Partly Square, Partly Professionally Round: It’s a ‘Squircle’
They reemerged on the auto show circuit several years ago. Partly square, professionally rounded circles – affectionately dubbed squircles – debuted on the Ford 427 concept and inspired the Ford Fusion’s headlamp shape.On the Ford Interceptor concept, squircles are back – inside and out. This time, you’ll find squircles applied to the headlamps, taillamps, grille and in the interior as accents to the four-door sedan’s instrument panel, door trims, console, floor and four seats. Even the steering wheel is a squircle.
“This unique shape – along with the wide expanse of the instrument panel – makes the Interceptor concept instantly recognizable as a Ford,” said Peter Horbury, executive director – Design, The Americas.
It should, says Freeman Thomas, director, North American Strategic Design. Squircles can be found on the most memorable Fords throughout history.
During a visual audit of Ford vehicles dating back to the Model T, Thomas and his team found squircles on a number of models, including the iconic ’32 Ford. “You can see the squircle shape in the grille, whole hood and side body view,” he said.