Mini Fighter

Ford Motor Co. expects to complete studies by year-end on how best to compete in the subcompact segment in North America and likely will tap Mazda Motor Corp. to engineer the necessary small car.

With the success of BMW AG's Mini and DaimlerChrysler AG's plan for its Smart products in the U.S. next year, Ford is giving the segment serious consideration, says Phil Martens, Ford group vice president-North America product creation.

“It's something I want to get done this year,” says Martens, referring to feasibility studies.

Ford's interest in the segment goes beyond selling low-priced vehicles. Small cars boost an OEM's corporate average fuel economy, allowing more leeway for other product plans.

“As the world kind of harmonizes itself, we are going to see a wider range of acceptance in the U.S. and in Canada for B and B-plus size vehicles, which in the past have been viewed as a little too small,” says Martens.

Mazda has been selected to lead engineering on the next-generation B platform for the Ford empire, and it is expected to yield a small vehicle for North America.

Although Mazda's MX Micro Sport concept appears headed for sale in North America later this year and comes off the existing B platform that also spawned the Mazda2, indications are a Ford Mini fighter would wait and come off the next-generation B architecture.