Along with FoMoCo's release on the new Interceptor concept sedan we brought to you over the holiday weekend was a corollary release on a Ford design direction we'd thought gone the way of the dodo bird, those pigeons in London and of course, the 427 concept car from 2003. That thought-to-be extinct species would have to be the "squircle" — a made up word from Ford to show off the innovative and provocative design element consisting of a "partly square, professionally rounded circles." Ok, seriously now — do we need a press release touting the ability for a major automaker to round the edges of a square? Better yet, do we need a press release touting a major automaker instituting a design element found on not only the Ford Fusion but also on the heretofore already mentioned 427 concept? I mean, what's next — a separate release on how a car company's remembered to include tires on its concept car this time around? Fully squircled press release after the jump.
PARTLY SQUARE, PARTLY PROFESSIONALLY ROUND: IT'S A 'SQUIRCLE'
They reemerged on the auto show circuit several years ago. Partly square, professionally rounded circles - affectionately dubbed squircles - debuted on the Ford 427 concept and inspired the Ford Fusion's headlamp shape.On the Ford Interceptor concept, squircles are back - inside and out. This time, you'll find squircles applied to the headlamps, taillamps, grille and in the interior as accents to the four-door sedan's instrument panel, door trims, console, floor and four seats. Even the steering wheel is a squircle.
"This unique shape - along with the wide expanse of the instrument panel - makes the Interceptor concept instantly recognizable as a Ford," said Peter Horbury, executive director - Design, The Americas.
It should, says Freeman Thomas, director, North American Strategic Design. Squircles can be found on the most memorable Fords throughout history.
During a visual audit of Ford vehicles dating back to the Model T, Thomas and his team found squircles on a number of models, including the iconic '32 Ford. "You can see the squircle shape in the grille, whole hood and side body view," he said.
Related:
Detroit Auto Show Preview: Ford's Non-Mustang Mustang-Platformed Interceptor Concept [internal]