1999 Ford 021C Concept

Ford introduced the 021C concept car on October 20th, 1999. A four seat, four door sedan, the 021c concept was introduced and designed to appeal to a new generation of consumer, the younger generation. The vehicle was actually aimed at a group of consumers that were most likely too young to currently own a vehicle, aged 21 years and under, but a age group that are highly brand-literate, craving quality products that ‘express their individuality' and ‘extremely technologically aware'. Unfortunately the vehicle was despised pretty much universally, and the car never made it to production. The 0121 concept was a radical design from Marc Newson, a furniture designer who had never even worked on a car on his life.

The vehicle was entirely made of carbon fiber and featured rear suicide doors much like the RX- 8 which made for very easy entry and exit. The trunk was arguably the most innovative part of the vehicle, as it served as a pull-out drawer like desktop. Other neat features of the 012c included a single lamp lens, central locking activating lights around the exterior handles, a sliding drawer-style suitcase, wrap around bumper and specially designed Pirelli tires.

Acclaimed Australian-born designer Marc Newson is responsible for this innovative, though unpopular 021C concept. In an attempt to challenge Ford's own design processes, the designer thought ‘outside the square with this car'. J Mays, Ford's Vice-President of Design considered the Ford 021C ‘as a cultural icon'. The 021C was considered to be ‘an honest, simple, engaging car' according to J Mays, carrying values that are important to Ford and changing the way Ford designs new vehicles.

Surrounded by a translucent plastic ring, the door-handles are just simple aluminum buttons. The plastic ring was illuminated as the remote central locking was activated. To ensure the widest possible apertures, the glasshouse is light and airy with thin pillars all around and clamshell door frames. The front and rear both featured a wrap around bumper and single light lenses. While the front light utilizes a unique white LED/fiber optic display that is programmable through a ROM chip, the rear light utilizes conventional LEDs. Due to its very innovative design, the 012C is very roomy inside even despite its conventional exterior architecture. The floor inside was flat with curved smoothly.
The instrument panel was cleverly mounted and the seats in the 012C appeared to ‘float' in the interior which only made the space seem larger than it really was. To make it easier to enter and exit the vehicle, the front seats swivel 90 degrees. Designer Marc Newson is entirely responsible for every design aspect of this vehicle, every except for the mechanical and electrical systems were designed exclusively by him. Newson is even responsible for the design of the instrumental panel graphics, along with all of the switches, the tread, the wheels and even the specially produced Pirelli tires. Newson considered it to be ‘the most comprehensive design job' he had ever done, much like ‘designing 500 products at once'.

The Ford 012C concept was given extremely extraordinary attention to detail while not using many typical automotive design cues; it ‘does incorporate some interesting technology'.

By Jessica Donaldson

The Ford 021C was contructed at Fords Ghia design studio in Turin, where Marc Newson worked with the studios highly experienced designers, modellers and fabricators. Components for the car were sourced from all over the world — the carpet, for example, was woven in Texas using New Zealand wool, while the striking alloy wheels were milled in Canada. (Transmission:four speed automatic transmission(Gear selection is via push buttons on the specially designed steering wheel. ))