2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Concept

Once inside, everything looks contemporarily stylish, nothing that would look out of place within a Ford retail showroom. The

On the inside everything looks contemporarily stylish, nothing that would look out of place within a Ford retail showroom. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

concept features four buckets with a long console that separates each occupant, front and rear. While it looks enticing, a rear bench seat would be more appropriate for the road-going version.

What I like about the vehicle aren't the seats themselves, but the dark Midnight navy and light Ice blue color scheme that covers them, and permeates the remainder of the cabin, including the steering wheel, front and rear center console, headliner, door trim panels, shifter and instrument panel. The seats feature

The minimalist design of the interior is tasteful and fitting for the rugged truck. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

navy embossed mesh on their backrests and inserts, and are accented by navy stitching.

The décor is also minimalist in design, striking a personal chord. All of the Sport Trac concept's primary gauges are integrated within a single oval instrument cluster, with a large speedometer positioned next to a large tachometer. Ancillary controls, such as those activating audio and climate systems, are where anyone who drives would expect to find them, within the center stack just ahead and above the console-mounted shifter. Finishing everything off is a tasteful amount of polished aluminum trim, surfacing the air vents, instrument binnacle and shifter.