26 September 2002: PARIS MOTOR SHOW. A number of Ford products to be introduced to Ireland in the next 12 months will strongy enhance the image and sales of the brand, MD of Ford Ireland Eddie Murphy said at the Paris Motor Show today.

Among these will be the Streetka roadster, based on the Ka mini car and launched at the show by actress/singler Kylie Minogue. She autographed the bonnet of the show car and it is being auctioned for charity.

"We don't see it as being a great seller in Ireland, as it is very much a niche model," Eddie Murphy told IrishCar.Com. "If we sell 100 or so of them, we'll be doing very well. But it will sigificantly enhance the image of the brand, adding a fun element to the range."

Of much more sales significance will be the new 5-seater MPV based on the Ford Focus, long-delayed and aimed at taking a share of the compact MPV business dominated currently by Opel's Zafira and Renault's Scenic.

"Even in a declining market, this is a segment which is still growing and is very important," Eddie Murphy noticed. "We've needed to be there, and next year we will be."

The style and shape of the new vehicle was demonstrated in a suprise reveal of the C-Max concept, the night before the motor show opened (above). Ford of Europe boss David Thursfield said the production car will be very close to the C-Max.

With the imminent arrival of the 3-door version of the new Fiesta, and a full range of Fiesta models for the important buying period from January, Eddie Murphy is bullish about Ford's prospects next year.