2010 Beijing Auto Show: Ford Start Concept
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The Start Concept is powered by an all-new 1.0 liter 3-cylinderEcoBoost gasoline engine which delivers CO2 emissions under 100g/km.
The exterior design takes inspiration from the spirit of exotic sportscars from the past, such as the Porsche 356 Speedster and the Alfa Romeo Zagato SZ.
The design of the surfaces shows a scultptural and minimalistic approach, which also takes into consideration aerodynamics, as shown by the and the full underbody tray.
The interior design development was focused on offering passengers great visibility and a tactile analog experience, while reducing the number of total parts.
Among the cabin distinctive elements are the front bucket seats chracterized by a thin appearance, ant the “MyFord Mobile Concept,”a conceptual look into how to leverage smart phone interface with the popularity of personalized “apps”.
The Ford Start Concept is based on an innovative hybrid aluminum/high strength steel body construction with a lightweight aluminum safety cell, which provides a rigid structure for the glass and roof to attach and houses side curtain airbags.
All exterior body panels are made from deformable, pre-colored recyclable composites. Natural sisal fiber is used to form the interior panels.
The pressed aluminum wheels are mated with Michelin Green X tires featuring low rolling resistance and lightweight construction.
The holistic design approach – considering advances in the drivetrain, materials, and clever construction – demonstrates that a weight savings of 140 kg is possible.
The new 1.0 liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine features cast iron block, cast aluminium cylinder head and cast aluminium sump.
The adoption of a three cyclinders unit has been made possible thanks to the EcoBoost technology, a combination of turbocharging and direct fuel injection.
This technology is being progressively introduced to Ford passenger cars and crossover vehicles – both in Europe and North America – in 3.5-litre V6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder power units.
According to the carmaker, the power and torque levels are comparable to a normally aspirated, 1.6-litre I4 powerplant.
