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FORD VERVE CONCEPT
Verve

FORD VERVE CONCEPT


Ford Verve concept shows big aspirations for new small cars.
Ford is revealing the Verve. The small car concept showcases the style, technology, premium materials and substantial content that will set it apart when Ford’s new small cars go on sale in North America in 2010. Ford is injecting decades of European small car excellence into a new global family of small cars that are dynamic in design and performance.

Verve aims to transform North American customers’ views of small cars. It will appeal to “Millennials” – the fastest-growing segment of the population – as well as their parents. These customers have grown up with the Internet, mobile phones and 24/7 connectivity, and they believe bigger is not necessarily better, precision is everything and technology rules.

CONCEPT BECOMES REALITY

Ford confirms Fiesta as global name for small car.

Ford Fiesta

Ford’s new-generation global small car to be previewed at 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Its worldwide name is confirmed – Ford Fiesta.

The new Ford Fiesta brings the Verve Concept exterior and interior styling to production reality, demonstrating that small cars can be stylish, sophisticated and emotional. It rejects the notion that an affordable small car has to be a commodity.

Designed and developed in Europe for customers in Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010, the new Fiesta is the first major product of Ford’s new global product development process.

In Europe, the new Fiesta will debut first in production guise at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show in March and will go on sale in fall 2008 in three and five-door hatchback body styles. By 2010, the new Fiesta will be on sale in markets across Europe, Asia, South Africa, Australia and North America in a variety of regionally tailored models derived from a common platform.

Released 2008-02-15

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FIESTA FOREVER

12 Ford Fiesta Facts:

Ford Fiesta

  • The worldwide name is confirmed – Ford Fiesta
  • Next generation, all-new global small car signals fresh chapter in Ford Fiesta story
  • Stylish ‘kinetic design’ and dynamic flair combines with traditional Ford strengths to deliver confident, contemporary, fun-to-drive package
  • Fiesta brings a host of big-car features to the small car segment for the first time
  • Fiesta stays compact but is lighter and stronger. Ultra high-strength steels and a comprehensive safety package that includes a driver’s knee airbag
  • Exciting three-door body remains true to Verve Concept
  • Futuristic interior from Verve Concept becomes production reality, including integrated HMI center stack inspired by mobile phones
  • 113 HP (115 PS) Duratec 1.6-liter Ti-VCT gasoline engine joins Fiesta range; one of five fuel efficient and clean engines
  • Fiesta will expand Ford ECOnetic ultra-low CO2 range, delivering optimized reduction in CO2 emissions.
  • New Fiesta is the first product of Ford’s new global product development process, with versions due for launch in Europe in 2008, and in Asia and the Americas between 2008 and 2010
  • 5 Efficient Powertrain Choices at launch from 68 PS Duratorq TDCi diesel to new Duratec 1.6-liter Ti-VCT petrol engine which delivers low emissions.
  • New technology highlights include keyless vehicle technology, ‘Ford Power’ engine start button, Ford Easyfuel capless refueling, USB connectivity and ambient interior lighting
Released 2008-02-15

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SPORTY, SOPHISTICATED EXTERIOR

Dynamic personality evident from every angle

Verve comes in both four- and three-door body styles. The four-door is the basis for the production vehicle that will be sold in North America beginning in 2010. The European three-door is being shown to test market reaction to the body style – as a possible additional small car for the North American market.

The Verve concept has a sleek and dynamically poised design. Viewed from the front, the vehicle features:

  • A bold, three-bar graphic with a Ford blue oval in the upper grille opening and downsized the lower, inverted trapezoidal grille.
  • Pronounced, rearward-stretching headlamps, giving the face of the Ford Verve concept a friendly, open and inviting personality.
  • A toned and athletic hood sculpture that’s not overtly muscular.
  • Prominent headlamps that feature two projector beams and a light-emitting diode (LED) array.
  • Two unique LED side markers flank the front fascia.
  • Specially designed 18-inch, 12-spoke two-piece alloy wheels that lend even more drama to the car.

