The battle for control of Britain’s new car market starts right here… Charged with overhauling the Vauxhall Corsa as the country’s best-seller, the stunning Ford Verve is at the core of a plan to make the blue oval Europe’s most exciting motor manufacturer.
Such aggressive, ambitious ideas call for radical solutions. The Verve will replace the Fiesta when it goes on sale in November 2008. But does it deliver? To find out, Auto Express got behind the wheel for the test drive everybody wanted.
Unveiled at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Verve proves there is more to small Fords than the Fiesta. While that car drives well, the Corsa has shown buyers want something as good to look at as it is to spend time in. And the Verve certainly delivers. Muscular Focus-style wheelarches and svelte bodywork give a dynamic shape, as if it’s ready to leap forwards. It’s a world away from the slab sides of the Fiesta, and has a chic yet sporty feel.
But Ford’s designers are adamant this car must look as desirable as it is functional. So while it sits on sporty 18-inch, 12-spoke alloys, the Verve would have just as much appeal on smaller wheels and without some of the chrome detailing around the window line. Slip inside, and you’re left in no doubt that Ford is pushing boundaries. The door handles are shocking pink, as are the seatbelts, and there’s bright pink stitching on the seats.
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