Ford To Show Its Verve at Frankfurt

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.

FRANKFURT, Germany--Ford Verve Concept - a bold and colourful concept car to be revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show - gives the first hints of Ford's future small-car design vision.

The significance of the Ford Verve Concept is that it's the first physical evidence of the design direction for an all-new small Ford since it was announced earlier this year that the European arm of the company's global Product Development group is taking the design and engineering lead in creating a new small-car portfolio for major world markets. The Ford Verve Concept is the first of three concept vehicles which will debut in key regions - Europe, Asia and North America.

"Ford Verve Concept is presented here in Frankfurt as a bespoke concept car to generate reactions while our production plans are taking shape," said John Fleming, President and CEO of Ford of Europe. "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. If we get the reaction we expect, I'm certain that the team will incorporate elements of this advanced design vision into our final production design. This will make the next generation of small cars from Ford very compelling indeed."

Finished in rich colours and distinctive materials inspired by the world of fashion and cosmetics, the Ford Verve Concept was created by a team of designers from Ford's studios in Dunton, England, and Cologne, Germany.

Building on the kinetic design momentum of Ford's recent iosis and iosis X concept cars, and the more premium feel of production models like the new Ford Mondeo, the Ford Verve Concept is a bold expression of a small-car vision.

As product development of a new generation of Ford small cars continues behind the scenes, Ford of Europe is hoping to gauge public reaction to the Ford Verve Concept during the Frankfurt Motor Show.