From the side view, the Verve concept has a purposeful look:

  • The profile is emphasized by the pillar-less side window shape, mirroring the body’s curving upper contour line. This extends rearward from the angular A-pillar to marry the semi-high-mounted, LED tail lamps sculpted to become part of the fullness of the body shape.
  • These elements blend cohesively together and support the panoramic glass roof.
  • Subtle chrome bars accent the door handles.
  • Brushed aluminum accents the lower grille surround, the rear number plate surround, and the lower edge of the front fog lamps.
  • Low-profile tires feature a sidewall stripe that complements the rich Rouge Red body color.
Released 2008-01-12

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TECHNOLOGICALLY INSPIRED

Verve offers surprising spaciousness, quality materials and lots of smart features

The Verve concept interior follows the sensuous curves and contours of the instrument panel shape and features:

  • A center stack that decouples traditional elements of the entertainment system – the screen, control elements and the electronics. With these features separated, designers could position controls for optimal ergonomics – in a design resembling the logic of a mobile phone.
  • A center console with a tray for mobile phone or MP3 player, and a large bin for a purse or shoulder bag near the handbrake.
  • Heating/ventilation controls, highlighted in a lozenge shape at the midpoint of the center stack. They have large twist dials inspired by the sculpture found in high-quality power showers.
  • Key electronic systems such as navigation, a dynamic sound system and in-car phone controls.
  • Speedometer and tachometer that are uniquely framed by binocular-shaped, short tunnels of jewelry-like brightwork that complement the center stack and contrast the rich interior colors like a fashion accessory.
  • A steering wheel sculpted of soft-feel material, punctuated by the Ford oval badge as a rich tactile and visual centerpiece.
Released 2008-01-12

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GLOBAL DESIGN VISION

Ford’s future small car is being developed as a global car – led by the Verve concept

Verve was developed through Ford’s new global product development system. Ford is building on its European small-car expertise to stake a bigger claim in this critically important segment. Ford’s celebrated small car lineup in Europe includes such top-sellers as the Ford Focus, Fiesta and Ka.

Verve provides a vision for a new world standard for quality, design and comfort. This strategy gives Verve a bold, modern, design along with sophisticated electronics, premium materials, surprising functional space and a fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine – all previously unseen in the small car segment.

Ford maintains small-car leadership in Europe with vehicles set apart by their world-class driving dynamics and dynamic designs.

With more than five million vehicles produced in Europe since it was launched in 1998, the Ford Focus is one of the only vehicles in the world to be named “Car of the Year” both in Europe and in North America. It is Ford’s perennial top seller in Europe and, in 2007, was Europe’s top-selling car in its class.

The Ford Fiesta – which is smaller than the Focus – debuted in 1976, and it has sold more than 12 million units in Europe.

The iconic Ford Ka redefined the small city car sector in Europe with its eye-catching and enduring design and fun-to-drive character when it was introduced more than 11 years ago. Sales remain strong – with more than 1 million cars sold.

Released 2008-01-12

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PHOTO UPDATE

North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan
North American Verve Concept Sedan

VIDEO UPDATE

QUOTATIONS

“The new Ford Fiesta captures every aspect of what’s defined Ford as a small-car leader in Europe and builds on it in terms of driving dynamics and design. When it arrives in North America in 2010, the Ford Fiesta will set a new standard in the small car segment.”
Mark Fields, President of the Americas, Ford Motor Company.

“All the vital elements of ‘kinetic design’ combine to create a visually rich, dynamic exterior shape that is very close indeed to the original concept car. Full surfaces, bold graphics and dynamic lines combine coherently and harmoniously to create a dynamic spirit of fun and energy in motion.”
Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s Executive Director for Design

“The new Ford Fiesta is an example of how good a small car can be, The Fiesta is great to look at, great to drive and it has quality you can see, feel and touch. It’s going to be an important growth product for North America.”
Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president, Marketing and Communications.

“We’re looking at every aspect of what’s defined Ford as a small car leader in Europe and working to build on this expertise in driving dynamics and design across a global family of Ford cars that are as exciting to drive as they are to look at.”
Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company

“Verve aims to ‘right’ North American buyers’ earlier small car experiences by offering a product that changes customers’ views of small cars from ‘cheap’ to chic – and from affordable to desirable.”
J Mays, Group Vice President, Design and Chief Creative Officer, Ford Motor Company

“Millennials will be the defining group of customers in the future, driving all types of consumer trends. Ford’s European-based cars are a great fit for this generation of drivers, who have grown up with the Internet and mobile phones as necessities, not luxuries – believing that bigger isn’t necessarily better, precision is everything and technology rules.”
Jim Farley, Ford Group Vice President, Marketing and Communications

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