Ford SAV Concept Targets New Market Niche

At the rear, SAV Concept displays a dramatic upswept window graphic balanced by distinctive two-piece tail lamps that extend onto the tailgate. Bright dual exhaust tips bracket the venturi-effect lower bumper design. It stands on 21-inch, low-profile performance tyres fitted to highly sculpted aluminium wheels cast with five bold, Y-tipped spokes.

Design enhanced by shared technologies approach

Although SAV Concept showcases a possible new direction within the family car market, it was created by a team of designers who wanted to demonstrate production feasibility.

“It is finished in such a production-realistic fashion that it looks like you could drive it right off the stand,” said Derrick Kuzak, Vice President, Product Development, Ford of Europe. “We’re confident many Geneva visitors will want to do just that.”

The design team approached the project using the disciplines of Ford’s shared technology approach. This method of vehicle development provides designers with extreme flexibility to create diverse body styles and vehicle formats.

“Designers have always worked around constraints, which can be especially severe with the “platform” approach. From a designer’s point of view, it’s gratifying to have the far greater degree of flexibility offered by Ford’s shared technologies strategy,” Kuzak said.

“As demonstrated by the SAV Concept, production feasibility doesn’t limit our creative vision. Clearly this vehicle is something no other manufacturer offers.”

From its exquisitely sculpted steering wheel – with electronic upshift and downshift buttons integrated into bold thumb grips – to the hip-hugging forms of the contoured sports seats, the interior of the SAV Concept is performance orientated.

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