BORG Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 (edited) Probably one of the most influential concepts at Ford, the design language that emerged from the concept can still be seen today. This has always been my all-time favorite Ford concept. It's chiefly responsible for introducing the concept of the cut fender look which is used both at Mercury and Ford. It also introduced the stacked headlights which continues to be used by Mercury. It also featured matte-finished aluminum trim pieces, a popular Mercury hallmark. With the new Milan and Fusion continuing to carry these design characteristics, I thought I'd remind all the young-ins here of the inspiration for those designs . It should also be noted that the MC4 inspired the trend toward sharper lines and creases, something Ford would later call "New Edge" and Caddy "Art & Science". This was 1996 btw! Remember the Taurus? Yes, Ford use to be Detroit's trend setter . Edited August 16, 2008 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ds91776 Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Yes, I remember seeing that concept at NAIAS....probably the first concept car I ever remember seeing and falling in love with. I also liked the stupidly named My Mercury concept. That is how the next Mariner or Fiesta based CUV should be styled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomcat68 Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I liked the concept, but that is a really bad picture of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkisler Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Probably one of the most influential concepts at Ford, the design language that emerged from the concept can still be seen today. This has always been my all-time favorite Ford concept. It's chiefly responsible for introducing the concept of the cut fender look which is used both at Mercury and Ford. It also introduced the stacked headlights which continues to be used by Mercury. It also featured matte-finished aluminum trim pieces, a popular Mercury hallmark. With the new Milan and Fusion continuing to carry these design characteristics, I thought I'd remind all the young-ins here of the inspiration for those designs . It should also be noted that the MC4 inspired the trend toward sharper lines and creases, something Ford would later call "New Edge" and Caddy "Art & Science". This was 1996 btw! Remember the Taurus? Yes, Ford use to be Detroit's trend setter . You hit on one of my favorite concepts also. Following on the heels of early work done on the Mustang and T'bird, there was a group inside of Ford that put together a plan to produce this vehicle. The intent was to use the D2 platform and produce it with the T'bird in Wixom on the abandoned Mark line. And...an all-new Mark also could have been spawned on the same line with a high degree of commonality with the Mercury. But...the failure to do so wasn't because of engineering or manufacturing feasibility or even cost even with the rear hinged rear doors. The idiotic, myopic Mercury marketing organization wouldn't agree to the project unless it was viewed as a replacement for the Cougar with the same prices (i.e., well under $20k at the time). There was a lot of very, very bitter arguing but they were adamant. At that revenue, the project was a non-starter and it died. I'm not saying the actual production vehicle would have been a smash success, but it could have been produced profitably at lower volume (around 30-40k) and set a tone for Mercury. Lost opportunity IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingincirclez Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I still have a promotional "engineering / artwork" poster of that car that I got at the 96 Chicago Auto Show. I used to love analyzing all the detail reliefs. The picture shown above seems different to me though. I remember hidden parking lamps and turn signals that were recessed into character lines, whereby the lamps would make the body panels glow slightly without visible lenses. Very cool. Also had the weird center-split rear hatch that opened from either side of the car.... hence that line above the rear fender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyle Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 (edited) Probably one of the most influential concepts at Ford, the design language that emerged from the concept can still be seen today. This has always been my all-time favorite Ford concept. It's chiefly responsible for introducing the concept of the cut fender look which is used both at Mercury and Ford. It also introduced the stacked headlights which continues to be used by Mercury. It also featured matte-finished aluminum trim pieces, a popular Mercury hallmark. With the new Milan and Fusion continuing to carry these design characteristics, I thought I'd remind all the young-ins here of the inspiration for those designs . It should also be noted that the MC4 inspired the trend toward sharper lines and creases, something Ford would later call "New Edge" and Caddy "Art & Science". This was 1996 btw! Remember the Taurus? Yes, Ford use to be Detroit's trend setter . That concept is from 1996-no kidding? That is amazing and I get a kick out of you saying "young-ins when you are what 30? Edited August 16, 2008 by kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danup Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 (edited) Wow, that's an absolutely gorgeous car. Are those Saturn-style "quad coupe" doors? That and the front clip remind me of the Ion coupe, which is probably the weirdest thing I could ever say about an attractive car. EDIT: A-pillar forward it reminds me of a Fusion/Milan, and aside from the New Edge fenders the design language isn't too far off; it's too bad the CD3 coupe was cancelled. Edited August 16, 2008 by danup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02MustangGT Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 I'm guessing, but wasn't this the concept that the new edge Cougar was designed after (99-02)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2b2 Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 (edited) not quite imho afaik that'd be the MC4's partner-concept, the MC2 <linky tho I didn't see it live-or-in-pix when it came out, the MC4 is one of my fave concepts btw it sold for $645,500 at a charity auction a while back Edited August 17, 2008 by 2b2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Probably one of the most influential concepts at Ford, the design language that emerged from the concept can still be seen