After a brief but painful absence, Ford’s most famous supermini could be heading back to Europe—this time powered by electrons and a Franco-American alliance.
The return of the Ford Fiesta was never supposed to read like a resurrection story. And yet, just two years after Britain’s best-selling car of all time bowed out, the groundwork has been laid for a comeback that feels almost biblical in scale.
A newly announced electric-vehicle platform-sharing deal between Ford and Renault, confirmed in early December 2025, has opened the door for the Fiesta nameplate to return as soon as 2028—reimagined as a fully electric supermini aimed squarely at the heart of Europe’s B-segment.
A French Platform, an American Soul
At the core of the agreement is Renault’s AmpR Small architecture, a dedicated EV platform that already underpins the new Renault 5 and 4, the Alpine A290 hot hatch, the upcoming Nissan Micra EV and the reborn Renault Twingo due in 2026. Ford will gain access not only to this platform, but also to Renault’s battery and motor technology—crucial leverage in a segment where scale is everything and margins are tight.
Ford plans to launch two new electric models off the back of this deal. One will revive the Fiesta as a compact hatchback; the other will be a second small EV, likely with a more crossover-inspired silhouette. Crucially, these will not be rebadged Renaults. Both cars will be designed by Ford, wear unique bodywork and be engineered to feel distinctively Blue Oval in character.
If history is anything to go by, that distinction will matter.
Familiar Footprint, Sharper Edge
Sharing its underpinnings with the Renault 5 suggests the new Fiesta EV will sit in broadly the same dimensional ballpark, but expect a noticeably sharper and more dynamic design. That approach aligns neatly with Ford’s recent styling direction and with the outgoing Fiesta’s reputation as the driver’s choice among small cars.
Pricing is also likely to be competitive. The Renault 5 range spans roughly £22,000 to £30,000, placing a future Fiesta EV right in the thick of the emerging electric supermini battleground.
More important than price, however, is how it drives—and Ford is keen to underline that point.
Ford DNA, Carefully Engineered
Both the Fiesta EV and its small-SUV sibling will receive bespoke chassis tuning, with Ford taking the lead on ride, steering, handling and braking. It’s a strategy the company has already employed successfully with the Explorer and Capri EVs, which are built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform yet feel markedly different to their ID-branded cousins.
“We’re very confident that we can completely differentiate the offering,” said Jim Baumbick, president of Ford of Europe, speaking to Auto Express. “Ford will lead on the development of the design and things like the ride, steering, handling and braking to inject the uniquely Ford DNA.”
Baumbick also revealed that early designs have already been shared with dealers and key stakeholders, suggesting the project is well beyond the exploratory phase.
What Could Be Under the Skin?
Thanks to its shared architecture, the technical picture is already taking shape. The Renault 5 offers 40kWh and 52kWh battery options, with the larger pack delivering up to 252 miles of WLTP range. In its more powerful configuration, a 148bhp electric motor drives the front wheels, dispatching 0–62mph in under eight seconds.
Those figures would place a Fiesta EV firmly among the most capable electric superminis on sale—practical enough for daily use, but lively enough to honour the badge.
And then there’s the question enthusiasts are already asking.
Could the ST Badge Return?
Sharing DNA with the Alpine A290 raises an intriguing possibility: a Fiesta ST reborn for the electric age. The A290 pushes up to 217bhp through its front axle and features a heavily revised chassis, uprated brakes, tuned suspension and a wider track.
A high-performance Fiesta EV would align neatly with Ford’s renewed focus on enthusiast and halo products, from the extreme Mustang GTD to the Ranger Raptor.
“Ford is at its best when we connect with customers at an emotional level,” Baumbick said. “When we enable them to do things that they love to do.”
An electric Fiesta ST would do exactly that.
Built in France, Moving Fast
Production of both new small EVs will take place at Renault’s ElectriCity complex in northern France, underlining the deal’s focus on economies of scale and speed to market. Renault’s rapid development cycle—helped by a new R&D centre in China that enabled the next Twingo to be developed in under two years—has clearly caught Ford’s attention.
The first Ford vehicle born of this partnership is expected to arrive in 2028, a remarkably short timeline by industry standards.
Ford CEO Jim Farley described the agreement as “an important step” in building a leaner, future-proof European business, while Renault Group CEO François Provost hailed it as proof of the competitiveness and depth of the two companies’ partnership.
Where It Leaves the Rest of the Range
The Renault deal focuses squarely on B-segment cars, complementing Ford’s existing Puma Gen-E rather than replacing it. According to Baumbick, the new models will “augment” the Puma, not supplant it—suggesting Ford is aiming to cover more price points, potentially with a baby SUV or even a Ka-style city car based on the Twingo.
What it won’t do, however, is resurrect the Ford Focus as a Volkswagen ID.3 rival. Ford’s partnership with VW remains confined to larger C-segment EVs, and there are no plans to use Renault’s larger AmpR Medium platform for a Focus replacement.
Beyond passenger cars, the collaboration may yet expand further, with both companies having signed a letter of intent to explore joint work on light commercial vehicles—an area where Ford remains dominant.
A Small Car With Big Expectations
If it all comes together, the electric Fiesta won’t just be another EV—it will be a litmus test for Ford’s European future. Affordable, desirable small cars built at scale are notoriously difficult to make profitable, but they’re also essential to brand relevance.
For a nameplate as storied as Fiesta, a quiet fade-out was never going to feel right. An electric rebirth, shaped by French engineering and sharpened by Ford’s driving DNA, might just be the comeback story it deserves.
Source: Auto Express; Photo: AVARVARII