Germany: Ford Verve concept at Frankfurt motor show to preview Fiesta replacement
Friday, August 24, 2007, AutomotiveWorld.com
Ford is to unveil the Verve, a concept car which indicates the OEM's future small-car design, at the Frankfurt motor show on 11 September. The concept was created by designers from Ford's studios in Dunton, England and Cologne, Germany.
Ford says the Verve is the first of three concept vehicles that will be unveiled in Europe, Asia and North America. Sources indicate this means two further concepts will be released at the Guangzhou and Detroit motor shows in November and January.
The Verve builds on the 'kinetic design' concept that featured in Ford's iosis and iosis X concepts, and production cars such as the new Mondeo. The car's exterior design highlights include a structure that has no B-pillar, a large inverted trapezoidal lower grille and a panoramic glass roof.
The design of the rearward-stretching headlights are based on those of the Mondeo and feature two projector beams and an LED array. The interior of the concept primarily features full surfaces and flowing contours, especially the instrument and door panels, according to its designers.
According to the OEM, the Verve incorporates the Ford Convers+ system, its latest-generation Human Machine Interface (HMI) which features on the Mondeo. Another design change is that the OEM has separated the screen, control elements and electronics, which Ford says, has allowed for better ergonomic positioning of these elements.
The replacements for Europe's Fiesta three- and five-door hatchbacks are expected in production form at the Geneva show in March 2008, with cars due to reach dealers six-eight months later. Though Ford is believed to be considering a name change for the Fiesta, this remains speculation.
Published on Friday, August 24, 2007
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