there will be plenty of buyers who decide to take the long route home while they enjoy flicking around their CD collection or having an extra chat – without lifting a finger.

There will be 2,500 Fiesta Freedom models in Britain, on sale from 1 April 2006.

[waynepixel]

In this day and age most of that technology should be made standard in all car, out of a mater of safety.

[timnorthlondon]

Release Date:
April Fools Day - Great timing by the marketing department!
When the driver finishes his phone call the stereo increases to full volume, the front fogs turn on and the sat nav instructs the driver to do countless U turns (donuts)in the nearest car park.
Another car for the chav society!

[turbosei]

"The ultimate hands free accessory" - so you don't need to steer then?