Autoblog: Ford Vertrek Concept previews future global small crossover

[Poetic Justice]

source:autoblog.com

It may look like the strange lovechild of the 2012 Ford Focus and the European-spec Kuga crossover, but the Blue Oval's new Vertrek crossover concept is indeed a visual upgrade compared to current small CUV offerings. The Vertrek, which makes its world debut here at the Detroit Auto Show, previews what's in store for Ford's new global small crossover, set to replace both the Escape here in North America as well as the Kuga abroad.

Powering the Vertrek is Ford's new 1.6-liter EcoBoost inline four-cylinder engine, and the addition of Auto Start-Stop technology means it will be even more efficient. Ford has said that Auto Start-Stop will quickly spread across the brand's product portfolio, and since 90 percent of Blue Oval-badged vehicles will have an EcoBoost option by 2013, fuel efficiency is expected to rise quite dramatically across the automaker's entire lineup. What's more, Ford will be incorporating regenerative braking into its gasoline-powered vehicles, and this system works with the Vertrek's turbocharged engine and start-stop system to boost fuel economy even higher.

The Vertrek also builds upon Ford's Kinetic design language, first seen on the Fiesta hatchback and then carried over to the new Focus sedan and five-door. Sure, the large wheels, small headlamps and futuristic mirrors are purely conceptual design, but Photoshop on some bits from the Focus (with which the Vertrek shares its platform) and a possible production car is indeed in sight. The interior, too, is wholly forward thinking, and while we'd love to see this sort of design on a road-ready crossover, we fully expect a much more toned-down approach.

Click through the galleries of official high-res shots as well as our live shots from the show floor, and follow the jump for Ford's official press release.

Click here for further details at autoblog.com

[phillyc]

Looks the goods. Great looker in fact. Ford Australia, probably should wait for this over the current Kuga (which IMO should've been imported years ago!)

That Regenerative Braking will be what is used on BMW. Ie the alternator only comes on as required to charge the battery (if low) but is used to assist in speed reduction when under cruise control (maintaining speed downhill) or general braking. It's meant to be worth a couple of per cent. But they all add up to savings.

[fou_bleu]

WHEN it gets here - Ford would be stupid not to offer the 2.0 TDCi IMO and hopefully it comes with a manual too - this is the ideal vehicle for me!

Back to the concept... HELL YEAHS! That is awesome!

[dannyhilton]

Screw the new Focus, when I upgrade the Fiesta it'll be to one of these. That thing looks sensational. Muscular, kinetic-like, the stance is fantastic, it's new Ford mixed with current tones and elements of kinetic of old (which I suppose is essentially what the new Ford styling direction is). More importantly, it doesn't scream of over toned American SUV themes, it isn't a box, and it is more than a Focus on stilts. It takes the Kuga, and injects it with some balls.

Give me MyFord Touch, Ford SYNC and all the other goodies and I'll happily get into a SUV type vehicle.

Love this concept car.

[Joe5619]

Looks nice on the outside (really nice actully), not too sure about the inside..

This is the new Escape/ Kuga?? Is it going to be built on the Foucs plantform & will Australia get this one?

[Dr Smith]

And you can now see how the new Terry fit's into this styling theme as well.

[janddbone]

About time, but that interior is awful however!

[Road_Warrior]

Just looks like a sexed up Kuga, not that that is a bad thing.

Just give us this damn car already!

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

And you can now see how the new Terry fit's into this styling theme as well.

I was thinking that too! lol

[bigsta]

looks awesome!!!

Love everything about it...

Whats the go with the side mirrors they look like cameras maybe???

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

This is the new Escape/ Kuga?? Is it going to be built on the Foucs plantform & will Australia get this one?

Yes, yes and not sure. I spoke to one of the chief designers from Ford on Facebook (Ford get all their high profile staff to do sessions chatting to fans, it's great) and he confirmed the next project after the global Focus was the new Escape/Kuga. This will be one of the many cars that'll be built on the Focus platform. You'd assume that it would come here, and from the Thailand factory. As the new Focus will be made there, surely they'd replace the Thai built Escape with this. Would simplify the production line too being based on the same car, being Focus/New Escape.

[jpd80]

Asian Escape is built in Taiwan.

[XR Martin]

Interior is concept, but the exterior isnt.

[vztrt]

Detroit show: Ford Kuga’s Aussie interior connection

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257816001232A4

Ford’s show-stealing Vertrek concept includes a dose of Aussie design ingenuity

12 January 2011

By BYRON MATHIOUDAKIS in Detroit

FORD’S European design boss Martin Smith has praised a young Australian interior designer for his work on the Vertrek compact SUV concept at this year’s Detroit auto show.

“A guy from Australia called Dennis Sartorello did the car; he did a lot of the interior and he did a great job,” said Mr Smith.

“I am particularly proud of the interior. The whole interior was done digitally, and is loosely based on the Iosis Max concept (from the 2009 Geneva motor show).

"It has a very slim instrument panel that looks like it is floating with a wing-like section. It is something we are constantly developing and this is the latest evolution of that.

“And the rocker panel on the concept car actually comes out from underneath the door. It is actually a working step.”

“He (Sartorello) should be very excited with the result.”

Mr Smith said that improving the next-generation Kuga’s rear packaging was one of the Ford’s main objectives, with the Vertrek concept boasting a significantly larger cargo area compared to the current vehicle.

Ford2012 Vertrek center image“We wanted more space back there … because it is one of the criticisms of the Kuga,” he said.

Ford has designed its next-generation compact SUV to have a more international appeal than the existing Kuga, which was originally seen as a Europe-only proposition.

“The Vertrek design was researched in Asia while the actual production car has also been researched all around the world, and with good results in Asia. But whether it has been tested in Australia I don’t know.

“We wanted to make the car more dynamic, to try and convey more efficiency through the profile, and try and include some of the nice surprise and delight features (like the interior).”

Mr Smith said the Vertrek Concept is the latest iteration of Ford’s Kinetic design theme, but adheres to the basic stylistic principles of the current Kuga.

“We went with slimmer lamps – since they seem to have reached their limit (of size) – there is tighter and more controlled surfacing, and the kick-up around the wheel arches (is more pronounced).

“We also have a bolder look at the front that is very similar to the latest Focus.”

“The concept is a close vision of what Ford’s next-generation compact SUV will look like … and you will recognise the production car (in this). We hope it gets a very strong response here in Detroit.”

The Vertrek took about nine months to go from sketch to reality, was designed at Ford’s design studio in Cologne and built in Turin.

[Ohio XB]

Derrick Kuzac said what I've been expecting all along, this vehicle will be the new Kuga AND Escape.


Ok, any guesses on what Ford will do for the name in the US?


Steve