Ford Future & Concept Cars

Spycam: Ford Fiesta Crossover Prototype

Ford may be preparing a Fiesta-based mini-crossover, judging by the looks of this prototype we just spotted undergoing warm weather testing. The vehicle could become a junior sibling to the slightly larger, Focus-based Kuga. That European-designed small crossover is rumored to be arriving in the U.S. next year.

Clearly wearing Fiesta sheet metal, this white-and-black Ford crossover prototype has significantly more ground clearance than the production Fiesta and, we're told, could be sporting an all-wheel-drive system. Take a closer look at the roof of this car and you'll see ballast added on to simulate the taller body this vehicle would receive.

Demand appears to be growing for small, all-wheel drive vehicles -- especially overseas. While Toyota's all-wheel-drive version of the Matrix hatchback hasn't proved to be a sales leader in the U.S., Mini is close to entering this category with the Countryman crossover, and Hyundai has released a teaser sketch just today of the small all-wheel-drive ix20 concept. The latter crossover concept, making its debut at the Paris Motor Show, is not likely bound for U.S. soil should it make production. The same fate could befall a Fiesta crossover.

Ford has plenty of fresh product heading to the U.S. in the near future, from the 2012 Focus to the Grand C-Max people mover. If Ford offered a more rugged version of the Fiesta with a taller body and the same powertrain, could it be a hit Stateside? Or are rumors of the upcoming Kuga already enough to have your eyes rolling?

2010 Beijing Auto Show: Ford Start Concept

 

When it comes to designing eco-friendly urban transportation, automakers have tried just about everything. They've drawn up bubble cars, autonomic pods, even semi-robotic unicycles. Ford however, has decided against cribbing from the pages of a sci-fi novel and opted for something far more conventional: a three-door hatchback. Specifically, the Start concept the automaker unveiled at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.

“Our ambition was to design a car that transcends the practical realities of commuting in these mega cities, and goes beyond just dressing the technology,” said Freeman Thomas, design director. “We wanted to design a car you would also love.”

There’s little not to love about the Start, Ford’s first concept in three years, and the first developed under the global auspices of the “One Ford” mantra. Although the Start shows traces of Ford’s “kinetic” design language, its rounded form is much more elegant. Angular edges are limited to both the shoulder lines and the slender, LED-powered headlamp and taillights. Thomas says the Start features “refined surface language” usually found on premium vehicles, and we’d agree -- from some angles, the Start almost resembles Audi’s new A1.

Function doesn’t necessarily follow form, however, as stylists made an effort to improve the car’s aerodynamics. Many surfaces, including the windshield, side window glass, and center stop lamp, are flush with the body, while an underbody aero pan further reduces the Start’s drag. The interior is as equally stylish and functional -- the floating dual-cockpit dashboard lends a sporty look, but a conceptual infotainment system, billed as “MyFord Mobile,” incorporates a multi-function touch screen to simplify the center stack.

While the Start’s form allowed Thomas’ team to flex their creative muscle, the mechanicals beneath the car are firmly rooted in reality. Ford’s teased the idea of an EcoBoost three-cylinder, but this is our first look at such an engine. The turbocharged, 1.0-liter I-3 utilizes a cast-iron block, but a cylinder head and sump fabricated from cast aluminum. Ford won’t talk power figures, saying only that early tests suggest it can produce power on par with its 1.6-liter I-4, which is rated at 120 horsepower in North America. Power is routed to the front wheels via an ordinary five-speed manual transaxle.

Ford says the EcoBoost three-cylinder would allow the Start to emit well under 100 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. That’s not a crucial figure here in North America, but it is in Europe, where Ford sells the similar-sized Ka. We doubt the Start is destined for production anytime soon, but look for the turbo-three to land in some small European Fords in the near future.