Filed under: Spy Photos, Economy, Japan, Ford, Mazda
Spy Shots: Ford Verisa on U.S. soil?
Could this be the B segment car that Alan Mulally obliquely referred to between Shrub jokes during his NYIAS keynote? What we have here is a Mazda Versia, a JDM car that Ford may be considering bringing to the US. That'd explain it tooling around the Dearborn area, and it looks like it was snagged in California a while ago, too. It'd slot nicely under the Focus and inject some new life into small cars at Ford. We're thinking that the "I made it myself" bodywork of this mule is not an attempt to appeal to the bodykit and bewinged crowd, and just hastily assembled for engineering tests. Powered by a 1.6-liter four cylinder, fuel economy should be solidly in the 30s, while the Mazda roots at least hold the potential that it'll run with the Honda Fit. That's our hope, anyway -- because the worst case scenario has it recalling the Aspire. [Source: Popular Mechanics]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 9:15AM (4/24/2007)
Perhaps the European Fiesta is the better choice as a Fit competitor.
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the marais 9:44AM (4/24/2007)
#1 I agree. I do not understand quite frankly why GM and Ford insist on pushing Asian models on us to fill the small car segment (Daewoo, Mazda, etc.), when Americans would most likely prefer the European models (Fiesta, Corsa, etc.). If the 2.5 are going for "small and cheap," then I guess Korea is the answer. If however they want "small and stylish," Europa, Europa, Europa.
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Mike 9:48AM (4/24/2007)
Maybe it's a Toyota Echo that just got in an accident...
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bison 10:39AM (4/24/2007)
That's a pretty bad hood gap, even for a Ford.
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ClutchCargo 10:56AM (4/24/2007)
pretty bland isn't it. It will be even blander when Ford "Americanizes" it. They still don't get it. In a statement about the global B car they said Americans want a plain entry level look to their small cars. No, Dealers want that so they can sell more expensive, larger ,option loaded cars. Ford needs to stop listening to the guys in the white leather shoes for a while.
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RJ 11:10AM (4/24/2007)
I think it comes down to money. Yes the European offerings seem to be superior to the vehicles from Asia. But in the same respect I think it probably costs a lot more to produce those European cars, thereby further cutting into the low profits of small cars in the USA. I have been waiting for a reason to get back onto a Ford car lot and drive something from an American brand. But quite honestly, the Honda Fit is an excellent vehicle so the bar is set pretty high for Ford. I just hope they can reach it.
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C. McFeeny 11:16AM (4/24/2007)
I guess some of you commenting folks above don't know what autoblog.com means when they refer to something as a "mule".
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RJ 11:41AM (4/24/2007)
C McFeeny, get off your high horse and offer up a comment with some substance, otherwise you're no better than those who don't know what a mule is.....
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naggs 11:55AM (4/24/2007)
RJ, get off your high horse and offer up a comment with some substance, otherwise you're no better than those who know what a mule is....
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doglet 12:01PM (4/24/2007)
people are critizing how it looks and its a mule... how is pointing that out lacking substance?
anyways, ford has promised a b-car made specifically for north america. some people have even seen it at the ford model preview way back when. it supposedly wont look european or japanese, word on the street is its a looker. we will just have to wait and see. i hope they put a turbo in a 2200 lbs car, i wouldnt even care that its fwd, would still be a blast to drive.
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Robert 12:06PM (4/24/2007)
Americans would love the Euro Fiesta if they only had to pay $12-15k for it. Seriously. If Ford brought over the Fiesta and tried to charge as much as a Focus, it would fall flat. Why? Because Ford's brand is not strong enough to carry a Euro-based car. In Europe, people pay $20k for Fiestas as a matter of rutine. They pay up to $35k for Focuses and $45k for Mondeos. Yes, the Focus and Mondeo are considered rivals of BMW in every way in Europe, but our U.S. perceptions prevent us from considering it in the same category. Do you really think Mazda makes money on the 3? Do you really think Ford would make money on a Euro Focus or Fiesta over here?
Perception. That's why we will get an Asian sourced subcompact first.
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Rick Lyon 12:40PM (4/24/2007)
It doesn't look too bad, but it's so boxy! Why no curves? No sporty natured appearance? So we in the states get another boring, uninspired small car (compared to the sporty euro cars) and people continue to say small cars don't sell in the states. Correction- Small UGLY cars don't sell in the US.
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That One Person 1:26PM (4/24/2007)
Some people on here just cant be pleased by what Ford does. It's truly amazing.
They are finally bringing a B-car here and everyone bitches. I would love a Fiesta too but it honestly doesnt look any more "sporty" then this thing does...unless it's one of the "sport" versions they sell. Have any of you seen a Fiesta in person? I have. I have seen two Fiestas running around Dearborn. And while it looks good, it just doesnt exactly scream "I'm hot".
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Bryan 1:30PM (4/24/2007)
Did anyone ever stop to think this might be one of a few cars they are debating to be the new small car in Ford's lineup? Did you ever stop and think...oh wait..why am I asking? Half the people on here rarely think. ClutchCargo comes to mind.
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Will 3:31PM (4/24/2007)
I'm thinking this is one of the "other" small cars said to be coming along with the fiesta. That or absolutely nothing worthwhile.
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adelossa 4:17PM (4/24/2007)
Hopefully this will go to Ford, and Mazda will still bring the '2 here.
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mikes 8:18PM (4/24/2007)
to 11:
While I dont disagree with most of your post, I question the notion that Mazda doesn't make any money on the 3. The 3 is Mazda's best selling vehicle and Mazda is making money right now. It'd be hard to be losing money on each 3 they sell, while still making a profit overall (even if you are just referring to the US market). You have proof for your statement?
I think Ford would make money on a Euro Focus priced where the 3 and Civic are right now. However, that is several thousands higher than what the current Focus sells for. While the 3, civic, rabbit can carry a higher price tag, the name Focus currently can't in the US. I think that's why Ford has been reluctant to bring the Euro Focus over.
If Ford were smart, they would just turn Mercury into their Euro brand and start bringing over the Euro Focus, Mondeo for premiums (2-4000) over the current US Focus and Fusion.
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AAM 12:24AM (4/30/2007)
with all the [forgive me] cute ultra-mini cars both in the EU & Asia why would they even think about that car? The Nissan [Jikoo & Figaro] & New Fiat 500 come to mind in this segment, OR its only been 8 years what about the FORD O21c???? Why is it the suits at the big 2.5 INSIST on making small ugly cars & saying they can't make money on them?
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