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The three-bar grille lets you know it's a Ford, everything else screams Italian.

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The rear end is highlighted by dual exhaust that mimics the shape of coupe's taillights and a glow-in-the-dark Ford Blue Oval.
A long, continuous roofline makes the Reflex look bigger than it really is. At 158 inches it is nearly a foot shorter than a Nissan 350Z.
Mesh seats are designed to keep you cool. Light colors are a direct shot at the black interiors that dominate German and Japanese designs.
Ever play Tron? We would describe the Reflex's interior as futuristic stark.
Inside, the Reflex is a reconfigurable rear seat that can fit two small children, one adult or a baby in the integrated safety seat.
DVD screens in the seatbacks will keep the kids occupied while recycled sound-deadening material made from Nike running shoes keeps things quiet up front.
Ford says the combination of a 1.4-liter diesel engine and two electric motors results in 65 mpg.
Doors open up, out and backward.

Ford Reflex

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What Is It?
Ford Reflex

What's Special About It?
Most sports car concepts never make it past the show stand. They all look good on paper, some even generate a letter writing campaign or two, but when it comes to making a business case for production, their lack of broad-based appeal kills them every time.

The hybrid-powered Reflex attempts to solve that problem by adding some practicality and energy efficiency to the mix. Inside, the Reflex is a reconfigurable rear seat that can fit two small children, one adult or a baby in the integrated safety seat. And we're talking about a car that's nearly a foot shorter than a 350Z. DVD screens in the seatbacks will keep the kids occupied while recycled sound-deadening material made from Nike running shoes keeps things quiet up front. There's even a set of inflatable seatbelts in back to go along with the side curtain airbags.

Ford's engineers also made sure the Reflex had sufficient power from its unique diesel-electric powertrain. Ford design director Freeman Thomas calls it "guilt-free performance."

It starts with a 1.4-liter Duratorq diesel engine connected to a six-speed electronic shift transmission. It gets help from two electric motors, one up front and another driving the rear wheels on its own. Both are powered by new lithium-ion batteries developed by Ford. Solar panels on the roof keep the batteries charged up so there's always plenty of power available when a boost of power is needed. Ford says it will deliver 65 mpg no matter how hard you drive it. Sure beats a Prius.

What's Edmunds' Take?
Small, minimalist sports cars with affordable price tags pop up every year or two on show stages. Too bad they almost never show up on showroom floors. As much as we like the original look of the Reflex and its practical ideas, it's bound to remain nothing more than a concept. — Ed Hellwig