Ford Interceptor
Encyclopedia
The Ford Interceptor is a concept car
which debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
in Detroit, Michigan
. The Interceptor is a retro
-styled sedan that reflects a modern interpretation of the classic sporty American muscle car
s from the 1960s, like the Ford Galaxie
. Ford officially introduced the Interceptor Concept in a company press release dated 31 December 2006. Ford describes the Interceptor design styling as being influenced "...much like a Marine in dress uniform. He looks smart and elegant but you can see the raw power that lies beneath." Ford currently has no production plans for such a full-sized, rear-wheel drive sedan, although some of the Interceptor's design cues have appeared in the sixth-generation Ford Taurus
.
5.0-liter Cammer engine producing 400 hp, with the capability of running on E-85 ethanol
. It includes a manual six-speed transmission. The 5.0-liter Cammer engine is an upgraded variant of the 4.6-liter modular engine that was powering the Mustang GT
until 2011.
's Ford D2C platform
, featuring a solid rear axle. The body is proportioned with short front overhang and a long rear overhang, and features a low roofline and a high beltline, when compared to other Ford sedans like the Ford Taurus
, with a wedged profile. The Interceptor Concept continues with the current Ford horizontal three-bar grille design introduced on the Ford Fusion
and Ford Edge
. The hood is high up, and flat with a raised rear-middle section. The squircle
-shaped rear headlights on the Interceptor also influenced those on the current Ford Taurus.
design in the front and rear seats, with inflatable safety belts for rear seat passengers. The four-point belt represents a possible next-generation safety belt system that is designed to be more comfortable and easier to use than traditional three-point belts. The dash, headliner, steering wheel, and four low-back bucket seats are wrapped in leather. There are retractable headrests that deploy from the roof, adjusting fore and aft as well as up and down for each occupant. The audio control panel and climate controls are stowable, and there is a gated six-speed shifter in the center dash.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
which debuted at the 2007 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. The Interceptor is a retro
Retro
Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, that has since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc...
-styled sedan that reflects a modern interpretation of the classic sporty American muscle car
Muscle car
Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Usually, a large V8 engine is fitted in a...
s from the 1960s, like the Ford Galaxie
Ford Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race...
. Ford officially introduced the Interceptor Concept in a company press release dated 31 December 2006. Ford describes the Interceptor design styling as being influenced "...much like a Marine in dress uniform. He looks smart and elegant but you can see the raw power that lies beneath." Ford currently has no production plans for such a full-sized, rear-wheel drive sedan, although some of the Interceptor's design cues have appeared in the sixth-generation Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus (sixth generation)
The sixth-generation Ford Taurus is a full-size car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company since June 2009. It is the sixth generation of the Ford Taurus, and also the largest Ford sedan available for sale.-Development and marketing:...
.
Engine
The Interceptor Concept uses a Ford RacingFord Racing
Ford Racing is the Ford Motor Company's racing division and the multinational name used for its motorsport activity.-History:* 1896 - Henry Ford reached a top speed of 20 mph in his first car, Quadricycle....
5.0-liter Cammer engine producing 400 hp, with the capability of running on E-85 ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
. It includes a manual six-speed transmission. The 5.0-liter Cammer engine is an upgraded variant of the 4.6-liter modular engine that was powering the Mustang GT
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
until 2011.
Exterior
The car includes a powered clamshell “shaker” hood, which covers the engine. The fullsize sedan is based on a stretched version of the rear wheel drive MustangFord Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
's Ford D2C platform
Ford D2C platform
The Ford D2C platform is Ford's latest rear-wheel drive automobile platform. Currently, the only vehicle using this platform is the 2005-present Ford Mustang and its Shelby derivative....
