Detroit Auto Show: Ford releases more Interceptor Concept images
click image above to see entire high-resolution gallery with new images
Our original gallery of Interceptor images was a big hit with the clicks last week, despite containing only six images of Ford's brash rear-wheel drive, Mustang-based sedan concept. If you liked those images, you'll be especially interested in the additional eight images of the concept that Ford released today, including plenty of interior shots and a view of the 4.6-liter Cammer V8 all dressed up in concept trim.
This is our first view of the Interceptor Concept's interior, and it sports a decidedly retro feel with its simple and straightforward shapes and materials. The most frequently occuring shape inside is called a squircle, basically a square with rounded corners. The steering wheel, speedometer, tach, shifter gate, vents... all squircles. The dominant surface material inside the Interceptor is black leather, so much so that driving it must feel like going for a ride in Fonzy's jacket pocket. The vast expanse of leather is broken up here and there by silver metal trim and the slightest hint of a caramel-colored stitching. The four bucket seats are all thin, flat curves with no side bolsters of which to speak. Thank goodness each one is equipped with a four-point belt, because driver and passengers will need them if any directional changes are called for. The front headrests retract into the ceiling when the car is parked and fall back down into place when it's time to roll, while a nice, thick center console bisects the interior and houses the short and stubby shifter.
The interior reflects the same theme exhibited by the Interceptor's sheetmetal, which is simplicity. Some have harshed on the car for being derivitive and not overly complicated in its surface features, but that's what we happen to like about it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bob Ripple 1:31PM (1/08/2007)
Build the Interceptor! No guts, no glory. We need more designs harkening back to classic American design.
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Reuven 6:43PM (1/06/2007)
A great looking american beast.
Pity it's so.. concept-y. Humongus gee-whiz rims with no sidewall. No window wipers, chrome on the seat (Imagine that on a sunny summer day in shorts! Yeouch!) And a start button on the shifter? Won't accidently press that, noooooo.
Still, a lovely hunk of iron. Hope the real thing has a bit more imagination when it comes to the rear half of the car; so it looks less 300-c ish.
A tactful strip of black&chrome; and more sweeping curves around the trunk and ford's got a winner.
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ruggels 6:47PM (1/06/2007)
Hrm. I dunno. The interior clearly will not make production and is perhaps the worst retro throwback i've seen in a car to date (making the chevy camaro interior look restrained in throwback-itude in relation... that concept being quite acceptable sans the square gauges in front of the gear shift). The exterior lines remind me way too much of the 427 concept, if you study the two it looks as though this is just the 427 with a more 'mustang' rear end and dodge concept truck front end... the front end being the least pleasing aspect to me, given it relates little to their current range and is way too round and jelly bean pudgy for my liking. I guess it doesn't matter, sans the Mustang we really don't count on ford to produce it's concepts with any regularity as some other automakers seem to... but then that begs the question of why bother. Like the GT1 or DCX's MEfourtwelve, or the Caddy with the V16, wtf is the point. Yeah I love concepts from other car companies, the batshit crazy ones like the new toyota sportscar that looks like pure ass, but with toyota, who doesn't have problems selling cars or making money, their concept cars are more acceptable in a non-gunna-happen sort of way. Ford, working on their Bold plan, I just don't see anything bold about recycling the 427 concept's lines, including a very dated interior and a truck aping front end. WTF.
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Jay 6:47PM (1/06/2007)
I've said before in previous comments that I think Ford should build this. And really, why not--it's certainly better than what's in their lineup at the moment and possibly forthcoming.
But I'll tell ya, in my opinion, if they build it with an interior that looks anything like this does, they sure won't sell many. Fug, that's ugly. And how will headrests that sprout from the friggin' ceiling perform in a rollover? Yeesh, Ford. Pull your head out and get serious.
