Frankfurt show: Ford unveils gullwinged Evos fastback

FORD has revealed clear clues to its dramatic design future with this stunning four-seat fastback concept, which has been previewed ahead of its public debut at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show.

The Blue Oval says the Evos concept - which features not two but four radical gullwing doors, both front and rear, a plug-in hybrid powertrain and a host of cutting-edge cabin technology – “signals a significant transformation of the Ford brand”.

It may also explain international reports that have suggested Ford would choose this year's giant German car show to debut its rumoured new Focus-based coupe model, since the Evos is very similar dimensionally to that car.

Reports out of the UK, meanwhile, suggest the concept may even get the ball rolling on a reinvention of the brand’s iconic Capri, although Ford itself stresses the show car is a one-off design exercise only.

Powering the concept is a development of the plug-in hybrid drivetrain from the forthcoming C-Max Energi people-mover, which is set to commence North American sales next year.

Ford is keeping its powder dry on whether the output or consumption figures for the Evos are different to the C-Max, but the company claims the car’s combination of an Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine and lithium-ion battery pack can deliver a driving rage of some 800km.

Ford claims the concept’s bold lines are an evolution of the 'kinetic' design language seen on the current-generation Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo. Its signature hexagonal-shaped grille – as already seen on the Focus Electric and Taurus – has been mounted higher to create “a confident, more premium look”.

The car’s sweeping, Aston Martin-esque profile gives way to a chunky rear three-quarter design, while the sleek tail-lights run along the boot in a thin strip beneath a prominent Evos badge.

The futuristic interior features a wrap-around dash design which the company says will deliver high levels of driving pleasure and driver interaction. Curvaceous surfaces sweep down on either side of the driver and display secondary information about vehicle and infotainment systems.

The minimalist, blue-lit instrument fascia is accompanied by an advanced driver interface, while the rear seats get their own touch-screen displays to interact with the vehicle.

Access to the rear pews is made easy by the extravagant set of four roof-mounted gull-wing doors, which are sure to delight Frankfurt show-goers.

The cut lines for the rear doors are cleverly obscured and integrated into the concept’s rear haunches, making it all but impossible to tell this is not a two-door coupe when these doors are shut.

Ford says the Evos builds on the Blue Oval’s Sync infotainment system by using new-generation technology aimed at boosting driver-to-car interaction and awareness.

Through the use of cloud technology it can monitor the physical state and workload of the driver, as well as allowing the car to ‘learn’ driver habits and capabilities, then overlaying map and weather data to adjust powertrain, steering, suspension and braking systems.