iosis X signals dramatic future for Ford

Ford of Europe's design team has applied the Company's acclaimed new 'kinetic design' form language to an exciting new crossover concept - the iosis X – which makes its debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

The robust five-door sports crossover points to the future of the brand, and suggests that Ford will be entering this market segment in around 18 months.

"We're calling this car iosis X as a deliberate link to our 'kinetic design' concept car lineage which we started last year," said Martin Smith, Ford of Europe's Executive Design Director. "The link is not just in the name – there's a powerful visual relationship between the two cars, and the 'X' signals the new vehicle's crossover capabilities.".

At the front, iosis X features the bold new Ford face translated into a more rugged look to convey the strength of the vehicle. Most noticeable are the strong inverted trapezoid elements, including a prominent lower grille section.

Appropriately for a crossover, the lower grille has been bolstered further by reducing the upper grille to little more than a ram air intake – a horizontal slot bisected by a bright metal bar and featuring a deliberately large Ford blue oval that appears to be thrusting forwards from within the engine bay.

Forthcoming pedestrian impact legislation has influenced Ford's distinctive approach to front overhang and headlamp design. The front corners are aggressively chamfered, reducing the visual size of the overhang, while the large headlamps follow the chamfering into the front wings, resulting in a distinctive kicked back appearance.

The interior is dominated by a new 'interlocking bridge' centre console inspired by modern helicopter cockpit design. The large console dives down from the instrument panel dividing the front and rear pairs of seats and dominating the interior before dramatically sweeping upwards at the rear and into the roof.

Twin glass roof panels flank the central overhead console, and these are complemented by a totally unique new feature – a solid glass floor beneath the driver's and passenger seats which offers a view of the terrain below.

The main instruments present themselves in the form of a pair of orange illuminated transparent foil dials that create a deep 3-D effect, and are housed in individual goggle-like binnacles. Between them is a Ford Human Mechanical Interface screen that allows easy driver control of navigation, advanced cruise control or other vehicle settings.

iosis X is finished in an icy, brilliant white, chilled further by a blue effect in the paint finish which is set off by twin silver stripes running the length of the bonnet and etched into the glass roof.