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ruggels 6:50PM (1/06/2007)
oops * chevy front end... like the current lights their trucks are using now :)
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peej 7:00PM (1/06/2007)
That interior looks terrible! It's like they started with the word fugly and tried to build an interior around that concept.
Not all that fond of the exterior but it's probably better than the other crap Ford has squeezed out.
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MikeW 7:20PM (1/06/2007)
No 6 speed automatic in the TownCar, CrownVic, GrandMarquis.
Ford: Fix what you already have.
Cops, cabbies, and Livery drivers would much appreciate faster acceleration, better, mileage, and greater smoothness
cue the ZF 6hp26 , and if the rest of the car is improved, then maybe the 300hp 4.6 24 valve V8, and maybe a short axle ratio than 2.73
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Bruce Lee 7:22PM (1/06/2007)
As I can see that I'm not the only one that thinks that the interior is absolutly ugly and stupid. A concept car should reflect what maybe be seen in future cars, but there is nothing that can be used from the interior, did anyone else notice that the speedo and tach should be switched around, or is that just a bold move on Ford's part. This concepts interior makes me think bowel movement, not bold move. At least the exterior looks decent, but do something with that ugly ass grille, I mean how much design does it take to throw 3 chrome pieces of plastic on a car and call it a grille.
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Jeff 7:48PM (1/06/2007)
they switched the speedo and tach in the GT500 cause the tach should be closer to view as it's more important in a performance car. Is it really that big a deal though?
I think this car is really interesting, really good looking. So simple, yet so stunning. That interior... a little oddball, that's for sure, but i think it actually looks pretty cool. Very simple dash... they ain't so worried about HVAC, radio, let alone sat nav... The dash reminds me of the Country Squire i grew up in.
Its true though... can't see much of that interior actually making it into a production car.
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dave 8:00PM (1/06/2007)
the interior is only a concept and you can bet this version will be dramatically changed if and when produced. hope they don't change a thing on the outside.
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mblommel 8:05PM (1/06/2007)
Hey guys, you might want to run the spell check on your headlines before posting. Just trying to help.
Interior of the Interceptor looks pretty cool to me. Very late 60's. Appropriate for the concept.
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JasonSK 8:20PM (1/06/2007)
Wow, style, change, non-soap bar design, no wonder so many people hate it, have to blend in right, lmfao, way to go ford, bust out from the mold of crappy imported blocks of turd.
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bland moves 8:38PM (1/06/2007)
more bland moves.
Blatant rip of the 300C backend. And the 300C has been out for a while now - probably due for an update. And this is just a concept!
god I hope ford does not go under before 2012 as I own some ford bonds. I think they might though. Their corporate bonds are official rated as junk bonds now :(
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mike 8:49PM (1/06/2007)
Why does ford think that grill they are using now looks good?? It it UGLY!!!
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J Finz 9:02PM (1/06/2007)
i like it, very aggressive and muscular.
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speed racer 9:03PM (1/06/2007)
As I sit here with my wife looking at this concept, her comments are the same as always, "What the H were they thinking when they did the rear end?". It's the same old design story, put the effort and time into the front end for all those media pictures and then 2 days before deadline someone at the conference table says, "Hey Chief, what about the rear end". And then the next 2 days are a major scramble to get something designed, built, and adhered. Nice job on the front but the back sucks.
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Dazed 9:05PM (1/06/2007)
A Square steering wheel!??!?!?!
I really hate this overly stylized square thing they got going.
I Cant stand the blocky front and such a horrible interior!
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Stoneman 9:39PM (1/06/2007)
Not a big fan of this design. Too stylized.
Stoneman
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Solar 9:45PM (1/06/2007)
Ford would never build a car with an interior anywhere near that cool. If they did, it would truly be a BOLD MOVE and I would take everything back that I said about the Intercepter's derivative exterior styling.
You could always replace that ugly grill with some mesh.
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george 9:55PM (1/06/2007)
the interior is very SHITTY to say the least... If they make this car, can it replace the Crown Vics?
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