Ford Verve Concept Previews Future Fiesta Hatchback

[stu@kilometer]

Behold the Verve, a concept version of the B-segment car that promises to bring Ford into the small car fold here in the United States within the next few years. Expected to be called the Fiesta, a future production car should carry many of the design elements seen here, albeit without the show-car chrome and paint. The Verve borrows from the "kinetic" design first seen on the Iosis concept that went on to become the Euro-market Mondeo this year, and it really does look great. Although engines haven't been discussed, we do know the car rides on the same platform as the Mazda2 now on sale in other parts of the world. "Our design team took an unrestrained approach to how our future small cars could look, and this eye-catching concept was one of the results," said Ford Europe CEO John Fleming. Hopefully, cost-cutters will be slightly more restrained when they take a look at the car. It would be a shame if they turned this car into something like, well, the last Fiesta sold here.

Full Story and Pics: http://www.motivemagazine.com/...shtml

[Mazda 3s]

We are coming closer to a reality where headlights actually touch the windshield.

[AKADriver]

Okay, I see it in a lot of threads, but honestly, I don't know why people knock the Mk1 Fiesta. At all. It's a beautiful little car, IMO, in the vein of the Mk1 Golf/Rabbit, and it's aged pretty well, design-wise. The US version was also less "Americanized" than the Rabbit, even.

With a little work, you can squeeze in a Zetec engine, and, well..

I'm sure quality was not up to modern standards, but nor was it for the early Rabbits, and there's no way it could've been as awful as the Vega or early Chevette.

Anyhow, back on topic:

Based on spy shots I've seen, the biggest change, styling-wise, that might turn people off of the production car after seeing this, is that the production car will have a bumper beam bisecting the grille.

http://www.worldcarfans.com/60...hotos

[Mikedav]

Quote, originally posted by stu@motivemag »

Now that does nothing for me. The headlights are ridiculous, and though not an ugly car it is very, very bland. It could be any manufacturer, it lacks character and is almost too sleek - as if the clay model was put in a wind tunnel wet and all the detailing was blown away. Not ugly and quite like the Mondeo, but very boring

[Swallow Doretti]

It reminds me of the Hyundai Arnejs concept because of the grille:

And of course, the Arnjes reminds me of the Mazda 3, which in turn reminds me of the AMC Gremlin, which in turn reminds me of God's chariot which She used to carry Isaiah to heaven.

[98JettaGT]

Hopefully they'll resist the urge to hit it with the "bold American styling" chrome grille/headlight treatment for the US market.

[gls:maverick]

I can dig it. They should throw a diesel in there.

[AKADriver]

I do think the Mazda version is more attractive, but there's a better chance of this one coming to the US, and in that regard, I like it. There's nothing in this class in this country with more style. It'd be different if it had to compete with the Corsa, Mazda 2, and 207.

I just hope they don't feel the need to hang a trunk off the rear end, that would look absolutely ridiculous.

[Rattlesnake]

Meh. This is the Fiesta I want -->

[geneking7320]

Quote, originally posted by AKADriver »

I do think the Mazda version is more attractive, but there's a better chance of this one coming to the US, and in that regard, I like it. There's nothing in this class in this country with more style. It'd be different if it had to compete with the Corsa, Mazda 2, and 207. I just hope they don't feel the need to hang a trunk off the rear end, that would look absolutely ridiculous.

Can you give a link to the Mazda version?
I'd like to see it.

[AKADriver]

Quote, originally posted by geneking7320 »

Can you give a link to the Mazda version? I'd like to see it.

http://forums.motivemag.com/zerothread?id=3109039

These are all production photos.

[DoubleNaught]

Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3s »

We are coming closer to a reality where headlights actually touch the windshield.

Damn headlights touching the windshield, how about headlight assemblies going so far back that they are a part of the sunroof!

[gtivr4]

I see some Peugeot influence in the grille (as in the massive size of the opening):

[Turbiodiesel!]

[Turbiodiesel!]

Side view is OK.

[BRealistic]

It seems low. how tall is it? (Small cars usually have a tall greenhouse for the headroom needed for the more upright seating)

I think the overall proportions are excellent for an entry level hatchback.

Remember that point. Funny how this car that would cost twice as much get lost of praise even though it basically the same proportions and package (a bit bigger though):

yet this new Fiesta gets serious criticism. AT least it's not just a simple box, or have lots of surface details for the sake of details (like the new Focus). I think the bling on tat concept distracts from the car's better qualities. Put one on normal sport wheels and remove the chrome accents and it would look much better.


Modified by BRealistic at 9:53 AM 8/23/2007

[VWjet]

This will sell like hotcakes in the US, especially with the powerplant it'll have...

[Air and water do mix]

Quote, originally posted by stu@motivemag »

It would be a shame if they turned this car into something like, well, the last Fiesta sold here.

Hey, the last Fiesta was a pretty good car, actually! If id didn't come with those damn 12" wheels, it could've dominated H stock in autocrossing!

Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3s »

We are coming closer to a reality where headlights actually touch the windshield.

Yeah, that whole 'super swept-back' look is getting pretty old, but the car itself looks pretty good. This is the type of car I'm looking for when we buy new here at the shop. Small hatches are where it's at for downtown deliveries. Any idea how long it'd take to arrive in showrooms? With the new Focus only being coupe/sedan, Ford needs this. How many hatch versions of the Focus did they sell? It was a bunch, so I can't imagine that they'd just toss that part of the market away.

