Ford Interceptor: four-door muscle car based on a sixties sedan shape

On the other hand, the gated six-speed shifter is exposed, just waiting to be thrown into gear.

“The Interceptor concept is a sedan – but with the heart and soul of a performance car,“ Thomas said. “This car is about restraint – and not clouding the driving experience with too much technology. There aren’t a lot of layers between the driver and the road with this car.”

For safety, the Interceptor concept incorporates Ford’s patented four-point “belt and suspenders” safety belt design in all four seats and inflatable seat belts in the rear.

While current three-point safety belts are extremely effective in reducing the risk of injury in a crash, Ford Motor Company is researching these two potential safety belt technologies as possible ways to further reduce injury risk in vehicle crashes.

A number of technical challenges still need to be overcome before such restraint systems could ever be used, but these technologies might one day further enhance safety belt effectiveness.

The four-point belt showcases a possible next-generation safety belt that is more comfortable and easier to use than traditional three-point belts, according to consumer research. Additionally, inflatable belts have been included in the rear seat of the concept to help better protect occupants in a variety of crashes.

“Our customer target for this powerful masculine sedan was a man with a family,” Horbury said. “He’s essentially a good guy, but a bit mischevious. He loves power and performance. But ultimately, he’s responsible. When he has his family on board, he values new safety technology as well as a powerful engine that runs on E-85 ethanol.”