Ford shows verve with its radical new Fiesta

Shape shifter... it started as the Verve concept, but Ford's new car will be called a Fiesta

As we revealed exclusively in the Irish Independent last week, Ford has gone radical with the shape of their new Fiesta global car. So far they have just shown the 4dr, but will reveal the 5dr at Geneva.

Ford had suggested that it was looking at an alternative to the Fiesta name a couple of years ago, although chief executive Alan Mulally was known not to be keen on ditching time-served and instantly-recognisable names. The three concept Fiestas had been called Verve and it was expected that a 4dr saloon model for Asian and North American markets would be badged with that name, but Fiesta won through in the end.

John Fleming, Ford of Europe chief executive, said: "We know there isn't a better name for the new model and we have more than 30 years of investment in the Fiesta brand to consider."

The new car will go into production at Cologne, Germany this autumn, then at Valencia in Spain. It is the same size as its predecessor, but will be between 40-60lb lighter. Five engines will be offered, including Ford's 67bhp 1.4-litre turbodiesel and four petrol units.