Click for High-Res Photo Gallery: 2009 Ford Verve Concept

Is Ford Motor Co. finally ready to fill one of the biggest holes in its North American line-up? Actually, make that a small hole, as in the mini-compact model it desperately needs to draw in both "Millennial" buyers, as well as older motorists looking for basic, fuel-efficient transportation.

While the Verve, which debuts at this week's Detroit Auto Show, is officially designated a "concept" car, there's little doubt that this prototype is a close snapshot of what Ford plans to launch in 2010.

With Verve, Ford will launch its first true "world car" in more than a decade. The concept vehicle - and the production model to follow - have been jointly developed by Ford's North American and European product development team.

Crisp and visually striking, the concept car stands in sharp contrast to the soft and generally maligned 2008 Focus sedan. Colored Rouge Red, Verve's face features the large, three-bar grille that's becoming a signature cue for Ford. Two distinctive LED side markers flank the front fascia.

An underlying design goal was to make the Verve look stylish, chic and sporty, rather than soft, flabby and cheap like the entry-level econoboxes of the past. The hood is sculpted to give it an athletic feel, the side profile seems energetic, with pillarless side windows. A panoramic glass roof keeps the small cabin from feeling claustrophobic. The high-mounted LED taillamps complete the sculpting of the overall package. Verve sits atop 18-inch 12-spoke, two-piece alloy wheels, something you normally wouldn't expect in a car of this class.

The curvaceous interior, Ford designers explain, was influenced by "the world of fashion and cosmetics, with surprisingly rich materials displayed in an assortment of eye-popping colors. But looks are only part of the appeal