The 2011 Ford Fiesta is a small car that knows how to make a big splash. The new Ford Fiesta will deliver great looks, projected top fuel economy of any vehicle in its segment and much more when it goes on sale in North America next year. The 2011 Fiesta – available in four- and five-door body styles –will set a new small car benchmark for safety, connectivity and powertrain technology.

In fact, Fiesta will offer North American buyers a stylish new choice of 15 class-exclusive technologies and projected highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, besting the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris and Corolla.

The North American version of the car was introduced at the LA Auto Show on December 2, 2009, and we caught up with Steve Pintar, Chief Engineer for the Fiesta, at the show. He gave us an overview of the new Fiesta. Click on the video below to see and hear what Steve had to say.

Fiesta is the next milestone under the ONE Ford plan to design and develop vehicles that meet the differing needs, wants and expectations of customers around the world. More than 500,000 Fiestas have already been sold to customers in Europe and Asia.

In case you missed the reveal of the 2011 Fiesta at the LA Auto Show, you can join us via video for an insider’s look at the media-only event.

When developing the new Fiesta, Ford conducted extensive global customer research. Findings clearly indicated that the need for style topped the list of customer desires everywhere in the world. In Europe, across North America and in the Asia Pacific region, customers are looking for a distinctively designed small car that offers world-class quality, convenience, comfort and connectivity.

“Fiesta was developed with customers, not just for them,” said Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President for Global Product Development. “Fuel economy, spirited performance and efficient use of space are universal desires, across global markets – and Fiesta delivers.”

The anticipated new Ford Fiesta arrives in North America with strong consumer awareness, thanks to the Fiesta Movement program. With 100 social media mavens chronicling their experiences of driving European-market Fiestas on American roads, Fiesta has generated more than 675,000 Flickr views and more than 5.5 million YouTube video views.

Fiesta’s flowing sculpted hood covers a 1.6-liter DOHC I-4 engine with an estimated 119 horsepower and 109 ft.-lbs. of torque. Spirited performance and fuel-efficient economy are signature attributes with the Fiesta expected to deliver best-in-class fuel economy at 40 mpg. Fiesta’s advanced 1.6-liter engine features Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) allowing the engine to be downsized for fuel economy while continuously optimizing camshaft phasing for throttle response, performance and flexibility. An available all-new North American industry-exclusive PowerShift six-speed automatic transmission combines the responsive performance and fuel economy of a manual transmission with the convenience of a traditional automatic in one advanced, dual dry-clutch package.

Fiesta safety is enhanced by an array of features including dual-stage first-row airbags, a class-exclusive driver’s knee airbag, side airbags and side curtain airbags. AdvanceTrac® ESC (Electronic Stability Control) is standard on Fiesta, along with safety belt pretensioners, rear door child safety locks and a Safety Canopy® system.

From class-exclusive automatic climate control to a standard auxiliary input, Fiesta offers customers a number of standard and available features that increase convenience and add connectivity. Among them is Ford SYNC®, integrating a driver’s Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone with Fiesta’s onboard, voice-activated communications and entertainment system. Fiesta also offers keyless entry and push-button start, a feature unique within the segment. Drivers of all sizes can adjust the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel to suit their individual preferences. Reflecting Fiesta’s versatility and adaptability, adjustable cupholders can accommodate Red Bull cans and Big Gulps along with every container size in between. Fiesta also features Ford’s EasyFuel® Capless Fuel-Filler System, a North American industry-exclusive, as standard equipment.

Click here for more information, specifications and pricing on the 2011 Ford Fiesta.