Ford Sport Activity Concept

By Motoring Channel Staff

Ford Motor Company unveiled a new performance oriented people mover in the form of the Sport Activity Vehicle Concept (SAV) at the Geneva motor show.

A stylish three-row mono-space, the SAV Concept provides a glimpse of a new design direction for Ford of Europe.

Sleek and purposeful, the Ford SAV Concept demonstrates new ideas for people- and load-carrying flexibility.

Martin Smith, executive director, design, Ford of Europe said: "We believe that within the family car market there is great potential for a non-traditional vehicle with the profile, proportions and appearance that reflect an active lifestyle.

"The Ford SAV Concept also demonstrates how we can use our flexible vehicle architectures to create a broader array of model variants that will attract more people to the Ford brand. This is the beginning of an evolving story and is indicative of an exciting future," said Smith.

The new concept takes the innovative ‘business class’ flexible rear seating concept, first seen in Focus C-MAX, to the next level, introducing a remote-controlled rear-seat configuration system and an integral stowage system.

At the touch of a button, the three individual seats, which form the SAV Concept's rear seat row, can be reconfigured. Using electric motors, the middle seat slides rearward into a central location. It nestles between integrated, fitted luggage trolleys, which provide built-in armrests for the third-row passenger. The two outer seats then shift inward slightly to provide each occupant with greater spaciousness and comfort.

From its exquisitely sculpted steering wheel – with electronic up shift 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.

"With the SAV Concept, the interior design team explored ways to advance the differentiation of a sport model of the future," according to Ernst Reim, SAV Concept interior designer.

Interior materials, including technically grained leathers and breathable mesh fabric, were inspired by high-tech sportswear materials used in today’s high-end trainer shoes and other sports clothing.

Titanium-tinted aluminium is also used in the interior, effectively accenting control areas such as the gear lever, the linear electric park brake handle and vent surrounds. The Ford SAV Concept’s dramatically contoured seats are motorsport-inspired. Front and rear, the seats are designed to hold their occupants securely and supportively even during spirited driving.

SAV Concept is equipped with a deeply dished instrument cluster incorporating a high-resolution display panel at the centre. Each gauge – rev counter, speedometer, temperature gauge and fuel gauge – features an orange needle radiating from an aluminium hub.