Is the Fairlane Concept Ford's Answer to the Minivan?

While Ford has been struggling to field a viable entry in the hotly competitive minivan market, some recent news stories have indicated that the automaker may eventually exit the vehicle category.

Cross-town rival Chrysler/Dodge still leads the minivan segment by sales volume, with Honda, Toyota, Nissan and General Motors minivan models falling close behind. With the new Kia Sedona/Hyundai Entourage offering class-leading safety features at a bargain price, the Ford Freestar was beginning to look a little outdated and short on features.

Ford has been showing the Fairlane concept on the auto show circuit for some time. Could this be the shape of Ford's next generation of flexible people-movers? Check out the excellent preview by About.com's own Dale Wickell for more photos and information on the Fairlane concept.
^{photo: © Ford Motor Company}