1991 Ford Contour - AllCarIndex

Official press release:

CONTOUR DESIGNED WITH SENSITIVITY TO FORM

"In planning the Contour, Ford Motor Company designers set out to create a New Wave, global sedan with contemporary proportions' said Jack Telnack, vice president - Design. What evolved is a package containing the latest leading-edge automotive technology designed with emotion and a sensitivity to form.

Improving the passenger environment by expanding the interior compartment was a goal of the Ford designers. At the same time, they needed to reduce the size of the vehicle in order to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel economy.

This was accomplished through the use of an experimental compact "T-Drive" engine and transmission configuration which allowed designers to reduce the size of the engine compartment, reduce overall vehicle length and still increase the passenger space. This powertrain layout, which utilizes a transversely mounted engine and longitudinal transmission, enables the vehicle to be engineered in either front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The T-Drive is one of a number of compact engines being explored by Ford for use in future designs.

Contour is designed around an extruded aluminum space frame that demonstrates new construction techniques allowing light weight, high strength, and low investment body structures.

Highly efficient, "high -intensity discharge metal vapor" arc lamps provide power to fiber optic headlamps and a next-generation halogen lamp provides luminous power to the taillamps. The taillamps are integrated within the moveable aerodynamic spoilers which appear to float above the sheetmetal surface. Unique, slender headlamps with both high and low beams are contained behind acrylic lenses. The headlamp design incorporates a European-style beam pattern to reduce glare. Spherical lens park/turn lights are space efficient and complement the cylinder-shaped headlamps.

The front suspension consists of a composite transverse mounted single leaf spring which provides the multiple functions of the suspension spring, the upper suspension arm and the characteristics of a stabilizer bar. This results in a reduction in the number of parts and, therefore, reduced system cost, weight and package space.

The rear suspension is similar to the front suspension and was designed as a module in order to offer greater ease of assembly. A compact brake booster reduces present longitudinal package space by nine inches by integrating the brake booster, master cylinder and brake pedal into a modular assembly.

A swing away front end,is incorporated on the Contour for accessibility during major repairs. For minor service or replacement of fluids, a customer access cover has been provided. Another customer benefit unique to the T-Drive configuration is the easy access to spark plugs.

The interior design of Contour evokes a sense of sophistication and quality without resorting to the conventional use of wood and chrome. "We explored the use of imaginative colors and fabrics in a variety of new materials designed to create a contemporary, interactive, driver-oriented environment," Mr. Telnack noted. "The fluid lines of the exterior are reflected in the sculptured door panels, seats and instrument cluster of the interior, achieving total design unity." Riding comfort is offered in front and rear bench seats.

The driver-oriented interior is ergonomically expressed through a moveable interlock of pedals, instrument panel and controls, and a steering column that can be related to the fixed front seat for maximum comfort and ease of use. The driving position can be adjusted to the preferences and physical dimensions of any driver.

The instrument cluster has a gas discharge, cold cathode source which emits a diffused white light, reducing eye strain and glare. A dark lens conceals the normally visible hardware. The multiple-plane design of the instrument cluster functionally separates the instrumentation readouts, adding the excitement of depth while maintaining uniform intensity. When unlit, the instrumentation is entirely black.

"The Contour demonstrates that the interrelationship between design and technology can be creative as well as functional," said Mr. Telnack.

overall length:    194.13 inches
overall height:    52.31 inches
overall width:    76.3 inches
wheelbase:    110.0 inches