A drop-dead gorgeous four-door fastback, the Ford Evos Concept introduces the design direction for the next generation of Ford products and explores innovative powertrain and vehicle technologies. Set to be unveiled to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, it is one of the most significant models shaping the Company’s future.

"The Ford Evos Concept unites three key elements which are at the core of our One Ford global product strategy: outstanding design, smart technologies and fuel economy leadership," says Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company. "With its compelling design and innovative vehicle technologies, the Ford Evos Concept is a clear demonstration of the exciting vision we have for the Ford brand."

The new global design DNA unveiled on the Ford Evos Concept will provide the Company’s worldwide design teams with a common framework to guide the creation of new products, enabling them to shape a family of distinctive vehicles which share the same fundamental design language. Key elements of the concept’s exterior and interior design language will be applied to Ford’s next generation of products.

"The Ford Evos Concept offers an exciting new interpretation of the fastback bodystyle, with a really innovative silhouette and dramatic – and very modern – proportions," explains J Mays, Group vice president, Design and chief creative officer, Ford Motor Company. "With the length of a typical C car, but the width of a CD car, the Ford Evos Concept has a powerful, sporting stance. The forward position of the cowl, the strongly rounded front screen and the A pillars set further to the rear, enabled the designers to create the impression of a classic GT car, but with a very contemporary feel.

"The innovation continues in the unique four-door layout, with spectacular hinged gullwing-style doors both front and rear providing outstanding access to the spacious four-seat cabin. The new design DNA marks a bold evolution of the kinetic design language featured on existing global Ford products and is characterised by a number of important elements which will contribute to an unmistakable future Ford look."

Interior Innovation
Reflecting the same ‘fun-to-drive’ spirit as the exterior, the interior will deliver new levels of driving pleasure and driver interaction.

The driver-focused nature of the cockpit is emphasised by the curvaceous shapes of the display surfaces, which sweep down either side of the driver, providing secondary information about vehicle and infotainment systems.

Today’s Ford products provide drivers with many personalisation options, but the featured cloud* connectivity will enable future Ford vehicles to take the experience to the next level.

Drawing on a detailed understanding of the driver’s preferences and a historical record of their driving habits, the Ford Evos Concept combines this personal information with additional data from the cloud, such as the driver’s work schedule and local traffic or weather conditions. It then uses this information to provide a personalised and seamless experience as the driver transitions in and out of his car throughout the day.

Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer, and vice president of Research and Innovation, Ford Motor Company, explains: "At Ford, the future of technology in the car will be defined by the experience that it delivers to the driver and passengers. We see technology as more than just an impressive list of microprocessors, sensors and software; it’s about the application of that technology to create an experience that enhances the driver’s time behind the wheel.

"Seamless connectivity between the vehicle and the driver’s ‘personal cloud’ of information is at the heart of our vision for the capabilities of the Ford Evos Concept. The possibilities are fascinating when we explore how to enable a seamless lifestyle between home, office and car when a driver provides access to their personal information."

*The cloud is a set of services and technologies that enables the delivery of computing services over the internet in real-time, allowing end-users instant access to data and applications from any device with net access. 

Adaptive technologies
The Ford Evos Concept explores adaptive vehicle technologies that could redefine the driving experience. Current technology requires vehicle chassis settings to be defined based upon the abilities and tastes of a cross-section of drivers and the topography of a range of typical roads. The Ford Evos Concept foresees tuning the car’s handling and performance to the road ahead and the specific individual behind the wheel.

The intelligent technology learns a driver’s habits and capabilities, and can overlay map and weather data sourced from the cloud to continuously adjust powertrain, steering, suspension and braking systems for optimum enjoyment, comfort and safety.

Ford researchers have already developed technologies focused on driver wellness, such as the heart-rate monitoring seat and certified allergy-free interiors. Building on that technology, and adding a seamless connection to the cloud, the Ford Evos Concept remains constantly aware of the physical state and workload of the driver and adjusts the driving experience accordingly.

The car is also equipped with advanced air quality sensors and filtration systems to help allergy sufferers. And being location aware, it can access air quality data from the cloud and proactively suggest a healthier route to the destination.

In dynamic driving situations, the vehicle can simplify the appearance of the instrument panel to only display necessary gauge information and to switch the driver’s connected smart phone to “Do Not Disturb” mode to help keep the focus of attention on the road.

Advanced Powertrain

Featuring Ford’s acclaimed ‘powersplit’ hybrid architecture, in which the electric motor and gasoline engine can work together or separately to maximise efficiency, this advanced powertrain typically runs in all-electric mode before switching to charge-sustaining hybrid mode for continued optimal fuel efficiency.

With its cloud connectivity, the Ford Evos Concept would provide further opportunities to dramatically enhance performance and efficiency, by selecting the optimum combination of powertrain modes for any given journey.

The Ford Evos Concept’s cloud-optimised powertrain would automatically ‘know’ when to save energy and switch modes, using information about the vehicle’s predicted travel route, any emission zone restrictions during the journey, and current weather conditions.

This capability would further enhance the performance of Ford’s advanced PHEV technology, which offers an overall driving range of more than 500 miles (800 kilometres) using the battery and engine – more than any other plug-in or extended-range electric vehicle.

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