2003 Ford GloCar Review

Specifications

Safety and Sustainability Seen in a New Light

Color. Its one of the first things that anyone finds a favorite of. It can negatively or positively affect our emotional state, swinging us to aggression or calm without graphic imagery, audible sound or additional stimuli. Color says more about a persons priorities than almost any other visible choice. It covers our clothes, walls, furniture, and of course, our automobiles.

If you dont drive a silver car, truck, SUV or minivan, consider yourself original. Approximately 30% of all vehicles sold around the globe are painted some shade of silver. Just the same, some automakers offer a wide palette of shades and colors for each model, others only a narrow assortment. Some premium marques even allow prospective owners to choose a custom hue direct from the factory - for a fairly steep fee mind you.

But now theres a new idea that could, albeit not too soon, remove the color argument from the auto-purchasing scenario. Ironically, from the company whose founder once stated, “You can have any color, as long as its black,” a new concept arrives more vibrant than anything preceding. LED lights change the color, intensity and frequency of the Ford GloCars injection-moulded translucent plastic body panels.

As part of the “National Design Triennial: Inside Design Now” exhibit on display at New Yorks Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the GloCar sheds some light on the blue ovals Brand Imaging Group.

While the ability to choose an exterior color to match your outfit may sound enticing, it actually offers more practical applications too. For instance, try to miss it at night. According to research, over 60% of MVAs occur in the dark at stop signs or traffic lights. No matter what color its driver chooses, the GloCar literally glows when the sun is beyond the horizon, allowing it to be seen for miles. If its immediately noticeable, its less likely to be hit by an otherwise unobservant driver.

But wait, theres more. “The rear panel doubles as a brake light, and the side panels as blinkers,” stated Ford Brand Imaging Group chief designer Laurens van den Acker. “When somebody comes too close, the panels increase in intensity, signaling the driver to keep a distance.”

Something this revolutionary couldnt just use conventional hardware to move it along, so Ford took the opportunity to incorporate its co-developed fuel cell drivetrain. It also makes use of lightweight materials such as aluminum, comprising its spaceframe, extrusions and castings.

Of course, aluminum is completely recyclable making the GloCar more environmentally friendly than cars made of steel. The same can be said of its lack of paint. Pollutant producing paint processes are eliminated, reducing environmental damage at the factory level.

According to van den Acker, “The GloCar projects and image of concern, safety, intelligence and lightness and takes the car from an aggressor to a protector.”

Such statements arent off the cuff, but the result of extensive social and ecological trend research. In the end Fords Brand Imaging Group determined five future scenarios, the unfolding universe, the mosaic society, the experiential society, the sustainable society and the caring society.

“These scenarios were used to anticipate future consumer needs and provide solutions for new challenges the automotive industry might face,” commented van den Acker.

Out of this research came the conclusion that the most important consumer priorities are safety and sustainability, and the GloCar is the direct result.

Is it a feasible study or a wacky show car conceived by a group of designers and engineers gone mad? The Ford Brand Imaging Group seems to think that many of the GloCars design elements could find their way into production Fords, enhancing the safety and sustainability of the cars we currently drive.

Now if it only could change color in accordance with the mood swings of its driver, the GloCar would make it easier to pick out apathy behind the wheel, clueless day-dreaming and cases of potential road rage. It might even be able to eliminate driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You might be onto something with this one Ford.