Ford goes after the Versa

[OKVersa]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/....html

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Co. is taking aim at the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa with its Ford Verve subcompact, a concept car that's close to a production version that will hit U.S. shores in 2010.

Ford plans to show three-door and four-door versions of the Verve at the North American International Auto Show, which begins three days of media previews Sunday in Detroit. Ford said the four-door is the basis for a sedan that will go on sale in North America in 2010, while the three-door _ expected to go on sale in Europe later this year _ could also be sold in North America if consumer response is positive. Another version will be sold in Asia starting this year.

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[Rockhound]

Typical reactionary response from the likes of the "Big 2.8". Subcompact sales are growing, gas prices continue to rise, and they'll probably get it here in *two* years?

I must admit, the picture from the Washington Post makes it look great. It has a distinct Mazda look to it, what with the pronounced wheel arches and greenhouse shape.

I just think it's a horrible decision to wait so long. In two years, the Versa will either be nearing an update or have received one, and the other strong sellers in this segment will be entrenched. Just like the Camry and Accord (and to a lesser extent, Altima) - once the domestics come to their senses and offer a worthy competitor (Malibu, Fusion), it's just a decade or so late.

[OKVersa]

Nissan seems to still be clueless about what a winner the Versa is. It was billed as competition to the Fit and Yaris, but in reality it is competition to the Focus, Matrix and Civic. Another thing, the Versa was targeted for the young college students. Look how many of us on this forum are either married with kids or empty nesters (like me.) Since the first time I drove this car, I was puzzled why Nissan isn't going after the soccer mom crowd with this car. The hatch will hold strollers, duffle bags, ice chests, camping equipment and much more. We've hauled two golf bags and an ice chest with ease on golfing days. You put the back seat(s) down and the combinations are endless for the married with kids crowd. When I think of the thousands of dollars of building supplies I've brought home from Lowe's and Home Depot in the hatch, I'm wondering why Nissan isn't working harder at pushing this car.

[ghrshow]

Perhaps they are trying work out Bugs before the hard sell.

Simple things like fuel pump problems need to be worked out to compete with an Icon like the Civic!

[Versa Madness]

Be careful....that Verve might eat you with that big grill! Kinda Fugly!!

[ghrshow]

! Kinda Fugly!!

Come on, the Versa is No Prom Queen! Especially the Versa HB.

[blindsnyper]

wow i just had a great thought

the versa should be sold by.................NISSAN!!

[Versa Madness]

Come on, the Versa is No Prom Queen! Especially the Versa HB.

Prom queen perhaps not, but the Versa front end is a bit more refined in my mind and last time I checked, the Hatch and the Sedan shared the same front end....

[ghrshow]

Prom queen perhaps not, but the Versa front end is a bit more refined in my mind and last time I checked, the Hatch and the Sedan shared the same front end....

Think English Think parallel construction

The reference is to not being a Prom Queen, not the front end.

Last I checked the cars look different from many angles.

[Versa Madness]

Think English Think parallel construction

When I replied to your post, the picture that was shown was the front end pic of the Ford Verve that I posted, then you changed it to the Nissan Versa front end. Never mind

[Andrews Chalmers]

Ford should just bring the international Focus Mk2... to the US..

[motoguy128]

The Ford Verve will be in trouble from the start. The Fit has a redesign comming next year. The Yaris should have an update for 2010 along with the Versa possibly by late next year, since the current design is a global carryover, not brad new for 2007.

I expect it will at least be better than the Festiva or Aspire, but that's not saying much.

I ssume it will be based on a European platform. Probably the same as the Mazda 2.

[BBISHOPPCM]

I'm surprised they didn't call it the "Verfitaccentaveoaris SES"

Seriously, so many people from so many generations have been burned by Ford's shoddy build quality (especially with smaller cars, like the Pinto, Escort (pre-Mazda), Focus, Mustang (4 cyl and mid-80's V6 models), Escape (seriously, that thing is junk!)... they will have to work extra hard to develop a vehicle that will over future customers. First, they have to design a car that doesn't look like it was designed by throwing a blob of clay against a wall; Second, they have to build the car so that the driver is given the impression of a quality, well-made car. Third, they have to engineer the car to last at least 200,000 miles with standard maintenance. So far, they royally screwed up the Focus (too many recalls in a short time, and the car is built like a Power Wheels Jeep). Can they pull it off this time? only time will tell. I'm not shortsighted enough to say the Versa is the best car on the road; but it sure is one of the best!

[KimberKenobi]

Be careful....that Verve might eat you with that big grill! Kinda Fugly!!

I think that looks very retro and I can see how it would appeal to many people.

I think it looks like it'll eat us...

But it's also all squinty... which I like



(also why I put eyebrows on the Camel)

[frankoV]

Think . . . Edsel.

[BBISHOPPCM]

Edsel... hehehe...

[Rockhound]

The Ford Verve will be in trouble from the start...I expect it will at least be better than the Festiva or Aspire, but that's not saying much.

I ssume it will be based on a European platform. Probably the same as the Mazda 2.

Let's hope it's better than the Festiva or Aspire! And Detroit wonders why they can't sell subcompacts competitively - because they haven't been able to build one worthy competitor yet. The souls of the Pinto and Vega continue to haunt their efforts, I guess.

