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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 @ Aug 27th 2007 5:06PM
Ford Shouldn't dump the name Fiesta.
the 80s @ Aug 27th 2007 5:09PM
Built it and call it the all new escort and get rid of that fugly focus.
jamesc @ Aug 27th 2007 5:13PM
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.
SPG @ Aug 27th 2007 5:19PM
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 @ Aug 27th 2007 9:50PM
@ 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 @ Aug 28th 2007 1:55AM
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 @ Aug 27th 2007 5:23PM
best angle 3/4 view http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-verve-concept/365174/full/
John P. @ Aug 27th 2007 5:42PM
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 @ Aug 27th 2007 5:25PM
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!!!
Eldiablo @ Aug 27th 2007 5:29PM
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?
Chris Vitale @ Aug 27th 2007 5:29PM
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.
PuffyC @ Aug 27th 2007 5:29PM
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.
the 80s @ Aug 27th 2007 5:47PM
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
Tsunami Racer @ Aug 27th 2007 5:57PM
what exactly is a "verve"?
Chris Vitale @ Aug 27th 2007 6:11PM
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 @ Aug 27th 2007 6:33PM
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 @ Aug 27th 2007 6:00PM
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.
the 80s @ Aug 27th 2007 6:14PM
Old escort commercial link -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuzQ3KtgCkI
Level @ Aug 27th 2007 6:34PM
I bet my left twinkie this car will never make it to america. It too damn cute...We preffer old ugly cars on old platforms....::sarcasm::
Jeff R. @ Aug 27th 2007 6:48PM
Ford is going to spend way too much time worrying about the name (like the have been doing with their vehicles lately), and the "Verve" production car (if there will be one) will be very compromised from the concept.
And I don't like the name Verve too much anyway. The Escort and Fiesta were nothing special, but those names are at least instantly recognizable to consumers. Verve is just another cheesy one-syllable name, like Edge and Flex.