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The Ford Company released its initial generation of Ford Fiestas in 1976 as a response to the myriad European competitors' series' of tiny, fuel efficient, front wheel drive vehicles, which were then growing in popularity around the world.

Although marketed in Europe with a smaller, less powerful Ford car engine, in the United States the Ford Fiesta was given a 1.6 liter Kent--a powerhouse for this small economy automobile. This Ford car engine came with all four cylinders mounted in a line, a simpler and smoother design that allowed for greater fuel economy, and was equipped with both an air pump, and a catalytic converter (novel for its time) to further improve on emissions.

The Fiesta was popular for its diminutive size and when a sports model was added to the European market a few years later, the XR2 with a 1.6 liter Ford car engine similar to American models but with a few tweaks for improved muscle, it became a boy racer cult phenomenon. This lightweight Ford car engine delivered a stunning performance of 0 to 60 miles per hour in 9 seconds and a top speed of 105 miles per hour. Due to this and other successful marketing techniques, the Ford Fiesta quickly overtook the Vauxhall Chevette for a short stint as England's top selling supermini.

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