Ford Reflex news - Reflex action for Ford - 2006

We've heard of concept cars being styled with fashion training shoes as their inspiration, but this is the first time we've heard of a car being built from scrap athletic trainers.

The Ford Reflex uses mashed-up shoes as noise insulation with a material called Nike Grind.

Ford is aiming for the youth market with the compact Reflex, which has an interior designed with children in mind.

The 2+1 seating arrangement uses what Ford calls a 'love seat', where the single rear chair can be turned into seating for two kids by clicking a button that raises a bar to divide the seat into two.

Sounds like a good way of dealing with those 'are we there yet?' chants.

Ford is also going for the green vote with the Reflex, which uses a diesel-electric hybrid engine capable of 65mpg driving through a paddle-shift six-speed gearbox.

There are also solar panels on the roof that provide the power for the headlights.