Ford Reflex is tip for "Small Is Big" theme
While the Ford Reflex (see here and here) has caused quite a stir at the North American International Auto Show currently showing in Detroit, Michigan, it is, apparently, just the tip of the iceberg for Ford Motor Company.
The design team for the concept is working closely with the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California for future vehicles where, again, “small is big”. The students participating can explore new shapes, surfaces, and materials; “challenging the norm” is strongly advocated. As can be seen in the pictures of this post, they have definitely succeeded.
But more on the Reflex (you can’t have less, can you?).
"Ford Reflex is an example of a small car that doesn’t feel small," says Freeman Thomas, director, North American Strategic Design. "It is a gorgeous sporty car that delivers guilt-free performance with a hybrid engine. And thanks to its innovative approach to the interior, it has space for growing families."
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jeff Crew 3:09PM (1/10/2006)
Every year Ford shows some really odd looking stuff...this is no exception. I also don't see the benefit of these off the wall design studies. I do love the fact that they push students to design these cars though as it must be fun for them to be able to show what they come up with. I guess Ford does not want the students to come up with something that will be production ready and better than what their own designers can produce.
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ETMC 4:58PM (1/10/2006)
I dig that truck thing, and I'm more of a GM truck fan myself.
Kinda reminds me of a cross between a Super Duty, the '64 Super Highway Turbine Truck, and the current-generation M-B Unimog U500....
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roadside observer 5:24PM (1/10/2006)
The Reflex looks good ... now the trick is to get it into production for the sub-$10k price bracket, and get it into production before the cheap Chinese cars get here(hybrid powertrain doesn't matter IMO). That thing will eat the Chinese cars for lunch.
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JWRiggin 12:57AM (1/11/2006)
But do they have to make 'em so BUTT-A** UGLY ?!?!
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MKS 2:34PM (1/11/2006)
So do we call them the 'Small Three' now?
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karxprt 3:26PM (1/14/2006)
Oh come on guys! Small ain't big! Americans will continue to shy away from small cars because they want larger, more spacious, more inherently safe transportation. F still equals MA. With gasoline still relatively affordable and available in the USA, the incentive for a mass exodus from SUVs and pickups to Minis, Civics, Fits, Versas and Yarises is not going to happen.
The key to have a reasonably healthy market for very small cars is to produce a car that someone actually wants to buy and drive. Right now, only MINI fills that bill. There are comments on this phenomena on http://blog.vehiclevoice.com.
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