2007 Ford Shelby 500GT Mustang

Ford shakes off the effects of a hard year and shows

Fifteen years ago, the 'Detroit Auto Show' build was accomplished in four days. Today, it takes about 10 weeks, or almost an entire college semester, for the NAIAS build. Times have changed, and so has the show. The 2007 edition marks the 100th Anniversary of the most significant auto show in North America.

The show actually opens almost a full week before public access is available. Three media days, two industry days and a charity preview day preceed opening of the doors to enthusiasts of all kinds. The annual Charity Preview event at NAIAS has been held since 1976. In 2006, the Charity Preview raised $6.8 million. In 1907, there were 17 exhibitors in the show. One hundred years later, that figure hit 80.

It's Show Time
Storming the gates on a brisk Sunday morning in Detroit, your MM editors were not expecting any specific Mustang-related developments, although we hoped for new information. The Giugiaro Mustang, along with all other current production Pony cars, were present in the Ford display. We had been primed by the early release of information on two concept vehicles that Ford had built just for this show, along with word of a third concept that had not been leaked.

Interestingly, the first two concept vehicles were built from extended Mustang chassis platforms. At a Ford media presentation, the Ford Interceptor Concept was introduced by J Mays, the company's Design and Chief Creative Officer. Without seeing the car in person, you might dismiss it as a Ford copy of the Chrysler 300C. Certainly, the slab-sided, high waistline and chopped top look are similar between the two. The Interceptor features a traditional rear-wheel drive proportion that includes a short front overhang, long rear overhang and extended dash-to-axle ratio, that impart far more content from the Marauder than any other model.

Power comes from under the powered clamshell "shaker" hood, and a thoroughly detailed engine compartment that houses a 5.0-liter V-8 Cammer engine. This is an upgraded variant of the 4.6-liter engine under the hood of the current production Mustang GT. The Interceptor concept's Cammer engine is mated to a manual six-speed transmission. The car, equipped with 22-inch wheels, also features a solid rear axle for a more hardcore performance feel.

Inside, the Ford Interceptor concept is sleek and thoroughly modern, completed in contrasting black leather and metalfinishes. The dash, headliner and thick steering wheel are leather-wrapped. Plus, the Interceptor concept's four low-back bucket seats are wrapped in thick black belt leather with exposed-edge seams and contrasting caramel stitching. Theseats are accented with Ford GT-inspired grommets finished with Titan Meta painted inserts.

A second Mustang chassis-based concept vehicle, the Lincoln MKR concept, was also shown. The two-door, rear wheel drive car was built to demonstrate what has been distilled as the top Lincoln exterior styling cues over the years and how these can be recombined to produce modern, striking vehicles. The MKR also demonstrated a 415 horsepower V6 flex fuel engine and independent rear suspension.