TWO AMERICAN ICONS DELIVER THE CROSSOVER MODEL OF
THE FUTURE WITH THE FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT
Crossover growth is exploding
: Ford Airstream Concept speaks to the future of
crossovers as the market segment is projected to
top 3 million units annually by the end of the
decade.
Green Journey : Ford
Airstream Concept is powered by a new plug-in
hydrogen hybrid fuel cell – called HySeries
Drive – that operates under electric power at
all times and delivers the combined city/highway
equivalent fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon.
Two icons of American
transportation: Ford and Airstream have
teamed up to deliver a futuristic crossover
concept, showing what tomorrow’s road trip
vehicles could look like.
Playing to win in the growing crossover segment,
Ford has joined with another iconic company to
showcase how it could further expand its lineup of
expressive crossovers with the Ford Airstream
Concept.
“Crossovers are an increasingly important part of
our business, and Ford is going to continue
developing an expressive range of these vehicles,”
says Peter Horbury, executive director – Design, The
Americas. “The Ford Airstream Concept is a
futuristic look at crossovers. It’s the ultimate
modern touring vehicle that delivers flexibility and
capability with dynamic design that evokes the
spirit of the journey.”
The concept is powered by a plug-in hydrogen
hybrid fuel cell drivetrain – called HySeries Drive™
– that operates under electric power at all times.
This advanced fuel cell system is half the weight
and cost of today’s fuel cells and can operate in
the dead of winter. That’s a major step forward
because today’s fuel cells don’t do well when the
mercury dips below freezing.
Natural Intersection
The Ford Airstream Concept captures the sense of
optimism and adventure conveyed in American
aircraft, spacecraft and the streamlined shape of
Airstream trailers. It’s reflected in the crossover
concept’s organic, fuselage-inspired form language,
unique reflective paint and 12 ceremonial rivets,
which pay homage to Airstream’s iconic construction.
“For 75 years, Airstream has been an icon
synonymous with the optimism, discovery and
wanderlust that’s helped defined America,” said J
Mays, group vice president – Design, and chief
creative officer. “It seemed only fitting for us to
come together through our shared passion for the
open road and show a vision for the future of
American transportation.”
Much like Ford, Airstream began with one man’s
dream. In 1931, Wally Byam began leveraging
aircraft-construction methods to make trailers aimed
at feeding Americans’ surging desire to travel.
“Silver bullets” have been shooting up and down
highways ever since, leading a Recreational Vehicle
industry that’s realized record profits and revenues
in 2005 and the first half of 2006.
“Business for Airstream and the RV industry has
been strong, but we want to continue finding options
for tomorrow’s road trips. Our success in recent
years has come from challenging the conventional
thinking about what an Airstream is. The Ford
Airstream Concept is a stunning example of just
that,” says Bob Wheeler, president and chief
executive officer of Airstream. “Plus, a partner
like Ford, with its long history as an American
icon, made perfect sense for this kind of
exploration.”
Common Ground
Both companies are influenced by economic and
demographic trends – chiefly baby boomers
approaching retirement age.
In the U.S., 11,000 people turn age 50 every day.
These consumers are starting to downsize their lives
and their vehicles, opting for more nimble and
fuel-efficient models. With their children leaving
home and some retiring, they also have more time for
travel.
For Ford, that trend – plus younger couples
starting families later – is fueling a shift to
crossover vehicles.
The crossover segment is expected to hit 3
million units by the end of the decade, making it
potentially the largest U.S. vehicle segment.
For Airstream, these demographic changes are
meaningful as well. RV ownership is highest among
retirement-age consumers, and by the end of the
decade, 50- to 64-year-old consumers will tally
57 million – a 38 percent increase versus 2000,
according to University of Michigan studies.
And the number of RV-owning households is expected
to grow to 8.5 million during the same period.
Seeing the Future Today
Growing Ford’s crossover share means breaking
through the competitive and fragmenting segment, and
the company is leveraging bold designs to win
customers.
Ford’s crossover lineup already features the
functional Freestyle, newly launched agile and
modern Edge and, in time, will include a more
refined full-size crossover based on the Fairlane
concept.
Ford designers wanted to push further into the
future and tapped inspirations including Airstream’s
iconic designs and the optimistic future Stanley
Kubrick created and captured in his 1960s cult film
2001: A Space Odyssey. These inspirations
are evident – inside and out.
The concept’s bold, futuristic front-end explores
a new look for Ford, encapsulating the
single-surface grille and headlamps into the same
graphic. Each of the concept’s bold orange-trimmed
window graphics is a unique shape.
