Ford launched the second generation of the Fiesta in August 1983, and it wasn’t that much different than its predecessor.
With an increased demand for small-sized vehicles, the Fiesta MKII was no longer alone in the segment. Meanwhile, Volkswagen introduced the second generation of the Polo, and Opel introduced the Corsa. The French carmakers were already there with the Renault 4 and the Citroen Visa. Ford had to improve the Fiesta and keep its momentum as one of the best selling vehicles in its class.

With a revised front end that started to be rounded a bit and a tailgate that didn’t look like a flat, sloped plank in the back, the Fiesta convinced more customers that it deserved a spot on the sales podium. Its front turn-signals were moved from underneath the headlights to the sides and became more visible when the driver changed lanes. Another way to improve safety was the introduction of a door mirror on the passenger side. Like its main German rivals, it was available only in three-door form.

Inside, the carmaker designers adopted a new design language and made a squared-looking instrument cluster extended over the center stack. In those times, Ford did not consider the center console a must for a small-sized car. Maybe because sometimes you had to cross the vehicle from one side to another if a door refused to open. Like its predecessor, the Fiesta MKII kept the folding seatback for the bench to extend the trunk area, which was not so generous.

Under the hood, Ford introduced new engine choices, including a naturally aspirated diesel version that was highly fuel-efficient.