[Lumis_Wolfy]

Quote, originally posted by 98JettaGT »

Hopefully they'll resist the urge to hit it with the "bold American styling" chrome grille/headlight treatment for the US market.

your not a fan of the 6" cadillac logo or 10 pounds of grill chrome or 20" of polished baller **** on the new escalades? shame on you sir.

it looks like a probe with its headlights pulled back, kinda blandy-blandy.

certainly doesnt resemble a fiesta at all, but, i guess neither does a new GTI resemble much of the rabbit. and jesus that old fiesta looks like a COMPLETE rabbit copy with exception to the hood, I never noticed how similar they looked back then.

[bzcat]

Quote, originally posted by VWjet »

This will sell like hotcakes in the US, especially with the powerplant it'll have...

2.0 Duratec HE? It's the smallest Ford powertrain option for North America. That's would be sweet but probably not very good MPG... I suppose 1.6 Duratec will be perfect but that means Ford will have to import the engine from Europe. Given the exchange rate, I don't see that happening.

[AKADriver]

The production Mazda 2 is 1495mm (58") tall. I don't know how they did it, but they managed to make 58" look low and sleek.

[AKADriver]

Quote, originally posted by bzcat »

2.0 Duratec HE? It's the smallest Ford powertrain option for North America. That's would be sweet but probably not very good MPG... I suppose 1.6 Duratec will be perfect but that means Ford will have to import the engine from Europe. Given the exchange rate, I don't see that happening.

Ford do Brasil also produces the 1.6 Duratec. The current Fiesta sold in Central and South America has a 1.6 Duratec.

They'd have to federalize it for the US, but I doubt it has emissions problems.

[Air and water do mix]

Quote, originally posted by Lumis_Wolfy »

that old fiesta looks like a COMPLETE rabbit copy with exception to the hood, I never noticed how similar they looked back then.

IIrc. the original Fiesta (at least in the U.S., I don't know about worldwide) had a body shell sourced from VW. It was the Polo in Europe and they sold 'em to Ford to make the Fiesta. Ford dropped in a 1.6 liter motor and it ran like a scalded cat! (For it's day, of course.)

That's the way I understand it, anyway.

[Professor Gascan]

I'm waiting for the day that the headlights and taillights meet somewhere in the middle of the roof. That will be glorious.

[Lumis_Wolfy]

OH. that would make sense, it does look like a polo. almost exactly infact.

learn somethin new every day.

[AKADriver]

No, they didn't. The Mk1 Polo looks nothing like a Fiesta. The Fiesta is all Ford from top to bottom.

Also, if you actually look at design elements besides the basic body shape, the Fiesta looks nothing like a Rabbit, either. The beltline is upswept, the rear end is totally different, and the Fiesta is a class smaller with all details scaled down to match.

Look at the upward curve to the roof, and the complimentary downward curve to the beltline. You also get a deep character line running the length of the body, vertical taillights, and a hatch that opens all the way down to bumper height.

Then the polo: straight roofline, straight beltline, hoffmeister kink. No character line, more rounded body profile. Hatch with recessed backlight only opens to taillight level.

Modified by AKADriver at 1:20 PM 8-23-2007

[saron81]

Yeah... not even close to a Polo. Ford Werke AG all the way! Oh, and the 58hp 1.6l Kent engine wasn't exactly a powerhouse. LOL. Mine has an exhaust, and maybe 60hp... and runs high 17's. This motor can be highly tuned though, and it was the base of Formula Ford cars for decades. It does better in races that aren't a straight line though. Bigger wheels, and a sorted suspension makes these feel like a big go cart. As far as reliability... mines still going strong at 165k with every major component on the car being original. Only wear items have been replaced. It starts right up every morning. Never left me (or any previous owner) stranded. I get a lot of thumbs up and questions when I drive it. This is the small car formula Ford needs to go back to. Cheap, economical, decently (not overly) styled, and fun to drive. There's really not much like this on the market today where a GTI can cost close to $30,000.
Here's mine:



Modified by saron81 at 10:59 AM 8-23-2007

[Lumis_Wolfy]

looks nothing like a polo.

lol. theres a difference but at a glance its the same car.

it looks VERY similar.

ya, its a wagon variation but you cannot tell me that that car looks completely and entirely different.

[AKADriver]

That's a MkII Polo, which debuted five years later than the MkI Fiesta.

And yes, it looks completely and entirely different.

[Merc-MarkO]

Quote, originally posted by Air and water do mix »

IIrc. the original Fiesta (at least in the U.S., I don't know about worldwide) had a body shell sourced from VW. It was the Polo in Europe and they sold 'em to Ford to make the Fiesta. Ford dropped in a 1.6 liter motor and it ran like a scalded cat! (For it's day, of course.) That's the way I understand it, anyway.

eh, no.

All wrong.

[saron81]

You could make an argument that all 2 box hatches look the same.
The Fiesta MK1 came out as a 1976 model. It was FoMoCo's first ever FWD car... and a pretty succesful one at that. It's one of Europe's best selling nameplates of all time. When was the Polo launched?

[geneking7320]

Thanks much!
I like the Verve and the Mazda2. Is the Mazda2 only available as a 4 door?

[VWestlife]

Quote, originally posted by Mazda 3s »

We are coming closer to a reality where headlights actually touch the windshield.

Yes, and soon the beltline will reach the roof, rendering side windows obsolete.

As I said in another thread recently... anyone remember when cars had corners!?

[VWjet]

More, larger photos:

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/...3.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/...8.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/...a.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/...b.jpg

[spidy]

I love the current Fiesta. The new one looks like it'll be another Jellybean design.