2000 Ford 24.7 Coupe - AllCarIndex

24·7 Coupe: Ready for the Office or the Town

Like the wagon, at the heart of the 24·7 coupe concept are customer-focused technologies that allow the user the ability to access e-mail, hands-free mobile phone, real-time route assistance, weather reports and custom features such as stock readings. "24·7 connects you to your life, because your life doesn't stop when you step into your vehicle," says J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of design. "The 24·7 coupe is ideal transportation for people who are constantly moving - whether they are rushing to the next job site or looking for the second or third party of the night." The exterior design, like the wagon, features simple geometric shapes and machined surfaces that give the vehicle a technical look and feel that complement the advanced communications and telematics technologies that make up the essence of 24·7. One of the more prominent features of the coupe is its roof, which is made of a dark green canvas that can be rolled back, giving it the look and feel of a convertible. Like the wagon, the coupe has headlamps and taillamps made up of white and red Light Emitting Diode (LED) lamps that illuminate instantly, last the lifetime of the vehicle and consume only a fraction of the power that traditional halogen lamps require. The 24·7 badge mounted at the center of the composite grille area is lighted green to match the gang green exterior body color. When the key fob is pressed to unlock the vehicle, a light panel mounted in the interior headliner glows green - welcoming the driver into the vehicle. The four-door, four passenger coupe features 17-inch, six-spoke matte aluminum finished wheels wrapped in specially cut 245/50R-17 Goodyear tires with digital patterned tread. The side mirrors have been replaced with "lipstick cameras" that give drivers a panoramic view of their surroundings projected on the surface of the instrument panel. The doors feature elongated rectangular push-button handles. Once the front doors are open, the shorter rear doors can be opened from the center to the back providing unrestricted access to the rear seat area. The interior features specially designed bench-like seats that resemble a clamshell in their construction. The exterior seat surfaces are covered in a light beige leather, while the inner parts of the shell are painted the bright green accent color seen throughout the interior. Exposed parts of the seat structure are finished in aluminum. Both the front and rear benches feature unique center consoles that when raised function as armrests and reveal cupholders. The rear seat can be removed from the interior and used as a bench outside the vehicle. A large rear projection screen, mounted at the back of the cargo area, can be used to show movies or music videos. When not in use, the projection screen is stored under the floor of the rear cargo area. Like the wagon, the coupe's instrument panel is a high-definition projection screen. Once the vehicle has been powered up and the driver has been selected, the gauges appear on the instrument panel in the ideal configuration for the specific driver. Using voice commands, the driver is able to choose which gauges are active when needed. The available choices include speedometer, oil, fuel, GPS/map, Internet, e-mail, mobile phone, compact disc/tape/radio and clock. All the operations are voice activated, allowing the driver to keep both hands on the wheel. 24·7's one-spoke steering wheel includes the control for the auto/manual shift, which allows the driver to shift gears by pressing a button. In addition, the voice activation button is mounted on the opposite side of the steering wheel. A camera mounted below the rearview mirror can be positioned to transmit images of the driver and passengers while in the vehicle and using the hands-free videophone. The coupe floor is covered in rubber matting that has a unique pattern with randomly alternating circular shapes in the bright green accent color. 24·7 is built on the all-new Ford Focus platform that has been lengthened two-inches. It is powered by Focus' 2.0-liter Zetec I-4 engine.

SOURCE: Ford

Vehicles of Tomorrow Feature Visionary Visteon Technology Available Today

DETROIT, Jan. 9, 2000 - Visionary, consumer-focused technology by Visteon Automotive Systems is showcased on Ford Motor Company's 24.7 concept vehicles at the 2000 North American International Auto Show. But consumers don't have to wait for the concepts to become reality to get their hands on Visteon's leading-edge automotive systems. The technology is available today. For the past six months, Visteon has worked with Ford to apply dynamic, world-class technologies to Ford's 24.7 concept vehicles. The 24.7concept vehicles include a wagon, truck and coupe that redefine traditional user interaction with a vehicle. The concept vehicles feature three of Visteon's most dynamic technologies: Visteon Voice Technology, Voice Activated Reconfigurable Projected Image Display, and the new Advanced Lighting System. These technologies offer consumers easy access to information and communications such as e-mail, hands-free mobile phone, real-time route assistance, weather reports, and custom features like stock readings. "This partnership is an important acknowledgment of the value we bring to our customers," said Marcos Oliveira, vice president and chief technology officer, Visteon. "Visteon's competitive advantage is its engineering expertise, and we use this expertise to design innovative system solutions with our customers that are unlike any others in the world." Visteon's Voice Technology allows drivers to set controls and make phone calls with voice commands while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. It is used in conjunction with a vehicle's on-board navigation system and includes an in-vehicle Web browser that allows drivers to verbally seek and receive weather information, road conditions or stock reports. Further, Visteon Voice Technology, the only voice-activated system in the industry that understands continuous and natural patterns of speech, works in six languages - English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish - including multiple dialects and accents. The Ford 24.7 concept vehicles also feature Visteon's Voice Technology in conjunction with its Reconfigurable Projected Image Display. The voice activated display, a revolutionary alternative to the conventional instrument display, gives drivers the ability to customize the dashboard by changing the speedometer, gas gauge and clock with simple voice commands. Visteon's latest breakthrough lighting technology - white and red LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps - are also incorporated on the Ford concept vehicles. The lights illuminate instantly, last the life of the vehicle, allow for extremely thin and lightweight packages and consume only a fraction of the power that traditional halogen lamps require. The benefits of these features include flexible packaging, unique hi-tech styling appearance, increased safety because of instant "on" capability, long-lasting source and reduced power consumption. "We are dedicated to offering consumers revolutionary vehicle technologies that will make driving safer, more economical, more stylish and more fun," said Oliveira. "We are honored to work with the 24.7 team at Ford and are gratified that innovations from Visteon in turn help make our customers successful." With a global delivery system of nearly 125 technological, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 21 countries, Visteon is leveraging the talents of its 77,000 employees to deliver innovative, consumer-driven systems solutions to its customers.

SOURCE: Ford