http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...rd_fiesta.html


Yowza!

 

Is every new European Ford supposed to look like Mondeo?

 

very cool little car. lets see what the production one looks liek though.

 

ehh...I think it looks like a Yaris. The front end is too tall.

 

Unified design theme.

 

So do we really get the Fiesta here in the US or not?

 

The front end has to be tall, as they have different crash standards for pedestrian impact. What I mean is, the cars can't be too low anymore over there, if its a major manufacturer. The bumpers have to be high enough, that if they do hit a pedestrian crossing the street, they impact them at a certain height on their body. Its a bit confusing, but see the picture below, and you'll get the idea. Its why alot of big manufacturers are going with the taller frontends (BMW comes to mind 1st).

 

Yep. 2009 I think.

 

not bad..looks a bit like the Citreon C-Sportlounge concept

 

and right on cue... I just finished reading this thread then went back to Autoblog to find this on the front page:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/f...verve-concept/




very hot! I can only hope....

 

that's it.... These European Ford's are just too hot. I'm fed up with waiting for these cars to show up in North America, so i'm just gonna move to Europe.

seriously though, i'm moving to London in a month, which me luck in finding a job that'll pay well enough to get a nice new ford some day.

 

Very good looking little ride!

 

wow i did not expect it to have the great proportions on the drawing. They did a great job!


comparing this car to the look of the yaris is just wrong in so many ways.

 

The Fiesta, judging by the sketches and now some pics of the concept, look to be modern, sophisticated, edgy without being goofy, will probably have cutting edge performance and dynamics for the class. Where US model designs tend to be either guarded (Taurus nee 500, Fusion), goofy (focus) or overwrought, Ford of Europe is developing a fleet of modern, contemporary, tastefull yet exciting designs.

So, well, to answer your question given all the above, no. We'll get some primped, pimped and barely warmed-over version of some decade old chassis at best with one foot already in the rental car fleets the day it's released.

 

I like it, and Ford NA could use good small car. Now I'm just wondering what the front grill would look like blacked out... hmm...

 

that's definitely been the case in the past, but i have faith that things can change, and that things are changing with this company right now.

 

I did not really compare it to the Yaris....What I really meant was, that if Ford isnt carefull with the production design, it might wind up looking like that way..

PS...looks like they built the concept, then drew it...cause it is right on.

 

Great looking car, I hope the NA version that shows up at Detroit looks that good.

 

Some more images of the Verve concept and I think it looks really good, very classy and sophisticated, yet not at all stodgy or plain and still a bit fun and perky. The big grill opening has somehow been deftly integrated into the overall styling, so instead of coming of a overpowering, it, rather, is a bit whimsical. The rest is a well done, sophisticated execution of Ford's latest design language which works beautifully on this small scale. Rather than clumsily trying to scale down the whole design of a large car into a smaller one as, say, Dodge/Chrysler has done with going from the Charger to the Avenger, it has exquisitely translated the design language and styling cues to a small car in a much more natural, less forced way.

I think a design like this belies the perception many Americans have that small econoboxes by necessity are penalty boxes -- that size and quality are inextricably linked. Mini, the Mazda 3 and VW Golf, among some other cars, have shown that small, efficient cars can be much more than dray cartage for those of limited means.

Presuming Ford could translate the Verve concepts styling faithfully into a production Verve/Fiesta (huge, quasi-delusional presumption here), then I could see this a being a very compelling small and/or urban car that's highly desireable in its own right, not just in lieu of being able to afford something bigger. Given the great reception of the Mini, Beetle, Mazda 3 ... to the American market, and the sheer lack of a decent (aged and uglified Focus no longer in contention) small car in their lineup, bringing this over the pond would be great. Make a perky, zippy little turboed Hi Po version and suddenly, >$3/gallon gas need not be seen as such an enthusiasts buzz kill.

 

More images of the Verve here. Beautiful compact. Let's hope it makes it over here, with the Kinetic design theme intact.