click above image to view high-resolution gallery, now with 17 live shots
It's been a long three weeks since Ford officially announced that the Interceptor concept would be debuting at the Detroit Auto Show, but the big, blocky sedan finally rolled onstage in Cobo Arena to an introduction by Ford design chief J Mays. Much was made of squircles and Super Chief design influences, but Mays also nodded toward the heart and soul of the concept - an E85-compatible Cammer 5.0L V8 and 6-speed manual gearbox, with a good ol'-fashioned short-throw shifter.
FoMoCo then announced that it had finally woken up, realized what it means to be a truly American car company, and stated that it was making a Bold Move by immediately authorizing the Interceptor for production... oh, wait, that was the dream we had while nodding during the Focus intro. Rather, no plans for the Interceptor's future were mentioned, and the Interceptor was quietly chased off the stage by the next vehicle in Ford's procession.
Yeah, the styling is a bit derivitive, and the interior is dark and weird, and the door handles don't work well at all, but we don't think any of that would matter much if Ford would bring to its showrooms a RWD sedan with an honest 400 hp and a row-your-own trans.
Click here to see the 17 new live shots of the Ford Interceptor we added to our gallery.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jackson @ Jan 7th 2007 3:50PM
That thing is so f*cking hot...If they build this I will definately get one to put next to my Mustang...
detroitGT @ Jan 7th 2007 4:21PM
Ford. Please build this beauty. Make a BOLD MOVE and say NO MORE BORING CARS. And hurry this muscle machine into production.
America is waiting. I've been waiting.
r cushman @ Jan 7th 2007 4:52PM
What's going on here Henry?.... Was Chrysler's 300 just too much for you to swallow "year after successful year" That you gotta build a knockoff?
Well, you did it & I hope you're able to build it better than Chrysler- (no doubt you can)...we shall see! Thank you for showing some guts! You guys have been pretty boring lately! I've always been a ford man (strictly trucks) Now, I may have to rethink my car loyalties! Bring it on!
Matthew King @ Jan 7th 2007 5:45PM
This vehicle really is very cool. It is great to see Chrysler, GM, and now Ford rediscovering their American heritage with low cost rear wheel drive. The Intercepter looks better and more production ready than the 2003 427 Concept. The success of Chrysler's 300C is obviously enciting Ford and GM to bring similar vehicles to market. Hopefully this vehicle is not too far behind Pontiac's G8 Grand Prix replacement. I look forward to reading a three way comparison between these great vehicles in 2009. There'll also be a new 300C by then (but I hope they don't change the look too much).
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/02/spy-shots-pontiac-g8-rwd-sedan/
Blueblood @ Jan 7th 2007 5:57PM
Wow, another 60/70's inspired retro design from J. Mays and the gang. Even Hollywood released they couldn't keep releasing sequels to Austin Powers.
By the way, haven't we seen this drill before in the 49 and 427 concepts? Hand the project over to Carol Shelby already.
Pistol @ Jan 7th 2007 6:45PM
UGLY is the only word that comes to a sane mind!
ac @ Jan 7th 2007 7:00PM
Ugh. As in ly. Ugh-ly.
Ford: Where Wannabe is Job 1.
Kev @ Jan 7th 2007 7:59PM
the interior is definitely weird, but also appealing. one question, where is the space for the radio, HVAC, and nav systems?
megalon @ Jan 7th 2007 9:06PM
I like the 300C better but this was a good effort. Fords only good effort of the show. If they build it and give it a resonable v8 (~350hp) it will sell.
Richard @ Jan 7th 2007 9:24PM
Yeah!
I really want a ride that looks good against a graffiti backdrop!
Actually, the outside isn't too bad, but the inside is all about the style that Americans can't get over: swathes of unvarying black vinyl. Little form, zero function, just lots of black soft plastic.
Ugh!
Scott Eaton @ Jan 7th 2007 9:39PM
There is way too much Seventies influence in those rounded-off rectangles and the ENTIRE car is ugly thick rounded off rectangles.
fuscob @ Jan 7th 2007 10:51PM
The "Interceptor" name makes me wonder if Ford might be positioning this car to replace the P71 CV Police Interceptors against the new Dodge Charger special service vehicles. This would be a kick-ass cop car - obviously, it'd be toned down a little bit from the show car, but it has the right proportions.
leo @ Jan 7th 2007 11:26PM
Looks like Ford is filling in for the Chinese, as they have yet to make up a knock off the 300C.
James @ Jan 8th 2007 2:35AM
I really do like it and hope they actually decide to build it. Plus it really does look somewhat like the 427 concept from a few years ago.
I know that a lot of people are saying that it looks like a copy of the Chrysler 300 but remember that Ford did came out with their 427 concept first, years before the 300.
Only difference is that Chrysler decided to build the 300.
So who copied who?!
Flazz @ Jan 8th 2007 8:29AM
my heart stop beating when you said it was going to production, no doubt this car should be brought to the public.
P to the C @ Jan 8th 2007 8:40AM
It's no Dodge Charger but it's a definite start in the right direction. It's great seeing the industry rediscover the large, muscular RWD 4 door sedan.
Snix @ Jan 8th 2007 10:55AM
Ho-Hum. Another "Me-Too" 300C styled car from Ford. Ford could have dominated this market segment by beating the 300 to the market, but no one in marketing had yet thought of the "Bold Moves" slogan. Guess you cant bring a car to market without a cool corporate slogan, huh?
And then they put that butt-ugly F series grille on it with a hood that looks like a dining room table or worse yet, a casket.
Methinks that Ford wants to commit suicide. Keep doing crap like this and the dream will come true. What a bunch of idiots.
Jackson @ Jan 8th 2007 11:21AM
OMFG I want that car parked next to my Mustang...
bland moves @ Jan 8th 2007 1:23PM
wow, looks like a cross between a 300C and a Lumina, wearing braces. Nothing new, just rehashed styles.
disappointing.
Tim @ Jan 8th 2007 4:27PM
There is something inherantly offensive when you first see this car. The origins of this car are so obvious I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Chrysler was preparing a lawsuit for theft of design. The fact that it is completely devoid of originality turns me away from it almost completely. C'mon Ford, come up with your own segment buster ideas and leave the 300C to Chrysler.