Ford Europe's Design Theme Gone

[The Stylist]

Just when I thought we could look foward to some great looking new Fords from Europe, J Mays decides the "Kinetic" design theme seen on the Iosis and Mondeo should be dumped in favour for something else.


Ford design chief pushes common global design


From Goauto.com.au

Ford aims to develop global design language for cars

25 January 2007


THE Ford Motor Co is developing a global design theme for its next-generation cars.

Styling chief J Mays will oversee a new common design language that will replace Ford of Europe’s current "kinetic" theme and Ford North America's three-bar grille.

"We feel we'll be able to get to a common design language that's bold, as it should be for the American market, and is absolutely applicable to the European market as well," Mays told US industry journal Automotive News.

Mr Mays said the work of merging Ford-brand design could take as long as seven years.

[Ghiadude]

yeah i read it elsewhere and i must say that i cant see it being a good thing. theyre talking about 1 design direction globaly and i hope and prey its not dictated by North America - their taste is out of their ****. Europe was the only market producing quality looking cars and now the yanks are going to ruin it.... look at the latest Nth American focus ...YUK!

[andrewts]

Yeah, I'm not to crash hot on the three bar design, but would this, and how would it be an influence on Aussie design?

[csv8]

Originally Posted by andrewts

Yeah, I'm not to crash hot on the three bar design, but would this, and how would it be an influence on Aussie design?

Return of the AU !!!!!!!!!!

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by csv8

Return of the AU !!!!!!!!!!

Pray to God thats not our future........specticles, testicles, wallet and watch.

[Gabbs]

Alot of shuffling going on but are they removing the wrong people. I guess only time will tell but they better get it right.

[Ford_Boy]

they should make the global platform based on the falcon

[Ghiadude]

i propose we make "the stylist" head of design globally and what he says goes... all those in favour say hell yeah!

[pertuan]

I'm all for a global design as long as it means the US have NO input on it. :P

[Poetic Justice]

I think if it is to work, the global design should be implemented by the European designers.

First of all, I've read enough comments on autoblog to suffice that even the American public would prefer the European and Australian designed Ford's compared to their own South American designs.

Secondly, Euro design is obviously considered to be the best in the world, is it not?

[I FluXx I]

Originally Posted by tx3dude

i propose we make "the stylist" head of design globally and what he says goes... all those in favour say hell yeah!

HELL YEAH!

God I hate the american designers. With there crown victorias and all. EWWW!!!!
They just look so bad :

[andrewts]

Only designs from o'er hill and yonder dale is the 2008 Super Duty, the Ford GT, and the Explorer.

[Dezza]

Ford shouldn't be trying to create "design themes" to make all their models look the same. They should be simply focussing on making each model look as good as they possibly can. So far they've been doing that in Europe.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by blackout

I think if it is to work, the global design should be implemented by the European designers.

First of all, I've read enough comments on autoblog to suffice that even the American public would prefer the European and Australian designed Ford's compared to their own South American designs.

Secondly, Euro design is obviously considered to be the best in the world, is it not?

Exactly! Look at BMW, Audi, Merc the US arms of these companies dont add a sh!tload of amber reflectors and dodgy bling to their cars, theyre the same worldwide!

[Jayden]

this idea reeks of things I hate about ford in the US. WHY!!! do we need a global design? global design is what gave us such pointless styling additions like the EL GLi oval grille and the AUs bubble shape (although the car itself has really grown on me). cant every car just be styled independently and seperatly and share very little exept in the technology dept?

Sounds like a bunch of corporate types standing around in an office ****ing over the dictionary definition of conformity. works for a logo, not a range of cars imo.

[hydra_hlz]

do ford need a global design theme so people can identify fords because the ford badge itself is a global design theme

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by Jayden

this idea reeks of things I hate about ford in the US. WHY!!! do we need a global design? global design is what gave us such pointless styling additions like the EL GLi oval grille and the AUs bubble shape (although the car itself has really grown on me). cant every car just be styled independently and seperatly and share very little exept in the technology dept?

Sounds like a bunch of corporate types standing around in an office ****ing over the dictionary definition of conformity. works for a logo, not a range of cars imo.

I agree. When companies bring in "corporate grilles" or whatever, I can't help but think where's the imagination in that? Why should a range of cars have the same grille? Mind you BMW have gotten away with it for years. Make models look different.

[fou_bleu]

I believe 4rd Europe, 4rd US and 4rd Aus, should have their own theme!
Europe - style around the Focus or Mondeo!
US - style round the Fusion!
Aus - style around the Falcon!
But hey, that's only my opinion!

[Fairlane]

Oh man noooo, i know global design is inevitable, but it doesnt mean i have to like it.

I hate global design on all levels it does not IMHO make a brand, sure you may get a few good looking cars but others will be dogs. Furthermore whacking a new nose on a design dating back to the 80s is not going to miraciously fix your brand (think Mitsu Lancer). I shudder when i think of some of the recent global design attempts; Mistu in 04, Nissan in 02, Ford in the late 90s, Toyota Small Cars and GM today.

Small cars should not look like big cars; why must a big car have to look like a small hatchback- who wants a Fairmont Ghia that looks like a Fiesta- also who wants a Fiesta with excess bling and pointless **** addittions attempting to masqurade as a Fairmont Ghia

[watever]

The only form of global design theme that i believe works is the BMW grille. Why? because it has been used on beemers for many decades. it is more recognizable imho than the actual BMW badge. the ford badge is very iconic and should be enough to substantiate a ford global design.

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by watever

The only form of global design theme that i believe works is the BMW grille. Why? because it has been used on beemers for many decades. it is more recognizable imho than the actual BMW badge. the ford badge is very iconic and should be enough to substantiate a ford global design.

BMW grille, Volvo grille, Mercedes-Benz grille, all these company have a universall "look". But i doubt Ford could develop a universal look and be as successfull.

[au2sw]

Originally Posted by Ford_Boy

they should make the global platform based on the falcon

thats the best idea i have heard all day. shame that america is closing a lot of its plants down though....will ford australia start to decress staff numbers aswell? i hope not.
speaking of global design, i dont know how many of you have seen this but....

[Bucket]

Mr. Mays has no idea.

This thing failed horrifically with the "Edge" Global Design that they pushed around the onto Many Ford divisions...oh...does anyone remember the Crown Vic and Taurus? Did they cop the edge design traits? NO!

This is a perfect example of management being out of touch With what people want. Not everyone wants what America Wants.

I hope Allan Mulally gives J Mays a serious ear boxing.

[MeestaNob!]

Mr Mays needs to be run over by a Taurus then again by an AU for good measure, then we'll ask him again if global design themes are a good idea.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Global design led to the first fleet of the Holden Commodore. And it's fair to say, that's a vehicle which has enjoyed a reasonable amount of success over the course of its history.

Would also offer significant cost advantages... which might be of some assistance considering the company's financial perils.

[LeadFoot81]

Global design would work if it came straight from Europe.

[BlueRaven]

Yeah, global design is not necessarily a bad idea. You can see the logic behind having a certain amount of cars that are locally modified slightly for different countries. Though I agree with other comments though, the success of that idea lies in a European designed car.

[majin_andrew]

I don't see the need for global design. Iconic features that carry over from model to model (BMW grille for example) really only work for prestige manufacturers. Toyota is rather successful and they don't have immediately recognisable features.

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by majin_andrew

I don't see the need for global design. Iconic features that carry over from model to model (BMW grille for example) really only work for prestige manufacturers. Toyota is rather successful and they don't have immediately recognisable features.

except blandness :P

[banarcus]

Come on people get with the programme. What's good for the USA is good for the world.