Have a FaceBook, Twitter, or other social networking account?

Link them to your fanatic account!

Add An Account

TAKE ME TO...
Automotive Technology
AUTOS: Ford Concept Fits Into Urban Future
Tiny and stylish, Start envisions most-fun driving on the smallist footprint with the least fuel consumption.
Media Release  |  Posted April 28, 2010   Beijing, CH
Ford unveiled the Start urban concept at the auto show in Beijing, China, a city that's confronted with dense population and environmental concerns. (Photo: Ford)
For parts of the world that are growing increasingly urban, the future of the automobile looks small, green, smart and fun in the eyes of Ford designers who created the Ford Start Concept. It's a design vision inspired for the transportation needs of the world's mega cities.

Making its global debut at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, the Ford Start Concept is more than simply a design exploration into the feasibility of a small car. It also demonstrates how Ford will extend the promise of its EcoBoost engine technology story even further - previewing a fuel-efficient petrol Ford EcoBoost engine with just three cylinders and 1.0 litre of displacement, yet the power of a larger, 1.6-litre I4 engine.

"Our ambition with the Ford Start Concept was to design a car that transcends the practical realities of commuting in these mega cities and goes beyond just dressing the technology. We wanted to design a car you would also love," said Freeman Thomas, design director.

Though small and minimalistic, the Start concept has enough style and sporty performance to make it fun to drive, Ford says. (Photo: Ford)
Living in a mega city poses unique challenges and inspires unique lifestyles and attitudes. Just as traffic congestion issues are common in these geographic areas, the answers to solve the issues of a new generation of future small cars for these urban markets may also be found in the Ford Start Concept.

"The team has delivered a concept car which reflects a decidedly playful take on Ford kinetic design and builds on our fun-to-drive DNA, yet addresses real issues that everyone will be facing in the future of car design," said Martin Smith, executive director, Ford Europe and Asia Pacific Design.

As Ford has found with its global ONE Ford strategy, what was once a regional or individual market issue, is now global. Across the world, more consumers are confronting issues including "green" technology, more efficient use of available space, recycling and asking if big is necessarily better. It's an attitude that unites urbanites around the world.

Searching for efficient power, using lightweight materials that can be recycled and optimizing interior space with a small exterior footprint are some of the challenges designers explored.

At the forefront, Ford has introduced some very real technology in the Start Concept to address fuel efficiency, reduce the use raw of materials and minimize carbon the footprint of a car.

Equipped with a powerful new Ford EcoBoost 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine to maximize fuel efficiency and meet lower emission standards, Ford's latest concept car includes technology that is class leading and will come into production in the near future. With CO2 emissions of less than 100 g/km, the petrol engine has power and drivability comparable to an I4 powerplant. Ford Start Concept also introduces a MyFord Mobile Concept that pairs with a smart phone to allow occupants to perform a multitude of in-car functions, all wrapped in a Sub-B design concept that uses lightweight material and aerodynamics.

"It may be small with a minimal amount of features but we haven't ignored the basics like delivering more ‘traditional’ driving characteristics including sporty handling, a simple analogue interface and an interior that is pure and authentic like early sport cars from the 1950s," Thomas said.

Play! SPEED Fantasy Racing and Super 7 Sweep
media_release's avatar

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Media Release

MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | FAQ | Terms of Use | NEW Privacy Policy | Ad Choices | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | National Geographic | IGN | AskMen
The Motor Sports Authority, SPEED and associated logos are registered trademarks of Speed Channel Inc.
All Rights Reserved © Speed Channel, Inc. 2012

All external links will open in a new browser window. SPEED.com does not endorse external sites.