Ford Verona
| Ford Verona/Volkswagen Apollo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Autolatina |
| Also called | Volkswagen Apollo Ford Orion |
| Production | 1989-1992 and 1993-1996 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Del Rey |
| Successor | Ford Escort saloon |
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Also called | Volkswagen Apollo |
| Production | 1989-1992 |
| Assembly | São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Related |
Ford Orion Ford Escort |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.6 L AE 1600 1.8 L AP 1800 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,402 mm (94.6 in) |
| Length | 4,215 mm (165.9 in) |
| Width | 1,640 mm (64.6 in) |
| Height | 1,331 mm (52.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 955-980 kg |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Also called | Ford Orion (Argentina) |
| Production | 1993-1996 |
| Assembly |
São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil (1993-1995) Pacheco, Argentina (1995-1996) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Related |
Ford Orion Ford Escort |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.8 L AP-1800 2.0 L AP-2000 |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,525 mm (99.4 in) |
| Length | 4,229 mm (166.5 in) |
| Width | 1,690 mm (66.5 in) |
| Height | 1,369 mm (53.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 1060-1145 kg |
The Ford Verona and Volkswagen Apollo are a pair of small family cars that were manufactured in Brazil by Autolatina, a joint venture between Brazilian subsidiaries of Ford and Volkswagen. It was produced from 1989 to 1992 and from 1993 to 1996, initially as a direct replacement for the ageing Ford Del Rey.
The company spent US$100 million developing and producing the car, which is heavily based on the second generation Ford Orion, and competed mainly with the Chevrolet Monza in the local market. The first generation had the characteristic of being a two-door sedan with a unique rear end, and the only derivation of the fourth generation Ford Escort with this body style, and was also rebadged as the Volkswagen Apollo.
Autolatina ceased production of the Verona/Apollo in 1992, after only three years of the original release, but still produced locally the third generation Orion a year after and keeping the Verona nameplate, until it was replaced by the sixth generation Ford Escort saloon in 1996.
The first generation Verona was released in November 1989, as Ford's Brazilian subsidiary wanted a stronger competitor for the mid-size segment leader at the time, the Chevrolet Monza, despite being based from a lower segment car. Although heavily based in the second generation of the European Ford Orion, it has a unique body style, being a two-door sedan with a higher rear design and horizontal tail lights. The two cars are also mechanically different, and while the Orion was only available in the four-door body style, the Verona was only available with two doors. It lacked some features available in the Orion, for example the folding rear seats, to reduce production costs.
In 1986, Argentine and Brazilian subsidiaries of Volkswagen and Ford formed the Autolatina joint venture, leading to a series of badge engineered cars. The Verona was the first model to be rebranded during the alliance and its sibling was the Volkswagen Apollo, released in 1990. The alliance also allowed Ford to have access to more powerful engines, better suited to the segment it would compete, since one of the most common complaints in the Ford Del Rey it would replace was its poor performance.
...
Wikipedia