Ford's Unbuilt Car Snags 1,000+ Pre-Orders Online

Ford Motor (F) said Wednesday that it has collected more than 1,000 online pre-orders for its new subcompact, thanks to a recently launched car-reservation site.

The auto maker hasn’t started production of the car, the 2011 Ford Fiesta, and it won’t be in showrooms until the summer of 2010. The reservation site, however, has attracted orders from 47 states since it launched six days ago. Customers can also add their names to the list by texting “reserve” to 4Ford on a smart phone.

Reserving new vehicles is becoming more common as auto makers look for way to entice younger consumers while creating a buzz about a car or pickup truck. Orders also help dealers gauge interest in the vehicle and what accessories consumers find most appealing.

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