Brazil teaches USA the art of Compacts
Valor Econômico - 02/27/2008
Amidst a financial crisis in its country of origin, Ford has decided to take the knowledge from its Brazilian engineering in the development of the compact cars to the United States, a country whose inhabitants have always valued the large cars and now find themselves forced to review their concepts due to the high prices of the oil and the pressure from environmentalists. Nevertheless, it is not only the experience in the development of the compact models that Ford intends to take from Brazil to its headquarters. Ford also intends to take the techniques of development of ethanol engines which are more efficient than the ones currently existing in the United States. And, if it were possible, copying the formula that led the Brazilian operation to stop having losses and start making successive profits would also be a dream for the international management of the maker. Referred to as the Verve project, the compact car model developed from the Fiesta will be presented in the International Geneva Motor Show this week. In Europe, where it will start being sold this year, the vehicle will carry the name of Fiesta. Regardless of the name, it is different from the Fiesta currently sold in Brazil. The Brazilian Fiesta is the result of a Brazilian engineering project. According to Mark Fields, even though the platform of the Verve project is ready, the Brazilian intervention will lead to the development of different body finishings of the model. With distinct platforms it is possible to make different versions over one same platform, going from hatchbacks to sedans and station-wagons. The American officer explained that sometime ago the branches of one same maker, spread all over the world, did not exchange knowledge for they considered themselves self-sufficient. "But, in order to be competitive, an international company needs to use the knowledge it already has and South America has great engineering talent", he emphasized.