Ford Airstream hydrogen-powered concept: automobile or space capsule?

You know how we like to get our tricked out transportation on, and if we can emit a little less carbon in the process, so much the better. Autoblog Green has the scoop and a bunch of shots of this Ford Airstream concept car unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, which switches over to a hydrogen fuel cell when its battery charge dips below 40 percent (not that this would help you much anytime soon, unless you happen to live in Iceland). Still, if we manage to outlast global warming long enough to actually see this unit in production, it'll come decked out with a 360-degree video screen viewable from all passenger seats in the vehicle that, when you're not busy watching DVDs, can enhance your trip with a lava lamp effect or a range of other "moods." There's also a Sharp dual-view screen smack dab in the middle of the instrument panel so the driver and front-seat passenger can view a feed from the onboard camera. We hope to see this concept one day turn to reality, as we're totally convinced there's a market out there for those gull-wing doors... somewhere (alas, poor De Lorean!).

[icepop4who @ Jan 9th 2007 8:55AM]

i have seen these kind of concepts for years, but not one on the streets. disappointing

lava lamp. lol. that's so retro.

[IrishGandalf @ Jan 9th 2007 9:14AM]

it may be roomy but i bet it had the drag coefficient of a brick wall by the look of the front.

[Brian @ Jan 9th 2007 9:25AM]

It's the shag wagon of the future!
"ohhh yea, bow bow, chica-chicka..."

[Daniel @ Jan 9th 2007 9:50AM]

I don't buy "new" cars simply because they seem boring after exposure to the concept vehicles. Why should I experience "sticker shock" over another typical box-shaped sedan or suv? If the American auto companies would get out of their rut of crappy plastic pontiacs and suvs, they might not be courting bankruptcy. Note to the American auto industry - mass produce the concept vehicle the way it was originally presented and we will buy it.

[Rick Lyon @ Jan 9th 2007 10:46AM]

I want to be 2 cars over from this thing the first time someone tries to park it in a parking lot and opens the doors only to realize they don't have enough horizontal room for the doors to open. Cool, debatable, functional on a van with taller doors? Absolutely not. Not to mention knocking young Jimmy in the chin as you open the door and he turns his head and walks towards the car. Those doors will never make production.

[pudders @ Jan 9th 2007 10:56AM]

I'd say Ford has gone way out over the "Edge" with this one. ;-P

[Pudders @ Jan 9th 2007 11:00AM]

Good point about the doors. Maybe they should borrow something from the design of a rolltop desk.

[Aaron @ Jan 9th 2007 1:14PM]

I saw this car being photographed at Valley of Fire State Park, about an hour north of Las Vegas, around December 19th, 2006. The background in many of the photos is the characteristic red rocks from the state park.

[Jebby Deringer @ Jan 9th 2007 2:47PM]

That door won't open any further than a standard door so I wouldn't worry about that. I agree though that these concept cars in NO way resemble the final vehicles. It's not JUST about cheaper materials either. America is taking their concept cars and sticking them in the microwave, melting all the bold lines in the original design. The plastic they end up using is terrible and the interior design is often worse than the exterior. I think the issue is that the young designers are talented and creative while the old tired union workers don't even care about their jobs and make the final call on many of the 'radical' designs.

[boomersic @ Jan 15th 2007 8:04PM]

the more i see the ford airstream, the more i like it. i also respect the ideas of "thinking outside the box" you never know unless you try. and with the vjworld.com visuals displayed on the screen. it give the cars vibe a nice, retro, cool, futuristic touch! not bad.

[John Paul Iacaongelo @ Jan 15th 2007 8:05PM]

nice touch.

[automobile @ Mar 3rd 2007 4:40PM]

This site deals with there's also a Sharp dual-view screen smack dab in the middle of the instrument panel so the driver and front-seat passenger can view a feed from the onboard camera.
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