Generation X

Ford Australia executives believe a production version of the stylish crossover concept could have merit in the local line-up, particularly as Ford pushes the "European-ness" of its offerings.

However, it will not commit to the car so far out from its launch in Europe at October's Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Iosis X concept is about the same size as the Maxda CX-7 and could ultimately sit above the Escape but below the Territory.

Many of the design themes from Iosis X can be found in the mid-size Mondeo, which Ford has confirmed will go on sale here about October.

The design themes could also find their way on to the next-generation Falcon, due early next year.

With the Mondeo joining the Fiesta and Focus, Ford president Tom Gorman says the DNA of Ford's European product is consistent with the direction Ford Australia is going.

"Australian buyers like the European driving dynamics," he says. "I think that what we produce in Europe and with our design teams here and in Europe, we're bringing that to the market today."

He says some competitors, including Holden, have a different strategy.

"Some of them are all about a low price point and in the long run I don't know whether that strengthens your brand," he says. "We're really looking at a lot of different things, things that we wouldn't have looked at even a couple of years ago. The market fragmentation is real and there's a real shift in the market and it's a permanent shift.

"We're never going back to a 23 per cent mix of large cars in the total market, so I think it would be irresponsible of us if we didn't consider all of our opportunities."

However, Gorman says he is wary of bringing in vehicles that do not have full Ford support, from marketing right through to sales and ultimately the dealers.

"There are a lot of great products for us to choose from," he says.

"But it has to be enough volume to make sense for our dealer network and enough volume for us to put resources behind . . . and then we've got a business proposition."

Gorman says Ford does not want to bring in myriad products from all over the world and not support them.

Ford showed off the concept at last year's Paris Motor Show, saying it was not intended to be an actual production version.

However, recent spy shots of the car, looking less radical than the concept, have been seen in Europe.

Volvo, which is also part of the Ford empire, is working on its own version of the Iosis X, which may be called the XC50 and sit under the just-launched new-generation XC70.

The XC50 is expected to compete against the BMW X3 and Land Rover Freelander II.