American Dream: We drive the Interceptor, the full-size sedan that could save Ford

Press the electrically triggered chrome door handle and the door pops open. The sculpted one-piece leather seats are as stiff as the suspension, and you slide onto them as into a Barcelona chair. A 21st-century "shaker" looms in your view, and the rest of the hood is long and upright...you're overlooking a similar expanse of sheetmetal as in a Chrysler 300. Hit the electronic ignition button on the headliner just aft of the header, and the 5.4-liter V-8 fires up with a rumble.

The clutch is a bit heavier than a Mustang GT's, but it releases smoothly and progressively. This big sedan is easy to drive-if you're into low-riders. It bounces along the smooth test road like a candy-colored 1964 Impala on the haunches of its hydraulics. It feels like one good bump could launch it into the air. You shift cleanly into second gear, but that's all she'll show today.

Interceptor. It's just another Ford concept car. A nice piece of eye candy designed to take your attention away from the real horror story playing out in Dearborn amid collapsing sales, massive losses, and a demoralized workforce. Don't you believe it: Even as you read this, Dearborn insiders are sweating the details on a secret plan to radically change the way FoMoCo develops new cars and trucks. And the Interceptor reveals a key part of that plan.
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jasongoudie - 6/15/2007 9:41:45 AM

-1 Boost

That grill looks like someone chromed a pair of skis and bent them over the front of the car. I think the word I am looking for is...... FUUUUUUGLY!

Will_ - 6/15/2007 9:52:27 AM

0 Boost

Wow. I just noticed a shocking resemblance between this and the Audi A5 in profile...

I think we all can agree that Ford needs a car like this in their line-up. Rear-wheel drive? Check. Bold styling? Check. I think its time Ford realize that they cannot compete with Toyota for making the most boring car to appeal to the masses (Five Hundred/Taurus?) and build something that Americans can get excited about and feel proud about.

However, my one concern is the specific design of this. Part of the appeal with the Chrysler 300 is that it looks like something really old-school, art deco expensive. This just kind of looks like a blockdude boxing toy.

alfistiDK - 6/15/2007 10:52:11 AM

+3 Boost

I see absolutely no resemblance between this and the A5 , i even opened them both up in Photoshop and compared...hmm either im blind or sombody need glasses :)

Will_ - 6/15/2007 11:59:59 AM

0 Boost

I said the profiles/outlines/silhouettes of the two look similar in my perspective. It could also be that I distinctly remember seeing a picture of a blue A5 that had the car in a nearly identical angle as the Interceptor in this photograph.

I can't seem to access the site from work, but go to www.carphotosite.com and look at the Audi A5 pictures to see if you recognize what I'm talking about...

w209w114 - 6/15/2007 11:16:07 AM

+1 Boost

This car is late to the Party. Chrysler 300 created this segment and is phasing out. Ford should stop the beating around the bush and just make this already if they think it could save them

Monk - 6/15/2007 12:50:22 PM

0 Boost

no offense to American fans...this ugly as hell

07mcs - 6/15/2007 1:38:33 PM

+2 Boost

A little too late. Chrysler 300C owns the market for this style of car.

Caddyman07 - 6/15/2007 2:24:16 PM

+2 Boost

Ford needs to HURRY up and drop this as the next Crown Vic (minus the name)...

mscottc1 - 6/16/2007 10:03:48 AM

+2 Boost

The thing to do would be make this car a FAIRLANE. It's the size car proper to wear that nameplate, and there are a lot of "car buffs" here in the US who'd love to see the return of that nameplate to a respectable rear-drive platform.

Go-Ford-Go, but you'd better hurry. RWD is where it's at, even in the snow-belt states, where an AWD option would be easy to add & easy to sell (a-la 300C AWD). It's not too late! But it will be if they don't hurry up!!!