Ford will unveil a new concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Blue Oval said that the car embodies its design strategy for its next generation of European cars. Funny how the profile is redolent of the new Jaguar XK, from Ford's highest-profile subsidiary (see link below).
The iosis is a four-seater saloon within what Ford called "a muscular coupé profile". It follows Ford's recent SAV concept launched at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show which was designed to make future Fords "look more sporting, dynamic and exciting". However, the concept is, said Ford, about showing future trends rather than being a precursor to a production model.
The design was penned by a team led by Martin Smith, Ford Europe's new design director. Smith said that the design language was intended to be kinetic design, "because we believe it expresses energy in motion."
Smith said that future Fords "will be more distinctive and emotional, more athletic and muscular. Equally, we have to combine safety and dynamic performance and still keep the brand identity. The iosis is powerful, assertive and confident, and it just cries out to be driven."
Smith said that the key signatures of Ford design include the inverse trapezoid air intake below the grille and this, together with upper and lower grilles represent Ford's new face. Ford will also keep the extended wheelarch lip first seen on the Focus in 1998.
Ford explained the design concept was to make lines "more dynamic", such as the undercut surface and the kick-up on the rocker panel. This "repeats almost exactly" the shape of the "day-light opening" (DLO) graphic. The kick-up at the C post is echoed in the headlamp design and the design of the bonnet.
The iosis gets an angled, pivoting door arrangement that gives easier access to the interior. Constructed from carbon fibre, the doors are "powered by ram motors that swing them upwards and outwards via a system of sophisticated hinges that ensure additional support isn’t required when the doors are open".
Mounted in the rear valance is a camera to replace rear-view mirrors and provide 360-degree vision.
Smith said that the interior design was about combining "futuristic materials with sophisticated materials. There are very technical materials like rubber compounds combined with leather, and neoprene combined with high quality aluminium components, for example."
You can bet that the steering wheel, made from solid aluminium won't make it into production. The sequential gear shifter is also made from solid aluminium - that might make it - and is finished in brown-grey and orange leather, while the starter button sits under a flip lid on top of the gearstick.
There's exposed carbon fibre and aluminium with the dash including an LCD screen for navigation or to display views from the three rear-facing cameras. The centre stack allows you to plug in a pair of memory sticks, which could be basis for future car security. They could also carry a vast amount of music...
What Ford isn't saying is when cars based on the concept's design language will start to appear in our showrooms. Expect more on this after Frankfurt.
Given the far future into which this design points, it has to make you wonder how useful it is, except as a way of allowing some designers to have fun....
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