“This reflects the purpose of the vehicle:
looking out and remembering that the journey – not
the destination – matters most,” said Freeman
Thomas, director, North American Strategic Design.
“The Ford Airstream Concept is an ultra-modern,
optimistic vehicle that allows passengers a pure
traveling experience to enjoy with good company, no
matter the destination .”
Its doors are asymmetric as well, allowing for
easy loading of passengers and cargo. In addition to
the driver’s side hatch, the passenger side features
a power clamshell door that runs two-thirds the
length of the vehicle. A three-door hatch finishes
the rear of the crossover.
,.
Futuristic Interior
The futuristic theme and modern form language of
the exterior carries through to the concept’s
interior.
“Through the materials, color palette and
technology, the Ford Airstream Concept has distinct
cues from the spacecraft and environments portrayed
in 2001: A Space Odyssey,” says Thomas.
“We’re able to maximize the spaciousness of the
interior, creating a lounge atmosphere in
contrasting colors of cosmic red and white that
provides an inviting experience for the ultimate
journey.”
The Ford Airstream Concept features a floating
instrument panel with flush-mounted, touch-sensitive
controls and a multi-function single gauge display
provides the driver all primary information.
A Sharp® dual-view screen centrally mounted on
the instrument panel provides a camera view and
secondary driver-oriented information, while
allowing the front-seat passenger to view DVDs and
post mobile blogs. The driver and front-seat
passenger will navigate in style in modern,
pod-shaped swiveling captain’s chairs that also
rotate so they can easily socialize.
In the rear, lounge-like seating is sculptural,
creating a continuous cocoon-like environment
wrapped in bold red B&B Italia fabric. The focal
point of the rear seating area is a 360-degree
screen for entertainment and games. The unique
screen also creates ambient mood settings, including
a modern lava lamp and virtual fire, as well as a
live camera feed.
How the Rubber Meets the Road
The new HySeries Drive plug-in hydrogen fuel cell
featured in the Ford Airstream Concept is more than
a concept.
This powertrain is already on the road and
driving in a Ford Edge prototype. Ford scientists
and engineers created this vehicle with partial
funding from the United States Department of Energy.
The HySeries Drive delivers the combined
city/highway equivalent fuel economy of 41 miles per
gallon.
In this application, the fuel cell’s sole
function is to recharge the vehicle’s lithium-ion
battery pack as needed. This allows it to work like
a portable generator, instead of an engine, as had
been the case in previous Ford fuel cell vehicles.
The new fuel cell, supplied by Ford partner
Ballard, operates in a steady state, allowing a
significantly smaller, less expensive fuel cell and
drastically improving the durability of the fuel
cell. With this system, the fuel cell delivers the
power needed to recharge the lithium-ion batteries,
rather than to be the primary power source to drive
the wheels, as in a typical fuel cell-powered
vehicle.
In pure electric mode, the Ford Airstream Concept
can travel 25 miles before the fuel cell begins
operating to recharge the vehicle’s 336-volt
lithium-ion battery pack. With the hydrogen-powered
fuel cell, the range increases another 280 miles for
a total of 305 miles.
Safe Journeys
Safety belts remain the most important safety
technology in vehicles. Ford is researching several
new safety belt designs, including four-point safety
belts found in the front seats of the Ford Airstream
Concept.
“Inside, outside and under the hood, the Ford
Airstream Concept speaks to the future,” Mays said.
“Ford is looking out onto the horizon and imbuing
crossovers with emotion, made even more powerful by
our association with Airstream.”
Front:
.......................................37.5 in.
Second Row: ............................36.2 in.
Legroom
Front:
.......................................39.6 in.
Second Row: ............................33.1 in.
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry
leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures and
distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six
continents. With about 300,000 employees and more
than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and
affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin,
Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury
and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include
Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford’s products, please visit
www.fordvehicles.com.
Airstream
The First Airstreams, known for their
high-quality riveted aluminium shells and
state-of-the-art interiors, were built in 1931 by
Wally Byam. Airstream, a subsidiary of THOR
Industries Inc. since 1980, is world-renowned for
quality, innovation and design. An Airstream is more
than just a trendy product, it’s a way of life
embraced by thousands around the world for more than
seven decades. Now celebrating its 75 th
anniversary, the company continues the legacy today
with its world-class travel trailers, motorhomes,
and services. For additional information about
Airstream, please visit
www.Airstream.com.
