So Ford is locked and loaded for at least the next five to ten years with a clearly delineated design mission reflecting the sporting
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| The Concept's doors open in full butterfly mode, with the front pairswinging up and forward and the rears flipping up and to the rear. (Photo: Ford of Europe) |
and dynamic character of its European lineup, but what about the concept's trick features and fantastic details?
For starters, the doors open in full butterfly mode, with the front pair swinging up and forward and the rears flipping up and to the rear. Think this is part of Ford's future in Europe? Not quite. Nonetheless, the angled pivoting door arrangement gives complete, unimpeded access to the interior, no matter how confined the parking spot. The doors are actually made from carbon fibre, so each one is light enough to be supported
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| "We connected futuristic materials with sophisticated materials. Thereare very technical materials like rubber compounds combined withleather, and neoprene combined with high quality aluminium components,for example," added Smith. (Photo: Ford of Europe) |
only by its centrally mounted hinge. The mechanism is also power-assisted for ease of operation.
Once the doors are open we get a view of an outrageously "hip" interior. Here's what Martin Smith had to say: "We connected 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." Notice that he uses the word
aluminium - the Brits take on
aluminum. Funny Brits, but I suppose they formulated the language we, and now Microsoft are slowly "simplifying". I suppose its use of
aluminium components is further confirmation that this concept is for Euro eyes only.