today. This has always been my all-time favorite Ford concept. It's chiefly responsible for introducing the concept of the cut fender look which is used both at Mercury and Ford. It also introduced the stacked headlights which continues to be used by Mercury. It also featured matte-finished aluminum trim pieces, a popular Mercury hallmark. With the new Milan and Fusion continuing to carry these design characteristics, I thought I'd remind all the young-ins here of the inspiration for those designs . It should also be noted that the MC4 inspired the trend toward sharper lines and creases, something Ford would later call "New Edge" and Caddy "Art & Science". This was 1996 btw! Remember the Taurus? Yes, Ford use to be Detroit's trend setter . I really like that concept, and too am surprised it's from 96! You hit on one of my favorite concepts also. Following on the heels of early work done on the Mustang and T'bird, there was a group inside of Ford that put together a plan to produce this vehicle. The intent was to use the D2 platform and produce it with the T'bird in Wixom on the abandoned Mark line. And...an all-new Mark also could have been spawned on the same line with a high degree of commonality with the Mercury. But...the failure to do so wasn't because of engineering or manufacturing feasibility or even cost even with the rear hinged rear doors. The idiotic, myopic Mercury marketing organization wouldn't agree to the project unless it was viewed as a replacement for the Cougar with the same prices (i.e., well under $20k at the time). There was a lot of very, very bitter arguing but they were adamant. At that revenue, the project was a non-starter and it died. I'm not saying the actual production vehicle would have been a smash success, but it could have been produced profitably at lower volume (around 30-40k) and set a tone for Mercury. Lost opportunity IMHO. I agree that it was a lost opportunity, while as you said, it may've not been a smash success, I think it would've helped the Mercury brand tremendously, giving it an identity, some product, etc..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkFive Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 It should also be noted that the MC4 inspired the trend toward sharper lines and creases, something Ford would later call "New Edge" and Caddy "Art & Science". This was 1996 btw! Remember the Taurus? Yes, Ford use to be Detroit's trend setter . BBC Radio played an an interview today with the designer of the MC4 - Chelsia Lau. She had some interesting perspectives on automotive design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 (edited) BBC Radio played an an interview today with the designer of the MC4 - Chelsia Lau. She had some interesting perspectives on automotive design. Apparently she is still a chief designer at Ford. She is also responsible for the Spor_Trac concept. She is also responsible for the 2008 Navigator, which isn't a good thing to be known for http://www.automotoportal.com/article/ford...signer-for-2006 Edited August 17, 2008 by BORG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingincirclez Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) Took some digging, but... here's that poster. I was right about the illuminated panels, see the detail relief behind the rear wheel. You'll have to forgive my paperwieghts... That damn thing is FRAGILE! It's like some sort of mylar-wax-paper crap, very brittle and easily torn. So I wasn't going to dare try and reverse-curl it just for some stupid photos. It's transparent so you see both sides at once. And when you flip it over you see the interior of the car. I have always thought this was the coolest. car poster. ever. Oh yeah, who needs SYNC? First-gen Palm-Pilot Nav-Ent console FTW! Edited August 19, 2008 by goingincirclez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Oh yeah, who needs SYNC? First-gen Palm-Pilot Nav-Ent console FTW! Haha, Palm Pilots....I remember those things....they were "the thing" to have back when they came out. That is a pretty cool poster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealmrmustang Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) Here's a better picture of the MC4... Edited August 19, 2008 by therealmrmustang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Here's a better picture of the MC4... Personally, I don't like it at all. It looks uninspired and somehow "unfinished"...sort of like the Lincoln Sentinel concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmayo Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Cool thread, I wasn't familiar with the MC4. Here are a few more pics I dug up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 Took some digging, but... here's that poster. I was right about the illuminated panels, see the detail relief behind the rear wheel. You'll have to forgive my paperwieghts... That damn thing is FRAGILE! It's like some sort of mylar-wax-paper crap, very brittle and easily torn. So I wasn't going to dare try and reverse-curl it just for some stupid photos. It's transparent so you see both sides at once. And when you flip it over you see the interior of the car. I have always thought this was the coolest. car poster. ever. Oh yeah, who needs SYNC? First-gen Palm-Pilot Nav-Ent console FTW! I have this poster, it's brilliant! It's printed on a translucent paper stock so the print seems to float and layer on the paper, so neat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navlys32 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 to me, the front looks like a prius but the rear looks cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BORG Posted August 21, 2008 Author Share Posted August 21, 2008 Much of the 2000 Focus design came out of this as well, certainly the headlights and fender flares. This trickled down to cars like the 2nd gen Mondeo. This is still my preferred design language, crisp lines to add 'texture' to the design of the car, as opposed to the softness before this concept (1996 Taurus) and after (2008 Mondeo). Fortunately, Ford Noth America is still applying much of what was learned with this concept, even in the 2010 Taurus which is far sharper than the molten Mondeo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted August 22, 2008 Share Posted August 22, 2008 I'm going to get kicked for saying this, but the front end looks like the Prius. But the greenhouse looks like a cross between the Fusion and the older Honda Accord coupe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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