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Ford Five Hundred

Ford announced the Five Hundred, a future product that will continue the evolution of Ford’s car design strategy. Shown only as a concept sketch, the design theme features a prominent greenhouse that "centers the design and achieves carefully balanced proportions designed to be sophisticated and athletic".

Chris Theodore, Ford’s vice president of North America Product Development said "While everyone has been scrambling to invent the ‘next big thing,’ our team asked, ‘What about the car?’ We decided to put some of the features people love about minivans and SUVs into our all-new sedan."

The Five Hundred was created using Ford’s new 'high-package' design strategy. As a result, the car’s interior roominess will be equal to many larger cars, while retaining the elegant exterior proportions, maneuverability and fuel-economy benefits of a mid-size car.

The Five Hundred’s 'command-of-road' driving position is derived from one of the features minivan and SUV buyers regularly cite as a major selling point. The car’s greenhouse area has been carefully designed to provide more headroom and the ability to raise the hip-point of the front seats.


Ford Mustang Mach 1

The 2003 Mustang Mach 1 special edition made its debut 38 years after the original Mustang was introduced in New York.

Mach 1 was designed in Ford’s Living Legends Studio in Dearborn, Michigan. The Living Legends Studio, which also directed the design of the Forty-Nine concept through Ford’s California Design Studio, was created in July of 2000 to bring together the creativity of designers involved in related iconic cars of the present and future.

“Ford is known for great trucks and SUVs,” says J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design. “But it’s our Living Legends that put the polish on the Ford oval and make people dream about cars again.”

The 2003 Mach 1 is expected to deliver more than 300 horsepower from its modular (MOD) 4.6-liter, 4-valve, DOHC V-8 engine when it goes on sale at the end of this year. The preeminent pony car remembers its roots with functional performance upgrades and Mach 1 styling cues, including “comfort-weave” leather seats, a shaker hood scoop and today’s interpretation of classic “Magnum 500” chrome wheels.


Ford Police Interceptor

Based on the 2003 Ford Police Interceptor, the Interceptor concept adds dramatic styling cues and tests new technologies in communications, night vision and data systems, and will be used to showcase various new technologies to police agencies.

The front end features a one-of-a-kind push/pursuit beam that extends beyond the normal bumper of a police car, constructed of a reinforced polymer. Mounted to the front beam is a high-strength stainless steel and cast aluminum push bar used for assisting stranded vehicles.

The rear-wheel-drive Police Interceptor commands approximately 80 percent of the police cruiser market in the United States.


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Copyright © 2002 Car Design News, Inc.
Last updated: Mon, Apr 1, 2002