Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company.

The interiors of Ford vehicles have steadily improved over the years. If you were to look at a Ford vehicle from the 1980s, and then you look at a new Ford, you can see the marked improvement. The two aren’t even close. Granted, many cars’ interiors from the 1980s sucked, but now Ford wants to be known more as a global brand so they have had to step up their game from a design and materials standpoint.

The new 2016 Ford GT represents a shift in thinking for the automaker. The Ford GT’s interior design followed three lines of thinking. Those being fit for purpose, lean and lightweight, and perceived efficiency.

The fit for purpose aspect of the interior is the belief that everything needs to be within reach of the driver, without having to move his/her hands. Ford uses the word “Islands” when referring to the grouping together of essential functions.

Ford has a history of trickling down higher priced options and materials from more expensive models to the more daily cars you and I drive.

Lean and lightweight describes the Ford GT’s dash design with a two-tier layout and what is called a “floating wing.” The negative space is designed to call attention to the edge detailing, and give the feeling the spaciousness.

With a careful combination of soft materials and hard technology, the Ford GT’s interior has a perceived efficiency. All areas of touch, or Islands, are made from soft materials, while where there is technology, hard materials inhabit those areas. This implementation is designed to convey laser-like precision across the instrument panel.

As with any technology within Ford, the higher-priced vehicles get the good stuff right off the bat, but then that technology has a trickle down effect to lower-priced models. Perhaps, and not that we think our beloved Mustang needs work, that technology and design will make its way down the ladder so we can enjoy it, as well.