Euro NCAP Find that Dacia Lodgy Dissapoints while 14 Other New Cars Score Five Stars

The safety gurus at the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), an independent organization that assesses and scores vehicle safety, have released a new round of scores for 15 new models, many of which were presented at the recent Paris Motor Show.

With one exception, the new Dacia Lodgy minivan that Euro NCAP said "budgets on safety" as it was rated with a mediocre three stars out of five, all other cars tested were awarded five stars.

Euro NCAP criticized the Renault Group's decision to not offer the electronic stability control (ESC) as standard equipment on the Lodgy, while also noting that the Dacia model scored poorly for pedestrian and child protection.

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Check Out the New 2014 Ford Fiesta ST in 80 Photos and on Film

Ford is not only betting on the growing small-car market in the U.S. with the Fiesta but it is also testing the waters with a new performance variant of the hatch named the Fiesta ST that will make its North American debut at the LA Auto Show.

Like the bigger Focus ST, the Fiesta ST is the result of the collaborative efforts from the Blue Oval's European and American divisions.

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Ford Adds 123HP 1.0-liter EcoBoost to Facelifted 2014 Fiesta, Claims 40 MPG Plus [58 Photos + Video]

With fuel prices on the rise and federal and state mandates about fuel economy, U.S. manufacturers and buyers alike are beginning to see the advantages of downsizing when it comes to both vehicles and their engines.

Ford’s Fiesta, which has been redesigned for the 2014 model year and will launch at the LA Auto Show this week, is probably one of the best examples.

That’s because apart from the cosmetic changes, such as the larger trapezoidal grille that resembles that of the Fusion mid-size saloon (…or Aston Martin models), Ford’s subcompact will be offered in the States with the firm's new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine.

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New Ford Fiesta ST Hot Hatch Confirmed for North America, Debuts in Los Angeles

At last year's LA Auto Show, Ford displayed a concept version of the Fiesta ST, stating at the time, that it "remained open" to selling the hot hatch on this side of the Atlantic.

Well, the decision has been made and at this week's 2012 LA Auto Show, the Blue Oval will premiere the production Fiesta ST for the U.S. and Canada.

Unlike the European model that was introduced in Geneva with a three-door body style earlier this year, the North American version will be offered exclusively as five-door hatch, but don't fret, as Ford has a surprise in store for US.

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Ford to Offer 2014 Fiesta Facelift with 1.0-liter Three-Cylinder EcoBoost in the U.S.

We knew it was coming but now Ford has confirmed the arrival of its 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine Stateside in the redesigned Fiesta that was revealed at this year's Paris auto show and which will go on sale in the U.S. early next year.

While in Europe, the 3-cylinder EcoBoost unit is offered in two states of tune delivering 99HP (100PS) and 123HP (125PS), in North America, Ford will bring the most powerful version that generates a peak torque of 148 lb.-ft.

By comparison, the pre-facelift 2013 Fiesta's base (in the U.S.) 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder unit peaks out at 120hp and 112 lb-ft.

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Ford Margins Shrink as Buyers in North America Turn to Smaller, Less Profitable Cars

In the first nine months of the year, Ford’s earnings in North America were US$6.47 billion before taxes, more than it had made in the region in all of 2011. Its operating margin in that period was 11.2 percent, more than double the 5 percent that’s the norm in the industry.

Now, however, the Blue Oval says that its profit margins are shrinking and the reason is that new car buyers in North America are downsizing, turning their backs on trucks and opting for smaller passenger cars such as the Fiesta and the Focus.

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Side Air-Bag Glitch Leads to the Recall of 262,000 Ford Fiestas from the 2011-2013MY

Ford plans to recall certain model year 2011-2013 Fiesta vehicles, built from November 3, 2009 through September 21, 2012, to reprogram the passenger side, curtain air bags.

The recall affects around 262,000 cars sold in North and South America, including 154,604 Fiesta sub-compacts in the United States.

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