Ford’s B-Segment Verve: A Slice of Europe Shows Up in Detroit

Verve Photos

Ford has converted the Verve to fit North American tastes. (Photo: Ford)

The three-bar grille hasn't disappeared. It's been incorporated into the European design. (Photo: Ford)

Colors and textures add to the Verve's modern appeal. (Photo: Ford)

INFORMATION EMBARGOED UNTIL SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, AT MIDNIGHT

Ford’s Verve sedan has just made the trip across the Atlantic and is starring at this year’s North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This is a big deal for Ford, considering the brand is one of the only major players in the industry not to cater to the subcompact segment, a field that’s growing in popularity by the day. It’s a big deal for other reasons too, as this B-segment car is one of the first strong signs of the amalgamation of Ford’s global efforts in terms of its engineering, design and styling.

What’s being shown at Detroit is the version of the Verve that Ford would sell here in North America, if it decides to do so. It has the preferred body style of the North American market place – the four-door sedan – although the appearance of the car follows the European “kinetic” design philosophy, with the shape of the front and back ends looking very similar to that of the Mondeo and S-Max, two popular and critically acclaimed European products. And while it may look a whole lot like the Verve sedan that was shown in China at the close of last year, the North American Verve features a different front end that incorporates the “Red White and Bold” three bar grille, but in a much more conservative fashion. The car also features the Ford logo in the center of the grille, although it is more prominent than in the European and Asian concepts. Additionally, Ford will show off the first of the Verve concepts, the three-door hatchback model, which debuted at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, to gauge opinions. If show-goers like it enough, Ford might consider introducing it here as well.

J Mays, Ford’s VP of Design says, “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.”

If Ford is able to deliver something along the lines of what is being presented in the Verve concept, than they ought to be successful with their goals. The little four door uses bright colors and unusual textures for the dash and seats, giving the subcompact a much higher-end appearance than its rivals. The console sits up on the dashboard with an inset display, and is controlled via a keypad that mimics the look of modern cell phones and other consumer electronic devices.

Because the Verve is more or less a styling project, there isn’t much in the way of powertrain info. Ford says that the Verve Concept is powered by a highly efficient four-cylinder engine, and by the looks of the interior it features an automatic; most likely the Durashift clutchless manual or Ford’s new PowerShift twin-clutch gearbox. Ford wants to have a subcompact car like the Verve on the market by 2010, although it is likely that the European model that will be related to it – the replacement to the popular Fiesta – will be launched sometime next year.