<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/detroit-auto-show/" rel="tag">Detroit Auto Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/"><img hspace="0" border="0" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/01-ford-vertrek-concept630opt.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Ford Vertrek Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
It may look like the strange lovechild of the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/focus">2012 Ford Focus</a> and the European-spec <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/kuga">Kuga</a> 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 <a href="http://autoblog.com/category/detroit-auto-show">Detroit Auto Show</a>, previews what's in store for Ford's new global small crossover, set to replace both the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/escape">Escape</a> here in North America as well as the Kuga abroad.<br />
<br />
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 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/ford-expanding-start-stop-technology-to-non-hybrid-models/">quickly spread</a> 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.<br />
<br />
The Vertrek also builds upon Ford's Kinetic design language, first seen on the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/fiesta">Fiesta</a> 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.<br />
<br />
We'll have live shots of the Vertrek shortly, but in the meantime, click through our gallery of official high-res shots below, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/#continued">follow the jump</a> for Ford's official press release.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/">Ford Vertrek Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765555"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/01-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625295_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765556"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/02-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625296_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765557"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/03-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625298_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765558"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/04-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625300_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765559"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/05-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625302_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Detroit 2011: Ford Vertrek Concept previews future global small crossover</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/">Detroit 2011: Ford Vertrek Concept previews future global small crossover</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19790009/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Ford Vertrek Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br />
It may look like the strange lovechild of the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/focus">2012 Ford Focus</a> and the European-spec <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/kuga">Kuga</a> 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 <a href="http://autoblog.com/category/detroit-auto-show">Detroit Auto Show</a>, previews what's in store for Ford's new global small crossover, set to replace both the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/escape">Escape</a> here in North America as well as the Kuga abroad.<br />
<br />
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 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/ford-expanding-start-stop-technology-to-non-hybrid-models/">quickly spread</a> 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.<br />
<br />
The Vertrek also builds upon Ford's Kinetic design language, first seen on the <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/fiesta">Fiesta</a> 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.<br />
<br />
We'll have live shots of the Vertrek shortly, but in the meantime, click through our gallery of official high-res shots below, and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/#continued">follow the jump</a> for Ford's official press release.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/">Ford Vertrek Concept</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765555"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/01-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625295_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765556"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/02-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625296_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765557"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/03-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625298_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765558"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/04-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625300_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/ford-vertrek-concept-0/#3765559"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/01/05-ford-vertrek-concept-1294625302_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Ford Vertrek Concept" title="Ford Vertrek Concept" /></a></div><br />
[Source: Ford]<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Detroit 2011: Ford Vertrek Concept previews future global small crossover</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/">Detroit 2011: Ford Vertrek Concept previews future global small crossover</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19790009/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/ford-vertrek-concept-detroit-2011/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
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