Spy pics – Ford Australia tests Verve based small car
July 3, 2009 by Paul Maric
After exclusive spy pictures of Ford Australia testing the upcoming Ford Ranger/Mazda BT-50, our spy guy has now snapped some interesting photos of Ford Australia testing a new small car based on the Ford Verve concept.
The new small car will be used throughout India as Ford’s new entry level model, and will also makes its debut in Brazil and Europe.
Fitted with petrol and diesel variants, the new small car will be built in both sedan and hatchback versions. Petrol variants of the new small car are likely to receive a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, while the diesel variants pictured will receive 1.5-litre diesel engines.
The new model is expected to be announced in mid-2010, but probably won’t be released for public consumption until a few months later.
With a global recession in full swing, the American car giant Ford is trying to downsize – in more ways than one – and renew its riches in the way of compact cars, which are bound to be popular in overseas destinations such as India and Brazil.
Ford will attempt to decrease production costs by localising the assembly and production of the car in the country where it is being built.
Keep checking back as we post more information about the new small car closer to its release.
Print it: 
Does it really look as good as the concept pic under all those stripes ?
So…uhh..is this car being tested by FoA on behalf of a foreign market? I.E. the car won’t be retailed here..
Bavarian Missile: underneath the camo is the old 2004-2008 Ford Fiesta
I wish to inform you that the vehicle presented as a Verve based prototype car is actually the previous generation Ford Fiesta.
The sedan version you mention , is being sold in South Africa and India as the Ford Ikon.
The Ikon Sedan’s Nose Will in probability be grafted onto the Fiesta ( Hatch). Hence the Covers up front.
Kind Regards.
Henry Le Roux.
Henry Le Roux:
Although it shares design traits with the outgoing Fiesta, this is the base to the new design and engineering concept.
It’s similar to the Ranger photos we also received. They are using BT-50 headlights, despite the rest of the package being an engineered version of the T6 project.
Road Warrior:
Much like the Ranger photos we have received, Ford Australia is doing the engineering work on a number of international products.
They won’t tell us whether this car is destined for Australia or not.
But, if it is produced locally alongside the Focus, you can probably think that it will indeed be released in Australia.
Oh really Schwartz and Henry,I was wondering why they hadnt covered the tail lights.Then again if its just a mule why bother with any of the camouflage. I guess you have just cleared that up Henry.Thanks.
Quote “They won’t tell us whether this car is destined for Australia or not”
Well after reading this today Im confused at where and what Ford are doing with the Focus too.
Quote “” Since it first came to the market in 2000, Ford’s Focus has been consistently lauded for its crisp “European handling,” and thanks to a Ford of Europe press release yesterday, that bromide sounded like it was about to become truer than ever. The release in question announced that the next all-new Focus is to be sourced from a single location – the Blue Oval’s Saarlouis Plant in Germany. Quite understandably, that proclamation caused a bit of consternation here in the States, with some news outlets reporting that North American Focus models will also originate from the German facility. Not so.
Autoblog spoke with Lincoln, Mercury communications manager Mark Schirmer this morning (despite his title, Schirmer has been tasked with preparing for the U.S. launch of the 2010 car) and he has re-confirmed that all North American Focus models will originate from a freshly renovated Wayne Assembly Plant in Michigan (something that Ford officials initially promised back in May).
The intention of FoE’s confusingly worded statement was to note that Saarlouis is to be the single point of origin for all European Focus models. In addition to Saarlouis and Wayne, Ford will also likely produce the next Focus at a plant somewhere in Asia, but a location announcement has not yet been made.”"
Oh yes it has ………..Australia . Isnt it ?
Lol my antispam word was Ford….
It’s really great to see Ford of Australia developing literally world-class cars. They did it with the Indian Fiesta sedan, and here they’re doing it again. Ford of Europe must’ve been impressed because they adopted the same NVH package for the Fiesta hatch midlife facelift (much like VW did after trying the Octavia with the Jetta). It’s much the same at Holden (with the Camaro etc)
The Verve concept was for the current new Fiesta so doesn’t this new small car would just be another Fiesta?
Wait the spy pics look like they have the old Fiesta rear lights. I dont get it. I think all these recent Ford/Mazda sightings are so recent after all.
Well the car in the spy shots is the old Ford Fiest, the concept is the new Fiesta allready being sold here in europe.
The car in the spyshots its this one:
http://www.vsp.com.br/admin/ed.....a%20st.jpg
Thanks Blue Eagle
Shak:
As I mentioned earlier, forget what the prototype looks like, it’s all smoke and mirrors.
BlueEagle:
No, it’s not the vehicle you have linked to. It is the vehicle which will become the entry level model in Ford India’s lineup.
They remain with previous designs until the vehicle design is finalised. The vehicles pictured have revised front ends but maintain a similar rear end to the outgoing Fiesta.
The main focus is on the drive train which is undergoing a total revamp.
I personally prefer the Iosis “MAX” Concept to the Verve.
If it ever made it into production or even if it ended up being the car that Ford Oz are expected to build in 2010..I would definitely consider buying one. Its a funkier looking fiesta with a number of unique / cool features
Those two concept pictures look so much like the Peugeot 207, abiet the rear t/lights
Interesting…it sure do looks like another Fiesta. Ford does produce good cars and it’s nice that models are improving and definitely world class.
Nice pics. :-)
Henry Le Roux
Actually the vehicle designed in Aust for India is being sold above the Ikon in India as the Fiesta sedan. Paul is very close in his thoughts of this being a new model for India and SE Asia region.
Whilst it looks similar to the WP WQ Fiesta shape, there are some distinct differences, try the Accent line down the side of the vehicle the rear wheel arch flares. Distinctly different to the previous model, roof line will be different to Verve due to rquirement s of (believe it or not, but it is true) Indian head wear. Dash needs to be able to carry Tallismans etc so there are strict items required.
Remember that Ford Australia is a design and engineering center of excellence within the company’s global product development community!
(I copied that quote from http://www.ultimatecarpage.com.....ture.html)
Paul Maric: There is no change to the drivetrain.
its quite odd really. Id say its the next gen fiesta to replace the current indian model. If you look closely you can see taht the there is a side crease not ont he last gen fiesta
It would appear that they are developing a “Pizza Delivery/Curry Delivery special” judging by the roof mounted spotties in the first pic. Or has it just got crap headlights?
looks like a feista to me
Chris:
From what we’ve been told, it’s to help spot kangaroos at Ford’s testing facility as the cars are often driven overnight for durability testing.