Ford could rename Fiesta as Verve
click above image for gallery of high-res pics
Since the mid-1970s, Ford's entry-level model in Europe has been sold bearing the Fiesta badge, but that will likely soon change. The new next generation car will be coming to the U.S. market in 2009 and it's been rumored for some time that a new name is in the works. For a while it even looked like the Escort badge might get revived for the new hatch.
Ford has unveiled the concept version of the new B-Car wearing the name 'Verve', and rumor has it that name may well stick. On the other hand, CEO Alan Mulally has demonstrated a preference for keeping or reviving nameplates that have some recognition, such as the Taurus and Sable, so 'Fiesta' and maybe 'Escort' in the U.S. is still a possibility. We may not know for sure until next March when the production version debuts at the Geneva Motor Show.
[Source: MotorAuthority]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jonathan Hicks 5:06PM (8/27/2007)
Ford Shouldn't dump the name Fiesta.
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the 80s 5:09PM (8/27/2007)
Built it and call it the all new escort and get rid of that fugly focus.
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jamesc 5:13PM (8/27/2007)
Escort, sold. What's wrong with Escort. Do what they did for the Civic and Corolla, don't change the name every so often, it doesn't really help sales, it's just confusing everyone.
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SPG 5:19PM (8/27/2007)
If this car comes to North America they are going to have to call it the Verve or somthing along those lines.
Otherwise people are not going to take it seriously.
The not so informed will think Festiva and not Fiesta.
Jon 9:50PM (8/27/2007)
@ SPG:
"If this car comes to North America they are going to have to call it the Verve or somthing along those lines.
Otherwise people are not going to take it seriously.
The not so informed will think Festiva and not Fiesta."
The not so informed do not know what a Festiva is.
Also understand that the Toyota Corrolla has been around forever; it just keeps changing and evolving. That is how the Japanese brands do so well. They don't fool around with name changes every time they do a refresh.
Sean 1:55AM (8/28/2007)
The not so informed do not know what a Festiva is.
Indeed. Despite its econobox image that led a lot of people to think that it was perhaps a half-step above the Yugo, the Festiva was an incredibly reliable and amazinly economical vehicle (though definitely not safe by any measure of the imagination). I owned a 93 for ten years, and in those ten years of relatively rough treatment (I took it a lot of places those cars were never meant to go, like down rutted-out forest service roads as well as on a couple of road trips down into Mexico) it never once left me on the side of the road. Sure, there were the same kind of routine maintenace items that all cars have (my car particularly went through mufflers and brake pads), but they were very cheap to keep in shape. Those tiny 13 inch tires cost $25 apiece! And the thing routinely got 40+ MPG. I finally sold it for something much safer (a Volvo 850, btw) once I started feeling unsafe among the sea of SUVs out there. Now that I've experienced a couple of year's worth of Volvo maintenance costs (I swear, it's $1,000 every time I do something to it) and the 850's relatively poor fuel economy, I'm actually really missing that little tin can on wheels. If the modern version was durable, cheap to operate and safer than the original, I'd buy another Festiva in a heartbeat. Of course, the orignal was a Kia... so all the Korean car haters, flame away ;-)
Tim 5:23PM (8/27/2007)
best angle 3/4 view http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-verve-concept/365174/full/
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John P. 5:42PM (8/27/2007)
yep, and the girl's not so bad either. I had to bring it up. sorry people.
I'd go over to the dealer and buy it today if it was for sale and if it drives as well as it looks. Actually, if it drives like the Focus, it'll be a winner.
Phil 5:25PM (8/27/2007)
I wouldn't care what they named it. But here's what itches my noodle: while Ford is pushing beautiful, or at least somewhat appealing, new products every year why is the new 2008 Focus so freakin' ugly?
I would rather buy a fully loaded Fiesta/Escort/Verve to have the same equipment despite the smaller size, all becuase of the styling! How vain, yet unavoidable!!!
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PuffyC 5:29PM (8/27/2007)
Wow, if they build THAT car, call it a Verve, and price it like an Escort they'll never be able to keep up with demand. That is sweet.
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Eldiablo 5:29PM (8/27/2007)
Taking a second look at these photo's after last weeks story, it does look like a Citroen C4 ripoff. Does this one dance too?
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Chris Vitale 5:29PM (8/27/2007)
Both Escort and Fiesta are horrible names. In America, neither one has good memories to go along with the name, like the Taurus does. Why don't they just call them the hooker and the party. Actually, you could just combine both models and call it the Hooker Party. It has a nice ring to it.
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robert bell 7:02PM (8/27/2007)
At some point Ford is going to have to begin delivering unique and original product that is stylish, affordable and durable rather than spending so much time worrying about names and corporate adherance to a three gar grill as a "signauture"
The recent circle jerk over renaming and badging the 500 Taurus must have consumed hundreds of man and woman hours of mangement time to suggets, evaluate and implement that decision. And, what do we get....the same pedestrian styling only with a new three bar grill.
I realize Ford is stuck with some of its products for a time certain due to development cycles and sunk costs, but it seems to me The Way Forward is more about PR campaigns than solid product development and breakthrough cars.
The Verve is an attractive package for a small car and Ford would likely have success if they bring it here as a replacement for the Focus or a next generation Escort but all this debate is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic unless they show some more creativity and urgency to their fundamental problem of boring styling and pedestrian cars.
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the 80s 5:47PM (8/27/2007)
eeeeeee ssssss cccccc oooooo rrrrrrrr ttttttttttt
e s c o o r r t
e ss c o o r r t
eee s c o o rrrrr t
e ss c o o r r t
e s c o o r r t
eeeeeee ssssss ccccc oooooo r r t
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Tsunami Racer 5:57PM (8/27/2007)
what exactly is a "verve"?
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Chris Vitale 6:11PM (8/27/2007)
verve (vûrv)
n.
1. Energy and enthusiasm in the expression of ideas, especially in artistic performance or composition: The revival lacked the verve of the original musical.
2. Vitality; liveliness. See Synonyms at vigor.
3. Archaic Aptitude; talent.
Tsunami Racer 6:33PM (8/27/2007)
thanks. i think the definition is too poetic for us 'Mericans. we need to keep it simple:
Fiesta: a mexican party with pinatas
Focus: what our 2nd grade teacher used to yell at us
Cougar: a big kitty
Mustang: horsie
Pinto: beans
Escort: who we call when the old lady's out of town visiting her mother
Bill 6:00PM (8/27/2007)
In this case I think they should start fresh and call it Verve. I would like to consider buying a small Ford again, but my 1983 Escort experience left me scarred for life, so the Escort name is best forgotten (although the later ones were ok). I don't think there are that many people who have warm fuzzy memories of Escorts.
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naggs 8:36PM (8/27/2007)
ford verve has a nice ring to it. get if over here asap
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the 80s 6:14PM (8/27/2007)
Old escort commercial link -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzQ3KtgCkI
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