Ford unveils subcompact concept

Ford Motor Co. has taken the wraps off a new subcompact concept car that likely will be the basis of a new small vehicle to be sold around the world.

The Verve concept, designed in Europe, competes in what the industry calls the 'B-Car' segment of the market, one that is popular overseas but is smaller than most compact cars sold in the U.S.

Ford officials said that while the rounded Verve is still a concept, elements of it probably will be built into the next generation of subcompact for distribution worldwide.

Derrick Kuzak, head of global product development, said Ford plans to launch a new subcompact between 2008 and 2010.

'It's very representative of what you'll see' in the new vehicle, he said.

Ford already is planning to build the vehicle at a factory being built in Nanjing, China, but it has no plans to export the car from there, said spokesman Said Deep. The company would not say where else the car would be built or when it would come to the U.S. market.

It will officially be unveiled next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the company will gauge reaction from the public, Ford said.