Never mind the car, I'll take the house! Seriously, folks, the Reflex concept you see here represents a nice change for Ford and if it is symbolic of future trends for the company's design philosophy, I'm all for it. And not just because it's small and sporty, either. As Freeman Thomas, Ford's director of strategic design said to the Detroit News, "it's a shape that sort of goes away from being a box." Sort of? You bet it does.

But Thomas was also quoted thusly: "It's taking advantage of this bold American idea that you can have a wide vehicle." I'm not laughing, Freeman, honest, but the last time I heard that remark was when Richard Teague introduced the Pacer. "The Wide Small Car," they dubbed it in advertising. Unfortunately, prospective buyers did laugh. If it's small, and it's wide, then obviously it's not small. I suspect Mr. Thomas is referring to proportions, not actual width in inches, so we'll cut him some slack on that one.

Neverthless the Reflex is a bold design that features a small-but-efficient interior with rear seating for one adult or two children. The cutting edge technology features built-in solar panels, inflatable seat-belt airbags and an advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine that delivers up to 65 miles per gallon. A diesel hybrid? Perfect. As for that gorgeous house in those lovely desert surroundings, I'm ready to move in anytime.