UPRIGHT, UPSCALE EXTERIOR

The Ford Fairlane concept exterior breaks the people-mover design mold with upright front roof pillars that define a fresh new look while opening interior possibilities. The clutter-free design, solid proportions, and large wheels and tires communicate a sophistication carried through in numerous details.

"Henry Ford's Fair Lane estate stands out for its design detail and restraint," says Mays. "Throughout his home, you can appreciate Henry Ford's appreciation of the great outdoors and fine craftsmanship in favor of opulence. The Fairlane concept embraces that spirit in a very modern way."

This sophistication begins with three brushed stainless steel horizontal bars forming a powerful front-end appearance that is repeated in the headlamp and rear-door designs, and signals the new face of Ford.

The three bars surround the molded-in Ford oval and seamlessly extend into the headlamps for a wide, horizontal appearance accentuated by a wide air dam. This horizontal theme, absent unnecessary design cues, helps create the vehicle's unique proportion and is repeated on the sides and rear.

High-tech, light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps deliver wide, consistent lighting patterns and are encased in advanced horizontal frosted-glass covers that enhance the front-end design. The large top section houses an LED day lamp with an inset projector beam for high- and low-beam settings. The middle turn-indicator LED rests above the fog lamp that is half the size of the upper two units.

The clean body sides of the Fairlane concept communicate sophistication. The windows are flush with the body for a refined look, complemented by five side groove details in the body panels.

The "French-opening" doors reinforce the look and offer maximum access to the front and rear seating areas. The second-row power armrests automatically retract downward when the side doors are unlatched to open more room for passengers to maneuver.

"Other people movers don't offer easy access for third-row passengers," said Mays. "With the Ford Fairlane concept, we solved the dilemma and are breaking new design ground with unique center-opening doors."

Nineteen-inch tires wrap ten-spoke, brushed-aluminum wheels to fill the wheel wells and accentuate Fairlane's modern design and stance. The handsome wheel treatment is carried through with similar brushed-aluminum treatments on the door handles, instrument-panel accents, the utility area and the rear door.

The rear door itself is a groundbreaking tailgater's dream, featuring a flip-down utility area with a refrigerator, cutting surface and utensils. The industry's first triple-hinged rear door opens to the left or right, and the flipglass section opens upward offering more ways to conveniently load cargo.

A single stretch of a unique, tightly woven canvas-cloth material is tightly bound to the full roof-pillar perimeter – just as fabric is stretched over a polo helmet – for a unifying halo effect surrounding the glass roof.

INTERIOR DEPARTMENTS

The Ford Fairlane projects Ford's interior design leadership well into the future by offering the luxury of space, function and design. The three unique interior zones, like the cabin of a high-end executive aircraft, include a driver-focused front row, a passenger-friendly second row with first-class appointments, and a business-class third-row with passenger seating and a utility area for cargo or catering.

"The Fairlane concept takes Ford's interior design leadership to new levels," says Kris Tomasson, designer. "The three-zone design treatment harkens back to the 1920's glory days of American design when car and aircraft interiors were uniquely segmented to reflect home interior designs." Each zone matches design to duty and, like rooms in a home, is tied together with a modern and purposeful design theme. An all-glass roof, similarly segmented into three zones for individual control, reinforces the spacious cabin to invite trips from city to shore.