Ford Airstream concept
The Airstream concept, introduced by J Mays, is a futuristic crossover, supposedly capturing the sense of optimism and adventure conveyed in American aircraft and spacecraft. Developed in conjunction with Airstream trailers, it also allows Ford to demonstrate how it could expand its lineup of crossovers and showcase a new HySeries Drive fuel cell drivetrain that operates under electric power at all times.
The exterior of the Airstream Concept is a simple monovolume finished in a mirrored silver-blue paint that features some nice sculpting in the lower bodyside. There is asymmetry in both the orange-finished DLO shapes and the door openings: the door on the right side being a 2-piece gullwing with drop down step while the driver's side retains a single conventional door and the orange surrounds illuminate to maintain the asymmetry at night. The front end has a single-surface grille with a mirrored finish that reveals embedded headlamps when illuminated and features a deep sloping hood surface above the grille that wraps around into the fender, a similar treatment as used on the Interceptor concept, also shown today.
For the interior, the designers referenced Stanley Kubrick's film '2001: A Space Odyssey', which results in themes such as white pod-shaped chairs up front, red flowing benches in the rear cabin and characteristic shapes to the door openings. For instance, the 3-piece hatch opening at the rear reveals a T-shaped opening reminiscent of the spacecraft hatches and pod bay doors in the film. It also features stowage compartments for tools and a First Aid kit, plus it allows a low step-in rear entry to the cabin. The focus of that rear cabin is a 360-degree screen for entertainment, games and ambient mood settings that include a modern lava lamp and a virtual fire, no less.
Chevrolet Volt concept
Who will resuscitate the electric car? Well, maybe GM if they go ahead and develop their Chevrolet Volt Concept, a plug-in hybrid that can run for 40 miles on its Li-Ion battery power, and whose small three cylinder internal combustion engine serves the only purpose of driving a generator. This new architecture, called the E-flex system, could be the backbone to a family of electric vehicles. GM will show other variations of this propulsion system at future auto shows. Some could involve diesel generators and fuel cells.
Anne Asensio, executive director, GM Design, supervised the project and affirms the new propulsion system allowed the designers to create a small car that has exterior proportions associated more with classic sports cars: long dash-to-axle and big wheels pushed at the corners. With no mechanical link between the ICE and the electric drive, the designers had a degree of liberty not known in the packaging of conventional vehicles. The large 21'' rims are very narrow (only 6.5'' wide) and fitted with slender 195/55R21 low-rolling resistance tires.
GM leveraged its design resources around the world to develop the design aesthetic for the Volt. The interior design team from England inspired the final interior execution, and the exterior is the work of the Michigan advanced design team. Through a technological partnership with GE Plastics the Chevrolet Volt is also a showcase for some material and design innovations. The transparent roof, rear ear deck lid and side glazing are made with Lexan GLX polycarbonate resins. This allows for this characteristic dual beltline.
The instrument cluster has a dual-mode display that uses Super Imaging technology to provide two visual levels of vehicle information to the driver.
Ford Interceptor concept
As a concept, the Ford Interceptor is the response from Dearborn to Chrysler's success with its extrovert 300C rear-wheel-drive big sedan. By using a stretched version of the Mustang platform, the Interceptor displays the traditional attributes of a RWD car: a short front overhang, long dash-to-axle ratio, low cabin and high beltline. Peter Horbury, executive director of design for the Americas, believes the car will "show customers what 'modern muscle' is all about". The front face includes the horizontal three-bar grille that was seen, of course, on the F-250 Super Chief pickup concept last year. The lower bar is actually the bumper beam, while the upper two bars extend out to enclose the LED lamps. It's a front face that's powerful yet benign and feels as though it has a lot of potential, even if one designer quipped the sleepy smile reminded him of Greenback from the Dangermouse cartoon series...
The other big theme here is the use of 'Squircles' - or squared circle-shaped graphics - that Chief Designer David Woodhouse feels is a key Ford design motif for the future. In many ways the Interceptor is an amalgam of the Ford 427 concept of 2003 and the Super Chief front end, although the upper glasshouse is divided horizontally from the lower body by a chrome strip that runs around, a theme that reminds one of some recent Lincolns. However, the way the rear trunklid drops down beneath a pair of big taillamps, the DLO shape and the three-bar grille are all themes that were introduced on the 427.
The interior continues the 'Squircle' theme, [again introduced in the 427] which is repeated in the steering wheel, door trims, floor, console and instrument panel. One final clever touch includes retractable headrests that deploy from the roof when the car is parked.
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