If the European sales of the new Fiesta are any indication of Ford's strength, then the company's American fate may be kinder than that of its two other domestic brethren.

That's because the new Fiesta -- already on sale in the Old World -- has sold more than 42,000 units in the 19 most important markets in the two months since its launch, The Detroit News reports. Despite a 25 percent decline in overall sales, Ford's best known subcompact continued to seize one of the toughest market segments, echoing an equally strong performance of the car's past models.

With gas prices back on the rise, the small car business here in America remains a playground for the Japanese. However, if priced competitively, the new Fiesta could completely reshape the market and put Ford back on the map as it makes its way home in the late 2010.