2007 Detroit Auto Show: Ford Interceptor Concept

The Ford Interceptor Concept is jaw-dropping, but not necessarily in a good way. While we can’t talk about the rest of what Ford will be unveiling at Detroit until next week, the Interceptor is by far one of our least favorites, at least to the eye. Quickly, we’ll tell you about the stuff you can’t see for yourself in these pictures. The Interceptor is based on an elongated Mustang platform, bringing rear-wheel drive performance to a new Ford sedan. Powering the Interceptor is a modified version of the Mustang’s V-8 engine that is actually used in racing circuits. In this car it would produce 400 hp and run on E85.

All the underpinnings sound fine to us, and in all likelihood could end up in a future Ford sedan. What we can’t fathom in the least is the sloppy design. Even the head of Ford’s design group said the front end is borrowed from last year’s F-250 Super Chief concept. The Super Chief was a pickup, folks. The resulting “warmed-over” look, then, is no accident. We still don’t understand why Ford doesn’t look to its European arm for design inspiration. The Ford Mondeo is a good-looking car that just went on sale in Europe, and the Iosis concept from a few years back was one of the best-looking concepts we can remember. Alas, we’re left with a sedan suffering from an inferiority complex caused by the Chrysler 300C. That’s a shame.

Updated: We've added a number of Interceptor photos below which shows off its best side. The profile.

We'll also have much more information about the Interceptor when we get to the Detroit auto show on January 7.