2007 Frankfurt Auto Show: Ford Verve Concept

• Looks like: A shrunken Mazda CX-7 SUV with a Ford badge
• Defining characteristics: Slim headlights, SUV-like profile, large wheels
• Ridiculous features: That huge lower air intake underneath the skinny grille   
• Chance of being mass-produced: The Verve is the first of three concepts that show what the next small car from Ford might look like — and yes, that car will come to the U.S.

It’s a bit mind-blowing to us that Ford will finally bring its next small car to the U.S. Considerably smaller than the Ford Focus, the Verve concept is one take on what the next Ford Fiesta will look like. It will be based on the Mazda2 — which is also planned for sale in the U.S. — and offer a sporty, domestic alternative to small cars like the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris.

There’s no information on what type of power the Ford Verve would have if produced, but it won’t be much. These cars are built for economy — and now looks. Ford is emphatically behind this concept’s design, and Ford of Europe stayed fairly true to concepts like the Mondeo sedan when it came time to build the production version. More photos below.

Comments

Front end looks like a Chrysler 300 on steroids. This car is fugly.

At least Ford is making a sub compact car now. Even if it looks ugly to you, it might look great to another person. Personally I think it looks a hell of alot better then the shrunken camry named yaris.

Saw on another site that this might be the new Fiesta. At least Toyota can sell "ugly". Other automakers can't.

Ziggy,
I'm pretty sure on this site we say it might be the next Fiesta. Actually, that's what ford says. I also don't find this that ugly. I think it's cool. Looks like a Peugeot

Now heres a concept from Ford that actually looks well... good. Very euro on the design elements. Overall the oversized air intake and the big wheels for the size make the car seem much more substancial. I really like the blacked out B pillars, or lack of them altogether and the possible panorama roof? I agree with ziggy on the front end looking kind of like a 300 but I think that is moreso due to the crosshatch air intake bars. Maybe the new 3 bar grille with a nice curve would work better there.
Most likely the interior will change drastically from what is shown in the pics a.k.a. seats and lighting scheme. However if Ford does manage to produce this car, stays close to the concept and is priced under 13k then they will have a real winner.
Add to that a possible hybrid version like Honda is planning to do with their Fit, price it competetively and the term selling like hotcakes would be an understatement.

If you think it's fugly now imagine it with a chrome three-bar grille. Yikes.

Is that a current factory color? It's hot! I'd like to see a Mustang that color with black wheels.

does anyone even know how to pronounce that? Again, ford can't name cars for jack.

Given Ford's history - it will not be priced under 13k, they'll make less appealing changes to the concept design and they'll sell it 3 years from now when the trends have changed in the market. Strike while the irons hot. GM is sitting on the 3 micro car concepts that have received rave reviews at auto shows and their online survey. They probably won't see production and if they do they will be produced 5 years from now when the small car market is saturated.

Whats with the 13K, I'd rather have an attractive, well equipped car and pay a couple more thousand than a 13k box with a long option sheet.

Well the difference is those three micra cars were true concepts to gauge american reaction. The fiesta is a proven European product and they need to replace it. Ford of Europe has turned around concept to production Mondeo and Iosis X in about a year. So it could be in Europe as a 2009 model in late 2008. Probably not here until 2009 itself.

That's just it - we don't get the Mondeo and the Iosis X. Then there's another version of the Iosis concept that's going into production that looks really cool. Again it will be for european production first. Send those cars to the U.S.

The Kuga - it may be a while before we see it. Some say it will replace the Escape. I don't see that happening given the Escape's sales.

Ziggy,
Ford is saying basically starting with the next Fiesta based on this concept, they will be bringing Euro Ford vehicles to the U.S. That is the exciting part of the story ;)

Kuga info will be coming soon too. It will debut in Frankfurt.

Ford is already richer for bringing this here. Everywhere I go if the conversation turns to cars I hear "man they sell this awesome looking car in Europe, why not here" or "Japan has some sick looking cars in it."

Every automaker has made this bad assumption that US car buyers are extremely conservative, and I think thats because they think the buyers will mainly be older people who would be more conservative.

But the automakers that are doing the best are the ones that also have hit it well with the youth crowd. Toyota has a huge youth following thanks to Scion, Honda is known for its youth following, and Nissan Infiniti are cars that grace most young mens dreams.

And the most pinned after cars? In the youth crowd its full of Ferraris, Lambos and exotics. Aston Martin too. These are not conservatively styled cars: the closest to conservative in that bunch is Aston Martin, but that is a car that'd impress any crowd: someone at torquereport said it best when they said its artsy enough for a liberal, beautiful enough for a shallow person, fast enough for a sport person, and still sedate enough for a conservative. Its everyones car, edgy and stylish without being offensive.

The next automaker to do well in America will sell edgy, functional cars that are fun. Big boats do not cut it anymore. It'd be great if they did, but even the automakers who ARE selling tons of SUVs like Toyota or Honda still have impressively selling small cars.

Ford, bravo. Americans are wondering why the best things seem to go elsewhere: now they do not have to.

It is cool, I drove an old Fiesta when I was living in Europe and I absolutely loved it.

Toyota tried to sell the old XA as Yaris long time ago, but it was a flop because Toyota is absolutely overpriced in Europe.

The front looks like a Peugeot 307 and the back like the European 5 door Civic. Is Ford trying to sell refurbished euro design ideas to the US?

the thing is that ford says we'll get a sedan version of the fiesta, which is a mistake in my book

In the next century I predict the Market will further fragment, 100k units a year will become more of a rarity. So car makers that can figure out a way to find room for cars like this in it's line up (even if they only sell 15-20k a year) will continue to forge ahead.

Tom L: I'm not so sure about Honda's youth following anymore, they've grown awfully conservative of late. But the latest Civic is a step back in the right direction, even if we don't get a hatchback.

And I don't think that grill will be as offensive in person, since it's below the bumper it won't come up to the average person's knees. I suspect Europe's new anti-pedestrian regulations have had an influence on this as well.

And yes it looks like a Peugot.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM MESS THIS ONE UP.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM MESS THIS ONE UP.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM MESS THIS ONE UP.

Ford stole that big front intake from Aston Martin, but no it didnt make the car look any better or any classier.

This car looks really nice. It will be interesting to see if they change the intake prior to production.

Ford should import the European Fords and badge them as Mercury cars. Either that or get rid of Mercury all together.

I'm over 22-years-old. Why can't Ford offer a sharp subcompact to buyers like me: environmentally conscious consumers who appreciate tight design without the "bling." Guess I'll have to stick with Honda and Subaru for another decade.

Beautiful.

I agree with the 13K price range. A simple car for people who just want to get where they're going. I just hope it can compete with Yaris' MPG.