Ford Rethinks American Luxury with Fairlane Concept

Rear Hinged Doors and Triple-Hinged Tailgate Ideal for Production

Making its debut at the North American International Auto Show is the Ford Fairlane Concept. Its an all-purpose, six-passenger, three-row vehicle named after Henry Fords Fair Lane estate, built for movers and shakers who want, but cant decide between a luxury wagon, minivan or sport utility vehicle. Think of it as a good old fashioned 40s American style station wagon with core 21st century values and you wont be too far off.

Style wise, the Fairlane is about as simple as crossover vehicles come, particularly apparent in its body profile. Like the Honda Element, and US-only Scion xB, the Fairlane is an upright, boxy five-door wagon, with slightly rounded corners and edges. Unlike previous Fairlanes - it was Fords top-line model that even featured a retractable hardtop in flagship form - the concept has been stretched upwards, with thick, vertical pillars to create an SUV-like look. Aside from five ridges which stretch along the side of the vehicle and rolled fender lips, the concept is devoid of unnecessary clutter and clichéd styling cues.

Like the estate that its named after, the Fairlane Concept is all in the details. With the 40s and 50s in mind, designer J. Mays attempted to capture the spirit "from a bygone era when families lived and worked in the city and played in the countryside." Nowhere else will you find a unified mixture of modern and retro themes, such as the cutting-edge look of the polished stainless steel grille, 19-inch alloy wheels, and high-tech LED projector-beam headlamps which sit alongside the canvas-topped roof and double-dutch side doors.

Inside, the Fairlane has been styled and finished like vehicles from the 20s and 30s, modeled after the finest American home furnishings of the time. Interestingly, the Fairlanes cabin has been split into zones like a jet airliner with the first row arranged for driving, the second row for first-class comfort, and a business-class third row. The trunk is the utility zone, doubling as cargo storage and a catering area with a built-in fridge featuring a flip-down food preparation tray. The glass sunroof, which stretches the entire length of the vehicle, ties the three zones together.

Throughout the cabin, a wide variety of materials in different colors and textures differentiate the zones. Up front, light tan leather wraps the two-spoke steering wheel, dash and seats, while open-pore wood veneer and light alloy are used to accent the dashboard and center console. A durable but elegant woven material from recycled paper has also been used on front seatbacks, while the second and third row "club" bucket seats are lined in easy to clean alloy making the Fairlane usable to transport muddy and wet cargo. The rear two rows also fold completely flat, turning the Fairlane from a people-mover to a cargo-hauler.

While the Fairlanes look may bring back feelings of nostalgia, it has been engineered to make life easy for its would-be owners and those who come along for the ride. Rear-hinged doors provide easier access to the third row of seats, and a higher ride-height means that passengers step in, rather than crouch down. The Fairlane also features a triple-hinged rear tailgate. Two small rear doors open to the left and right, while a top-hinged tailgate flips up. Each unit opens separately allowing small for loads to be dropped in without the need to raise a cumbersome liftgate.

The Fairlane concept rides on the midsize CD3 architecture currently used to underpin the 2006 Ford Fusion and Lincoln Zephyr sedans, which also debuted at the NAIAS. This variant of the CD3 enjoys a fully independent suspension system as well as permanent all-wheel drive. Power is provided by Fords efficient albeit ubiquitous Duratec 30 motor, a 3.0 liter all-aluminum V6 featuring variable valve timing and electronic throttle control.

While the Fairlane concept is a creative example of how retro design and style can still prove to be attractive in todays modern world, the vehicle itself is unlikely to ever see production. Ford already has the Freestyle, which, while not as luxuriously appointed, competes in a similar segment. Though the refrigerator, canvas-weave roof and box-profile make the Fairlane a true concept, its details, such as the rear hinged doors and triple-hinged tailgate will most likely end up as part of a next generation Ford family vehicle.