KA
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Ka Calypso moves to its own special beat (Oct 01)
Ka. Funny name, wasn't it? writes Brian Byrne. Some people thought it was to do with Egyptian kings. Others figured it a play on a young child's pronunciation of the word 'car'. Truth was, Ford liked a simple two-letter name that was distinctive. Full Story.
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StreetKa is sweet despite sniffles (Mar 03)
I got a cold, writes Brian Byrne. Can't really blame Ford or their StreetKa, though I suppose spinning around the higher reaches of Provence in mid-March is probably asking for trouble.
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SportKa - coming near you soon (Jun 03)
Don't laugh, writes Ray Bernard. It does the 0-100 km/h in around nine seconds. It feels and sounds sporty. And it proves just how good the former Fiesta chassis still is.
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Yes! Yes! Yes! Kylie's StreetKa (Jun 03)
Would I buy a Ford StreetKa instead of a Mazda MX-5 or a Toyota MR2, or an MGTF? writes Brian Byrne. That's the kind of loaded question people like me hate, because it means coming down on one side or another.
FIESTA
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A quarter-century feast of Fiestas (Aug 01)
When the Ford Motor Company launched the first Fiesta a quarter of a century ago, their investment was then the biggest outlay ever made by the company, writes Brian Byrne. Full Story.
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New Fiesta comes out (Aug 01)
This is Ford's fresh, new face of small-car form and function – the all-new Fiesta – which will debut at the 2001 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in three weeks' time, writes Brian Byrne. Full Story.
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So how much is safety in the modern car? (Jan 02)
It’s hard to differentiate any part of a car as being a ‘safety’ element, writes Brian Byrne, because, as one engineer said to me last week, ALL parts of a car design impinge somehow on safety. Full Story.
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Fiesta grows and grows (Feb 02)
The new Ford Fiesta may confuse you as much as it did me, writes Donal Byrne. Not alone is the car a brilliantly designed replacement for the current model, it is simply too big to just take over where the current one leaves off. Full Story.
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New Fiesta has a lot to live up to (Feb 02)
There’s a new Fiesta coming in July. But it’s not a Fiesta. Not, anyway, as we’ve grown to know Ford’s small car over the years since its introduction in 1977, writes Brian Byrne.OK. So Ford had to catch up. Full Story.
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Impressed by Fiesta in the metal (Mar 02)
I wasn’t surprised by the new Fiesta on its European launch programme because I had been one of just four Irish journalists who had gone to September’s Frankfurt Motor Show and attended the special Blue Oval Club first ‘reveal’ of the car, writes Brian Byrne. But it was nice to feel just as impressed with it in the metal and on the ground, so to speak, when I slipped into one at Malaga Airport. Full Story.
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Fiesta ready to endear itself again (Aug 02)
The first Ford Fiesta rolled off the production line 26 years ago and in that time the car has endeared itself to around 10 million customers worldwide, writes Trish Whelan.
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Fiesta aims at its accustomed position (Sep 02)
Fiesta IS a new car, writes Brian Byrne. Through and through, with some reflection from the old guard in the form of the entry-level 1.3-litre engine. I kind of think they should have done the same as the shift from Escort to Focus, and changed the name.
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FUSION
A profusion of good ideas (Jan 03)
A tall practical versatile all round vehicle, the Fusion, especially the one I’ve being driving, the 1.4 TDCi diesel, actually caters for a huge audience, writes Tony Conlon - from the 'targeted' cost conscious families to the Ballsbridge set, the empty nesters and our more senior citizens who will find it so easy to settle into.
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With Fusion, it was a close shave (April 03)
I was really going to slam this particular Ford. I was going to call it a heap, a mistake, a dog, a car that didn't know where it belongs, writes Brian Byrne. Which just goes to show that everything deserves a second chance.
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FOCUS
A Focus that deserves its buyers (Feb 99) - Brian Byrne
Ford's Focus saloon - as good as it gets? (Aug 99) - Brian Byrne.
Focus Estate makes intelligent use of space (00) - Gerry Boud
Focus Zetec needs more gusto (00) - Gerry Boud
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Ford Focuses on bi-fuel for the environment
It looks just like any other Focus which might not get more than a passing glance, writes Bill Trapman. But the eagle-eyed might be intrigued by the little badge on the left of the rear door. And anyone walking all the way around will possibly spot the fact that it has a fuel filler hatch on BOTH flanks. Curiosity thus prompted might note there’s a second fuel gauge to the left of the steering wheel. Full Story.
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A Focus diesel that's fun to drive
The TDCi in the Focus is derived mechanically from the same 1753cc Endura DI unit that already gives two power options, 70 and 90PS, writes Brian Byrne. With the TDCi technology, it gives 115PS, the kind of power that only a relatively few years ago was what a 2-litre petrol engine typically provided. Full Story.
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C-MAX
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C-MAX unlikely to disappoint (Jul 03)
Ford's new C-MAX compact MPV is an interesting one not just because it is Ford's long-delayed contender in this segment, but also because it is the first car on the platform for the next-generation Focus, due in the spring, writes Brian Byrne. Which means it should be at real cutting edge in driving dynamics terms.
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C-MAX for modern life (Jan 04)
I have driven the C-MAX. Abroad, and more recently in Ireland, writes Brian Byrne. And, bluntly, it is the one which I believe poses the biggest threat to both the Scenic and the Zafira. Especially the 1.6-litre diesel.
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PUMA
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