Ford Evos Concept 2012

 

The Ford Evos Concept, a futuristic fastback that harks back to classic GT cars but is so loaded with technology that it can "suggest a healthier route to the destination," will debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

The Ford Evos Concept is a plug-in hybrid with lithium-ion batteries, along with four gullwing doors and a four-passenger cabin. Don't expect to see the dramatic doors on a production Ford, but the Evos Concept's face is likely to make it into the real world. It features what Ford calls a "higher-mounted trapezoidal grille."

"You will never see this car on the road," said Ford in a statement, adding that the one-off concept showcases "a new vision for customer-focused and intuitive technologies." But the Dearborn automaker hastened to point out that the Evos Concept is more than a 2-ton smartphone.

"The intent is not to convert the vehicle into a smartphone, but rather to provide personalized and safe connection to the outside world in an enriching manner," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of global product development.

The Evos Concept seems to straddle two worlds. Ford says it created the concept to satisfy a growing consumer desire for more premium-looking and technical designs, even in basic transportation. Still, the Evos Concept has some old-school styling cues that will be familiar to Baby Boomers. Ford said it wanted to "create the impression of a classic GT car, but with a very contemporary feel."

On the futuristic side of the ledger, the Evos Concept takes Ford's wellness push to the next level. The automaker said the Evos is "location aware" and — with the help of advanced air quality sensors and access to air quality data — can "proactively suggest a healthier route to the destination."

"With information from the cloud, the vehicle can provide the same connected lifestyle the driver experiences at the home or office," said Ford. "The car knows the driver, and automatically adapts handling, steering and engine controls to deliver an exceptionally dynamic driving experience."

Ford said the vehicle will have access to such data as the "driver's work schedule and local traffic or weather conditions."

The connection between car and driver will be so intimate that it could even reset "your alarm clock to let you sleep in," Ford said.

Other sensors and cloud connectivity will provide "access to historical driver behavior and travel patterns," the automatic said. Such information will calculate optimal fuel and energy efficiency by predicting the destination.

"The cloud-optimized powertrain would automatically 'know' when to save energy and switch modes, using information about the vehicle's predicted travel route, any emissions zone restrictions during the journey and current weather conditions," Ford said.

The cabin reflects the trapezoidal grille with trapezoidal cut-outs, along with a red driver seat. The rear passengers get adjustable sports seats and touchscreen displays.