Automotive News | September 17, 2007 - 12:01 am EST
FRANKFURT — The “One Ford” design theme that North America's Peter Horbury and Europe's Martin Smith are creating won't be quite as restrictive as the term implies.
In an interview last week at the Frankfurt auto show, Smith said Ford intends the One Ford look to apply only to vehicles sold globally. The design initiative is part of CEO Alan Mulally's effort to globalize product development, ending the practice of each region developing its own vehicle in the same segment.
But North American “icons” such as the F-150 pickup, Mustang and large SUVs will retain their individuality, said Smith, executive design director for Ford of Europe.
“Beyond that, the intent is to consolidate the design language to get a consistent look for vehicles that are sold all around the world, including America,” he said.
Smith said he and Horbury, executive design director for the Americas, are “working very hard on that.” The effort involves modifying two well-received — and fairly recent — design directions: the three-bar grille look on U.S. cars and the “kinetic” look Smith has developed.
The kinetic look showed up in Frankfurt on the Kuga crossover and Verve subcompact concept. The Verve, meant to preview the next generation of subcompacts, will be followed by two concepts showing executions for other markets.
Those cars will appear at the Guangzhou, China, auto show in November and at the Detroit auto show in January, Smith said.
But, Smith said that regional models such as the Taurus might be influenced by the global theme without fitting into it precisely.
Referring to the Taurus, he said, “There is a potential there for a more aligned look, but something that is more tailored to the requirements of the market.”
###
Source:
Automotive News
