With first year production limited to about 25,000 cars, there is no doubt that the only way the Thunderbird could be affordable would be to borrow parts from other Ford cars, just like the first T-Bird. Indeed, the basic chassis is shared with world class sport sedans, the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-Type. While great sounding numbers, also like the first Bird, the 2002 edition will be more luxury car than sports car. Suspension tuning is as much for ride as handling, and the same goes for the tall 17-inch tires. Inside the new T-Bird, the somewhat austere theme of the LS has been redecorated in a modern interpretation of the past.
Bright accents wrap around the driver, and adorn the faces of the semicircular gauges.
Door panel inserts have a padded wing-like look, and the space behind the seats is carefully tailored as a rounded cove. The interior just looks luscious. Since most prospective buyers for the new T-Bird didn't have their license when the original car was on sale, they'll expect the same high level of convenience and appointments as any other current luxury car. When a child seat is attached to the passenger seat, the passenger side air bag can be deactivated with a key. Despite initial rumors to the contrary, all 2002 Thunderbirds are convertibles.