• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2006 Ford Reflex Concept

A Forward-Looking Ford

You have to love Ford. Of the Big Three, the Blue Oval arguably seems to be doing the most to regain the spirituality they had when they produced such cool cars as the 1967 fastback Mustangs and GT40s of the same era (although Chrysler Groups SRT division isnt doing too badly conjuring up memories of previous 300s and Challengers). Of course, Ford is doing it by rehashing those old vehicles with modern iterations that look, sound, and in some ways, go, like the old ones. And granted, thats about as innovative as a Porsche 911s styling, but at the end of the day it works: the new Mustang is a runaway hit (having already killed off most of its competition) and the Ford GT has given

It may look large, but the Reflex concept is actually smaller than a Honda Civic Coupe. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

a whole new generation of young boys an honest American supercar to buy posters of and drool over. But just because theyve been visiting their past to create their future doesnt mean theyve lost all their creativity. Case in point: the Reflex concept.

Designed to portray Fords idea of the ideal small sporty car, the Reflex is everything a small car should be: fun, efficient, and useful. Beginning with the all-important

Wide rear fenders give the Reflex an aggressive look, and the back hatch looks in on the electric motors circuitry. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

exterior styling, Ford designers went all-out with the sleek looking coupe, working to disguise the cars small stature with aggressive bodywork. They succeeded too; with 20-inch wheels, a wide, low stance, and relatively long hood, youd never guess that this concept is actually smaller than a Honda Civic coupe. Measuring just 155.8 inches from stem to stern, the Reflex is almost two feet shorter than the Civic overall, but possesses a wheelbase thats only four inches shorter than the Civics, meaning the Reflexs wheels

The signature tri-bar grille also serves as a functional bumper in the Reflexs case. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

are shoved right to the extreme corners of the car, making it look larger than it is.

Beyond the proportional trickery, Fords designers also added a few sensible touches to the exterior design to give the Reflex a far more exciting "look" than the Civic Coupes. Take, for example, the short and wide headlights that almost run the width of the cars nose; theyre capped off with solar panels that trickle charge the battery. Just below, the now-signature Ford tri-bar grille (albeit hand-polished on the Reflex) serves as both a familial styling trait and functional bumper. Were also assured the reverse-butterfly opening doors are a useful

The mesh chairs add a whole new meaning to the term "bucket seats." (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

feature that aid ingress and egress into the diminutive little cabin and we can see how, so long as you never park next to anything larger than a curb. Out back, theres a few less functional features and a few more nods to styling, with ultra-wide fenders and a narrow backlight thats reminiscent of the Shelby GR1 concept.

Inside, the Reflex is expectedly futuristic. Inspired by (believe it or not) kids, the interior is very unique and has a few features we wouldnt mind seeing in a production car. The seats are one such feature; painted a very iPod-like "Robotic White" and covered with a sheer mesh, they look comfortable, breathable and airy, meaning wed never have to burn our legs on hot leather again. Likewise, the unique 2+1 layout seems

iPod-white trim with red carpets is an odd color combination that suits this concept car perfectly. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

like a good idea whose time has come. It replaces a standard rear seat with a smaller center-mounted "loveseat" (Fords word, not ours!) that fits two children or one adult. A deployable center divider keeps kiddies separated when required (which seems to often be the case), and retracts into the seat when carrying an adult. We like it because it means the rear seat passenger gets a good view between the front seats, and probably has more room to boot.

Lastly, the Reflex has very nifty airbag seatbelts that distribute the belts load across the occupants chests, reducing the chance for injury. A slightly less popular feature, though, is the "baby cam," a rearward-facing camera that monitors the back seat (incidentally, Ford was first with a flip-down convex mirror for watching the kids in its Freestar minivan), displaying the image on the touch-screen

The diesel-electric hybrid uses the diesel motor to spin the front wheels while the electric motor turns those in the rear. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

display on the center console. As Ford puts it, the "unique baby cam helps front occupants monitor precious payload in [the] rear seats," when in reality, if your baby is crying in the back seat, itd probably be because it hasnt seen hide nor hair of its parents for the last hundred kilometers due to a car that is no doubt seriously fun to drive.
Yes, as cool looking and funky as the Reflexs body and interior are, the concepts real showcase is the powerplant. Combining two of the most popular fuel-efficient alternatives, the Reflexs diesel-electric hybrid powerplant is an unorthodox one that uses the diesel engine to power the front wheels, while the rears are powered by the electric motor. The result is a potential 65 mpg fuel economy rating, and an incredibly eco-friendly car. The diesel is built to run on bio-diesel, and the new-generation lithium batteries can be charged with the cars solar panels, making it a very sensible automobile

This design could be surprisingly close to production; with a few obvious changes of course. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

indeed. With only 155 horsepower, at first glance it wouldnt seem to be the fastest thing on four wheels, but no doubt its bags and bags of torque (ideal for standing starts) should make up for any lack of power at high speeds.

So, how feasible is the Reflex? Well, as a concept it doesnt seem to be very realistic; things like solar panel-incorporating headlights, sheer mesh seats, and 20-inch wheels on small cars generally dont sit well with company accountants nor the NHTSA, plus the massive bank of lithium batteries required for the electric motor would also be weighty and expensive. But styling wise, the Reflex is definitely more in keeping with Fords new Bold Moves theme than the old (and due for replacement) Focus, and rumors have been circulating that Ford has been working on a small sporty hatchback of undisclosed design for production that could be based on the Reflex. And while that model will almost certainly forgo the unique drivetrain in favor of a more traditional hybrid setup, a small coupe with Reflex-based styling would definitely be welcome. 

Page:  1

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo