Ford Fairlane test mule spotted

Ford has begun testing more complete mules for their upcoming minivan replacement, based on the Fairlane concept. The latest Ford Freestyle-based mules have ditched the Freestyle's front-end, and now begin to reveal the production Fairlane's face, from the A-pillars, forward.



The grille design visible on the mules resembles the now familiar Ford face, but it's not entirely clear if the nose has two horizontal bars, or three bars like the majority of Ford's lineup (except the smaller Focus). Only two bars are actually visible on this prototype, but it's likely that a third bar resides beneath the camouflage.

Spies spotted the first mules -- built using Ford Freestyle bodies -- about eight months ago. The latest mules, just as before, continue to showcase sections riveted-in to add extra width and a longer wheelbase, commensurate with the Fairlane's larger-than-Freestyle footprint. It appears that a 2- or 3-inch channel as been added along the mule's driver-side roof rail, and approximately 6-inches has been added to the midsection around the B-pillar.

We remain eager to catch a fully-finished, pre-production Fairlane prototype, to test Ford Design chief J. Mays' comments that it was almost impossible to tell the concept and the production models apart. If the nose we see lurking behind this camouflage is truly accurate to the production front-end (and such mules usually are), then we can already see some differences.

By the time the Fairlane reaches showrooms, it will most likely have a different name, and the Ford Windstar and Freestar will be distant memories.