Yeah, I am not totally convinced about this either. Ford could extend Fiesta production for another year, assuming the plant isn't needed for something else. Everybody that I have talked to indicates the Fiesta will retire after this year. Dealers and journalists all point to that happening. Of course, official word has to come from Ford. Overall, Ford has been very weird about what they are keeping and going to retire. They tell suppliers to quick working on the Fusion refresh and then come out with a Fusion refresh, but move the Mustang into NASCAR instead of the Fusion. Hackett is going on and on about mobility and electrics, but all the latest spy photos of new products are all gas powered (unless the exhaust pipes are fake and they are using speakers to make car sounds, which is nuts). At their press events, the only car that is shown is the Mustang. Everything else is truck and SUV. The Fiesta doesn't fit the limited production, high margin, niche coupes and sedans that Ford says they will focus on. The ST does, but that assumes there is actually any margin in the ST. Many performance cars never pay for all the developmental costs. Of course, Ford spends years developing a car that is only sold for a few years, so making back the money is tough. At least with the ST, they have kept it alive enough and ran through enough cost reductions to make it effective.
If there will be a 2019 Fiesta, the ordering guides would be coming out early this summer. 2018 order cut-off is in another few weeks. If there is a 2019 Fiesta, I would expect less options, less colors, and very few changes from 2018. It basically becomes a fleet car for rental companies and a few options for consumers. I would still rather have that than let the car die.