The press is raving about the Mazda2 - if it's anything like the 3, I'm sure it's a sporty car for its class and of good quality. If Ford knew what they were doing, they'd alter the 2 as little as possible. Despite my dislike of Ford (or at least their habit of letting good cars wither on the vine for the last couple decades) I wouldn't mind to see them succeed with this. Just seems that the odds are stacked against them. If gas prices continue to rise, however, I can see that this segment will only continue to grow.

[Versa Madness]

Let's hope it's better than the Festiva or Aspire!

For the record, the car that I drive daily by choice is a 1991 Ford Festiva. My car has 372,000 miles and is still a solid ride getting 45 mpg on the highway. These are great basic cars and fairly easy to work on. They were designed by Mazda and use Mazda parts assembled in Korea by Kia. More info can be found at FordFestiva.com

[Great White Versa]

I had a friend who drove an old festiva in HS, and although we liked to give her a hard time about it (and pick it up and move it around to interesting places in (read 'near') the parking lot), it was always a great car for her. And super cheap to own/operate.

[longo]

Andrew, your short comment got me curious, so I Googled the Euro Focus MK2 and got some idea of why there is so much interest in that model on all the forums.

What is Ford not getting here? They have their Hatchback answer right in front of them.

It is an amazing looking little car, comes in different models and trim levels from mild to wild.....good thing for the others in the Hot Hatch market that Ford is too dumb to do the deal.

After you see the Mk2 we are talking about on this photo link...ask yourself...what 's Fords problem?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lo...91634
Modified by longo at 9:45 PM 1/15/2008

[MinisterofDOOM]

What is Ford not getting here?

Everything.

It's been that way for years. Every new announcement Ford makes further reaffirms the fact that they have absolutely no clue what they are doing. The US Focus is lagging a generation behind the world-market version of the car. The European Fiesta is a popular car and the ideal fit for the Japanese subcompact fighter spot. But they think bringing back hated names, slapping new panels on extremely outdated cars (our Focus is EIGHT YEARS old and just barely redesigned which means Ford intends to drag things out even longer), and bringing in a subcompact in 2 years is adequate.

Like all American automakers, Ford is content to give us only the shabbiest of their offerings. While Europe and Australia enjoy Ford's best models, Ford fumbles about with new solutions to problems that have existed for far too long to be receiving attention only now. New solutions that'll take years to put into action, and will, like the rest of their offerings, be outdated from the first minute they're sold.

[2008nvs]

Modified by 2008nvs at 9:37 AM 1/15/2008

[BBISHOPPCM]

Modified by BBISHOPPCM at 6:39 PM 1/14/2008

[bikeman]

Ford in the U.S. has different issues than they experience in other developed countries. Depending on whose figures we use, it costs U.S. automakers between one and four thousand dollars per vehicle in additional costs because of the costs of maintaining the retired workers. In all other developed counties, these costs are in large part covered by the state. So if U.S. automakers compete on price at the low end, they will lose money on each sale. Not a good long term strategy. First the minivan and then the SUV have keep our automakers from an even worse fate because those vehicles were still profitable. I don't think there's a solution currently on the table. Anyone see a light at the end of the tunnel?

David

[evoxpisces]

I never thought I'd say this about a Ford, but...I want one.

[longo]

"Ford in the U.S. has different issues than they experience in other developed countries. Depending on whose figures we use, it costs U.S. automakers between one and four thousand dollars per vehicle in additional costs because of the costs of maintaining the retired workers."

OK, then put the steering wheel on the other side, load the MK2s' up on ships and send them to North America. Cars are landing in our ports from other countries every day, why not the Ford Focus MK2's?

Versa parts are shipped from Japan all the way to Mexico, and the new deal with Chrysler will see the "Versler" shipped off to other countries as well.

I say Ford could do the same, rather than have thousands of unwanted, unprofitable, made in the USA and Canada cars sitting on dealers lots, unsold beacuse of bad Union Deals that cost them (us) an extra 2 to $4,ooo a vehicle.

But then 99.9% of new 'Hatchback' shoppers never Google, Ford Focus MK2, and see the pictures. Or click on the link below.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lo...91634

I guess Ford's betting on "what they don't know, can't kill us"




Modified by longo at 10:39 PM 1/15/2008

[Andrews Chalmers]

The sad realty is US corporate culture, which makes officers "responsible" to stock holders via quarterly reports + stock holders (who don't really "invest" but seek to buy & sell) = resources are used to boost stock prices & perceived value rather than real longterm value.

Spend $$$ on marketing, sale incentives, rebadging old vehicles to lower expenses, etc...

[OKVersa]

In high school, the football team liked to move around my Volkswagon, too. Sigh.

[OKVersa]

Gee, that was pretty snotty. It's been my observation that people who make comments like that live in their parent's basement playing Halo 24/7. What a silly thing to say!

[BBISHOPPCM]

Yeah, I agree, that was a pretty horrible thing for me to say. I'm going to remove that post. It sounded funny when I wrote it, but I now realize that it is just the opposite.

No, I have never played Halo (and don't even own a video game console, nor do I live with my parents, but I can see how you would come to that conclusion). What's so bad about living in a basement playing Halo anyway?