SOLVED: WTH # 058 - 1995 Ford Festiva Orbital Ecosport

[sixtee5cuda]

For one point, give the year, make, and model of this economy car.

Clue:  Those are the stock wheels for this car.

[knightfan26917]

Looks like the "sport" version of the Ford Aspire / Kia Avella pair ... ~1999 or so...  But, I suspect there is more to this story than that, eh?



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[sixtee5cuda]

As you suspect, nothing is as it seems.

The puzzle car is a Ford, but it is not an Aspire.  It is not a Kia Avella.  (Except for the fact it was mostly made by Kia)

[sixtee5cuda]

Up!

[hondast]

Ford Festiva second generation?

[sixtee5cuda]

It is a Ford Festiva, but it is a special one.

Have you found a picture of a Festiva with those wheels?

Besides "sport", are there any other clues printed on the side of the car?

[sixtee5cuda]

Any other questions, before this gets bumped to the Professionals?

[mymokke]

Is it an entry level Merkur? Looks like a similiar rear spoiler set up like the XR4TI.

[Manuel]

It would be a Ford Festiva Trio in Oz

Manuel in Oz

[sixtee5cuda]

Nothing to do with Merkur.

My information does not indicate this is a Festiva Trio.  This car is special in a way that goes beyond what you can see, or the equipment level.

[sixtee5cuda]

Up!

Will the Pros make quick work of this one?

[spider murphy]

It's a Ford Festiva Orbital Ecosport. Orbital Engine Corporation from Perth (Australia) modified the Festiva with their experimental
2-stroke engine, which was better for the environment. I think this car is from 1995 or 1996.

[sixtee5cuda]

Thank you Spider!  You are entirely correct.  I never figured my first Pro puzzle would be such a simple car.  But I guess it is obscure, in spite of there being a fleet of these cars.

[Manuel]

I forgot about Orbital and that they put some in standard production cars. Was it mainly in WA?
It was going to change the world at the time....

Manuel in Oz

[sixtee5cuda]

I thought they were just distributed to government agencies in Australia, but I am reading a press release that indicates Nifty Rent A Car of the Northern Territory received 20 cars to use as rentals.  There is also an indication that Orbital Ecosports were sold or leased in China and North America.  The Ecosport fleet consisted of 100 cars.  Orbital also equipped several Ford Fiestas with a similar engine.

Speaking of the engine, here is a picture of the Festiva Ecosport engine.