, featuring a solid rear axle. The body is proportioned with short front overhang and a long rear overhang, and features a low roofline and a high beltline, when compared to other Ford sedans like the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
, with a wedged profile. The Interceptor Concept continues with the current Ford horizontal three-bar grille design introduced on the Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion (North America)
The Ford Fusion is a mid-size car produced by the Ford Motor Company since the 2006 model year. The 2010 model was awarded the Motor Trend Car of the Year and its hybrid version won the 2010 North American Car of the Year Award...
and Ford Edge
Ford Edge
The Ford Edge is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Ford, based on the Ford CD3 platform shared with previous generation Mazda6 and marketed in rebadged form as the Lincoln MKX...
. The hood is high up, and flat with a raised rear-middle section. The squircle
Squircle
A squircle is a mathematical shape with properties between those of a square and those of a circle. It is a special case of superellipse. The word "squircle" is a portmanteau of the words, "square" and "circle".-Equation:...
-shaped rear headlights on the Interceptor also influenced those on the current Ford Taurus.
Interior
The Interceptor incorporates a four-point "belt and suspenders" harness seat beltSeat belt
A seat belt or seatbelt, sometimes called a safety belt, is a safety harness designed to secure the occupant of a vehicle against harmful movement that may result from a collision or a sudden stop...
design in the front and rear seats, with inflatable safety belts for rear seat passengers. The four-point belt represents a possible next-generation safety belt system that is designed to be more comfortable and easier to use than traditional three-point belts. The dash, headliner, steering wheel, and four low-back bucket seats are wrapped in leather. There are retractable headrests that deploy from the roof, adjusting fore and aft as well as up and down for each occupant. The audio control panel and climate controls are stowable, and there is a gated six-speed shifter in the center dash.
Specifications
- Powertrain: 5.0-liter Cammer V-8 / 400 hp / flexible fuel
- Transmission: Manual six-speed gearbox
- Chassis Dimensions:
- Overall length: 201.6 in (5,121 mm).
- Wheelbase: 120.8 in (3,068 mm).
- Overall width: 76.4 in (1,941 mm).
- Overall height at curb: 54.8 in (1,392 mm).
- Front track width: 66.5 in (1,689 mm).
- Rear track width: 67.8 in (1,722 mm).
- Suspension
- Front: Double wishboneDouble wishbone suspensionIn automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
independentIndependent suspensionIndependent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects... - Rear: 3-Link designMulti-link suspensionA multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms....
with Panhard rodPanhard rodA Panhard rod is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle...
- Front: Double wishbone
- Interior
- Front Headroom: 37.5 in (953 mm).
- Rear Headroom: 35.9 in (912 mm).
- Front Legroom: 42.3 in (1,074 mm).
- Rear Legroom: 35.6 in (904 mm).
See also
- Concept carConcept carA concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
- Ford Crown VictoriaFord Crown Victoria-1992–1994:Released in March 1991 as an early 1992 model, the Crown Victoria sedan was completely redesigned with a rounder, eight-window roofline . The redesign reduced the coefficient of drag from 0.42 to 0.34; the suspension setup was also heavily revised...
/Police InterceptorFord Crown Victoria Police InterceptorThough the name has been officially in use since 1992, the 1978–1991 full-size LTDs and LTD Crown Victorias and 1992 updated body style used the "P72" production code designation for both fleet/taxi and police models, with the model itself being internally classified as S... - Ford D2C platformFord D2C platformThe Ford D2C platform is Ford's latest rear-wheel drive automobile platform. Currently, the only vehicle using this platform is the 2005-present Ford Mustang and its Shelby derivative....
- Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
- SquircleSquircleA squircle is a mathematical shape with properties between those of a square and those of a circle. It is a special case of superellipse. The word "squircle" is a portmanteau of the words, "square" and "circle".-Equation:...
External links
- Ford Interceptor press release from Media.Ford.com - 31 Dec 2006
- Additional Interceptor PR article from Media.Ford.com - 17 Jan 2007
- Ford Interceptor announcement at TheCarConnection.com
- Ford Says No to Mustang Sedan, Wagon; Announces "Interceptor" Concept at LeftLaneNews.com
- It's a 'squircle'
- Ford Announces Development of 2012 Police Interceptor for Law Enforcement