We go back to our Rare Rides Symbols protection of the Ford Festiva today. A vital globe automobile for the similarity Ford, Mazda, Kia (and also at some point numerous others), the Festiva got to a time when rear-drive subcompacts were being changed by far more effective versions that were front-drive. As Well As the Mazda-designed Festiva was absolutely far more effective and also far more front-drive than the Pinto it changed.
We covered the Festiva’s blocky, straightforward designing in our last access, so today we leap directly right into its system and also mechanicals. In 1981, Mazda transformed the method it called its systems. It designated two-letter codes that were made use of for the 5th and also 6th personalities in VINs on Mazda-produced automobiles from the 1981 version year forward. Mazda utilizes this system category system today.
From the beginning, all letter coding with a D at the front stood for a subcompact automobile that was front-wheel drive. The Festiva was designated DA, as the very first such automobile Mazda ever before produced. The DA had a brief wheelbase of simply 90.4 inches. The total size for the Festiva at launching was 136.8 inches, with a total size of 63.2 inches. Festiva got to 57.5 inches in elevation and also weighed in between 1,540 and also concerning 1,720 extra pounds based on devices and also body design.
With a transverse engine format, the front-drive Festiva made use of an independent front suspension with struts, coil springtimes, and also a persuade bar. The back suspension was a torsion beam of light style. As one may anticipate, the Festiva’s engines were all Mazda devices that came from the B household. The B was brand-new at the time, and also with its numerous variants remained in manufacturing in between 1985 and also 2005. Significantly, the engine style was non-interference, which indicated the engine had not been lunched in case of a timing belt failing. A vital function when running a cars and truck on a limited spending plan.
The very first 3 engines to debut in the B schedule were all made use of in the Festiva. One of the most standard was the B1, a small 1.1-liter inline-four that had 8 shutoffs and also was readily available just in SOHC role. This the majority of standard of engines was restricted to utilize from 1987 to 1989 and also was just made use of in the European and also Oriental markets. Kia would certainly later on utilize this engine in the Sephia.
Lots of people wanted a BJ. The mid-level engine had 1.3-liters of variation, with 16 shutoffs and also the necessary DOHC and also single-point gas shot. Just Japanese market Festivas made use of the BJ, and also just in especially stylish trims. The 1.3 benefited 87 horse power.
Ultimately, the biggest Festiva engine available was the B3. A little bigger than the BJ’s 1,290 cc variation, the B3 was 1,324 cc. It was used just in SOHC role and also was readily available in the Festiva along with Mazda’s bigger Familia, the Ford Laser, and also the follower to the Festiva the Aspire. At first, the B3 was carbureted, however it was later on established more and also obtained gas shot. With either gas circulation kind, it had 63 horse power. In the Nineties, the B3 was upgraded and also boosted, which included 10 horse power to its score. The B3 lived up until 2005 in the Kia Rio, and also up until 2014 in Kia’s Satisfaction.
Mentioning Satisfaction, that’s what Kia called their variation of the Festiva. The Satisfaction was constructed in your area in South Korea from the beginning, and also the marketplace was among the very first to begin its manufacturing. Put together under permit, manufacturing began in 1986 for the 1987 version year.
Australia and also Europe obtained the Festiva under its most exact identification, as the Mazda 121. Sales for those markets began in 1987 also. The Mazda 121 was a short-term version, nonetheless, and also after 1991 the 121 became the Ford Festiva on the Australian continent. In Europe, the 121 came to be the Kia Satisfaction.
Things to remember with the Festiva: At its base, it was a Ford item demand, and also though Mazda took care of the job themselves it was Ford foretelling when Festiva took place sale. Therefore it was that in February 1986 the Mazda was released in its house market of Japan, as the Ford Festiva. The hatchback was not readily available as a Mazda in Japan.
Japanese Festiva trims in its launch year consisted of L, L Unique, S, Ghia, and also Canvas Top. Preliminary trims were supplemented later on in 1986 for the ’87 version year by the GT and also GT-X, which made use of the previously mentioned DOHC engine. The Festiva was readily available with Ford’s Japanese dealer arm, called Autorama
Though the automobiles for the Japanese market were generated in Japan and also put on Ford badges, the Festivas for the North American market were generated in South Korea together with the Kia Satisfaction. North Americans needed to wait a little bit for the Festiva, as sales really did not begin in the United States up until late in ’87 for the 1988 version year. Canadian sales were also later on, as the Festiva showed up there in January of 1989. To help in circulation, the Festiva was additionally readily available at Mercury car dealerships in Canada.
Unlike various other markets, the North American Festiva was restricted to one engine, the 1.3-liter B3. There were simply 3 trim degrees at intro: L, L And Also, and also LX. As commenters explained in our last access, the method to inform the LX apart was using its lavish back wiper.
However the LX was updated in various other means, because it was the just one to have a tilt guiding wheel and also a tachometer. It was really the days of the standard subcompact automobile, as unless the LX was chosen there were no alloy wheels, no indoor mirror changes, and also no towel on the seats (just plastic). Desire a cassette gamer? You would certainly require to springtime for the LX. The LX additionally included a five-speed guidebook, with various other trims stood for by a four-speed. Those that stayed clear of changing themselves discovered their driving experience stressed by a three-speed Mazda automated.
It interests think about the marketplace distinctions in between the Festiva of Japan and also the North American one. No DOHC engine, no sporting activities trims with body sets, no canvas roof covering! It’s virtually like Ford needed to reduce the Festiva’s allure so it really did not problem with various other crucial little automobiles in the schedule, like the Companion.
While we get on the subject of market distinctions, we require to cover the various other markets that generated numerous variations of the Festiva for a very long time Other than Mazda’s manufacturing (with 1992) and also Kia’s (with 2000), there were 3 various other significant qualified suppliers of the Festiva. In 1993 SAIPA of Iran started manufacturing of the Festiva under its very own branding and also developed them in Iraq. In China, the Dongfeng Yueda Kia joint endeavor started its manufacturing in 1997. Ultimately, AAV signed up with the club in 1998 with Egyptian manufacturing.
It ended up AAV had the quickest rate of interest in the Festiva, as it developed the hatchback just with 2002. Dongfeng proceeded its manufacture with 2003. However SAIPA triumphed, as it generated numerous variations of the 1986 style with 2020. SAIPA called the Festiva a 111, 131, 132, and also 141. After that they made a pickup from it and also called it 151. It additionally had some official names, like Satisfaction, Saba, and also Nasim. Chinese manufacturing saw the Festiva rebranded as the Guangtong GTQ5010X, as the Chinese subcompact client takes pleasure in a lengthy version name.
With its numerous setting up places, the Festiva was developed at one manufacturing facility in Japan, 2 in South Korea, and also 2 in China. It was additionally integrated in the previously mentioned Iran and also Iraq, along with Egypt, the Philippines, Taiwan, and also Venezuela.
A little and also yet really well-traveled automobile. We’ll speak about all the variants of the Festiva in our following installation. We’ll additionally cover the refreshes and also updates that took place over its very first generation.
[Images: Ford, Mazda, Kia, SAIPA]
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