The third iteration of the Iosis that Ford brought to the Geneva Motor Show is a surprisingly stylish "multi-activity vehicle," and although it's just a concept, you'll see a lot of those styling cues on Ford's small cars.
Ford calls the styling of the four-seater "kinetic" and says the Iosis MAX shows how the style "is evolving and can be applied with stunning results to all vehicles in the Ford portfolio." The unique doors, extensive use of lightweight materials and aero tweaks could appear in other vehicles, and Ford says the fuel-saving tech under the hood will make its way to other cars beginning next year.
Slightly futuristic styling aside, this is another of the cars the Big Three has targeted specifically toward people with "active lifestyles."
Before the economy imploded and people stopped buying cars, SUVs were being pushed out by the more car-like crossover utility vehicles that Detroit discovered a couple of years ago. A lot of CUVs should be relegated to the "kill these cars now" list, but the vomit green (Ford calls it "limelight") Iosis MAX is cool because it's got some green cred. Think of it as an EcoUV.
The Iosis uses a four-cylinder turbocharged direct-injection 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine that produces 180 horsepower. Ford claims the engine delivers 20 percent better fuel economy than conventional gasoline engines offering the same power. The engine features automatic start-stop technology and is mated to a six-speed dual clutch transmission. Ford says the setup delivers 40 mpg. EcoBoost engines will begin appearing in some North American models later this year. Europe will start seeing them next year, along with start-stop.
As for the styling, Ford gave the Iosis a coupe-like appearance by giving it a stubby hood and raked roofline with a massive windshield at the front and "flying buttress" C-pillars at the back. Ford says the C-pillars and cantilevered spoiler improve aerodynamic efficiency at the back of the car, increasing fuel economy. It's a pretty slick package, even if we don't like the LED headlights.
Getting in and out of the Iosis looks to be a snap, what with no B-pillar separating the front and rear doors. The rear doors slide open like those on a mini-van and a two-piece hatchback lets you open the whole hatch or just the glass.
The inside is, typical of all concepts, pretty wild. The dashboard is otherworldly, and the center console is made of plexiglass that "rolls down from the instrument panel like a ribbon and flows through to the rear." Whatever. We do like the carbon fiber Star Trek-like bucket seats. They're mounted to that flowing ribbon of plexiglass instead of the floor, creating the illusion they're floating on air.
Photos: Ford.
And here's a rendering of the interior:
