US or UK?

[fou_bleu]

Ok, so now Ford have a universal RWD platform designated, it is time to choose our universal design theme. So, in the US corner we have the 3-bar grille theme. And in the Europe corner we have the Kinetic theme. So? Which one you prefer?...

[Jeeepers]

European design will always outclass American. I vote Kinetic.

[|||]

i vote for round headlights. anything else is ghey

[King Nothing]

Oh dear... The poor yanks

Kinetic all the way!

[Polyal]

Ford have a universal platform designated? Since when? Got a link?

The US are getting better, but that focus is unfair since its a patch up job; a very bad one too. There are certainly some yank cars that I would love; unfortunately for them they are running out of cars to "retro"..LOL

Kinetic by a long way, but perhaps getting a different US model might be fairer.

[irlewy86]

kinetic is starting to get a bit boring.

[sleekism]

Well seeing as the Yanks thought the Ford Taurus styling was a good idea I'm going kinetic.

The orion Falcon looks kinetic anyway.

I would like to see unique Tickford treatments again instead of Holden style executive tart up.

[Polyal]

OK I just had a quick look at http://www.fordvehicles.com/

My god, what a terrible line up, ours is going to kill it. Ford should just make F trucks and mustangs in the US and import/copy everything else.

I dont understand why every Ford is not engineered to be available in every country (LHD and RHD). Ford would save a bundle in the long run, and have good cars everywhere. Obviously a little bit of localization is needed but imagine how good the cars could be if Ford focused on a select amount of vehicles for the world. Seems to work for BMW and Merc.

[Raptor]

Didn't I just read somewhere the other day that Kinetic has been given the nod over the US theme.

I vote Kinetic.

Euro for styling & dynamics, US for muscle ;)

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Didn't I just read somewhere the other day that Kinetic has been given the nod over the US theme.

Oh? Well i hadn't heard of it yet...

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Didn't I just read somewhere the other day that Kinetic has been given the nod over the US theme.

I vote Kinetic.

Euro for styling & dynamics, US for muscle ;)

Yeah nicely summed up. Im still in the dark about the global RWD platform, I thought its been all talk so far.

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Ford have a universal platform designated? Since when? Got a link?

It was in the latest (?) *gulp* WHEELS magazine (Skyline GT-R cover) that Ford has chosen it's universal RWD system to cut costs and time for each region to make their own. BTW FoA had a LOT of say in it!

[Raptor]

Here's the headline. Anyone a subscriber that can access the whole story?
http://subscribers.wardsauto.com/ar/...rd_global_rwd/

Ford Design Boss Confirms Plans for Global RWD Platform
By Peter Robinson
WardsAuto.com, Oct 29, 2007 9:14 AM
Sources indicate the basic engineering work will be a joint effort between Ford Dearborn and Ford Australia’s recently expanded engineering operations under Trevor Worthington....

[Raptor]

Google found it ;)

Ford Design Boss Confirms Plans for Global RWD Platform
By Peter Robinson
WardsAuto.com, Oct 29, 2007 9:14 AM
SYDNEY – Ford Motor Co. design boss J Mays confirms the Blue Oval is developing an all-new, rear-wheel-drive architecture for the U.S. and Australia.
“Clearly, we have to develop one rear-drive platform for the world,” Mays says in a recent interview here. “Ford and Lincoln will take cars off it and, of course, (so will) Ford (in) Australia.”

Ford’s modified RWD platform underpins Jaguar’s new XF.
Mays refers to the new strategy as Ford’s Global Rear-Wheel-Drive Platform. His verification also comes from supplier groups that have been informed of the new architecture’s name.
The strikingly unoriginal name is identical to GM Holden Ltd.’s term for the VE Commodore architecture that serves as the basis for a number of General Motors Corp. models currently under development in Australia and the U.S. to mostly be manufactured in North America. The New Pontiac G8 will from Australia, at least initially.
Mays says it’s too early to define who will take the lead engineering role in developing the new platform.
“We are not sure where the architecture will be done yet,” he says. “But Detroit will oversee it. We may do it the opposite of GM. Our strategy is to design cars where they are engineered. That hasn’t changed.”
Related Stories
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Ford Australia to Shutter Engine Plant; Import V-6 From U.S.
Ford CEO Says Commonality Key

Sources indicate the basic engineering work will be a joint effort between Ford’s Dearborn engineering group and Australia’s recently expanded Broadmeadows and Geelong operations under Trevor Worthington.
However, Mays says Ford Motor Co. of Australia Ltd. will have sole responsibility for styling the next-generation Falcon due in four to five years. Although the engineering strategy has to pass through a number of Ford’s financial gateways before it is officially approved, insiders claim it is inevitable.
Under new CEO Alan Mulally, Ford has created a single global-product development organization headed by engineering chief Derrick Kuzak.
The idea is to rationalize both the number of platforms and engines on a global basis. Ford Australia’s inline 6-cyl. is one casualty in a plan to reduce the number of sixes from today’s eight engines to just two over the next five years.
Currently, Ford has three RWD platforms: the Falcon/Territory; Mustang; and ancient Panther (Crown Victoria/Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car).
A combined effort would see the first of the new RWD models launched in the U.S. probably in 2011, with the all-new Falcon due in 2012, at the earliest.
Ford’s last new RWD platform, DEW98, underpinned the Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS and Ford Thunderbird but has been discarded for America, though a modified version forms the basis for Jaguar’s new XF.
Mulally also wants Ford products to share one global look. Currently, the products coming out of Ford’s North American design team under Peter Horbury, and its European studios lead by Martin Smith, are heading in disparate directions.
The Ford brand in the U.S. recently adopted a 3-bar chrome grille theme shared by the Fusion and Taurus. The European cars, including the Mondeo, facelifted Focus and next-year’s new Fiesta, use “kinetic design.”
By insisting a single Ford design theme be developed, Mulally is pitting the two studios’ themes to a yet-to-be-decided rivalry.
Scott Strong, the American who heads Ford Australia’s design studio, reports directly to Martin Smith in Europe, which is somewhat odd given the Falcon’s RWD layout.
Under Smith’s advocacy of the more complex and dart-like kinetic design, a look that includes the redesigned ’08 Falcon, it seems an evolution of this theme will be adopted for the future-generation Falcon, but nothing has yet been developed.
“It’s normal to let the dust settle (after launching a new model) before starting a new project,” says Smith, who along with Mulally and Kuzak, has visited Australia this year. “The Australians are finishing off the T6 (the new Ranger commercials) and are very busy.”
Ford Australia also plans to start building 40,000 European-designed 4-cyl. Focus cars annually at its Melbourne assembly plant beginning in 2011.

[gz1]

Can anyone count three bars on the grille? I can only see two.

[Paxton]

Kinetic.

There is not one Ford in the USA that I would consider buying. None. They are all hideous. The poor Focus. It doesn't stand a chance. OTOH, I would happily have a Kinetic Focus.

[Dave_au]

It should be Kinetic, but I'm sure Dearborn will force the US 3 Bar theme onto everyone.

[irlewy86]

The yanks must really struggle with designing a car when it isn't going to be a SUV or retro muscle car.

[nobbystang]

I think it really depends on the style of car to begin with, the 3 bar look sreally good on the Edge and a couple of other bigger cars, but shite on the smaller ones

[fou_bleu]

Originally Posted by nobbystang

I think it really depends on the style of car to begin with, the 3 bar look sreally good on the Edge and a couple of other bigger cars, but shite on the smaller ones

I might have to agree with you there! The Edge looks a bit of alright, but the Focus... :

[Ives]

I personally like the Mondeo/Kinetic look.

Originally Posted by ORSMT

European design will always outclass American. I vote Kinetic.

Well I quite like Mustang Cobra's design.

[The Monty]

I deffinately would take the Kenetic grill.

[buickman]

Kinetic front but that dog ugly rear end on the Euro Focus lets the car down.
The current Corolla and Mazda 3 sales says it all.
But the new Orion with the Kinetic front should be a winner for Fords large car sales.

[LeadFoot81]

I can see the American design evolve into an 'Americanized' Kinetic theme. However, will we end up with 'bits-er' cars, Kinetic bodies with 3 bar grilles slapped on them?

[The Stylist]

To me the 3-bar grill is just paying homage to the Gillette Razor, the current U.S range looks like dull (excluding the Mustang).

As a design language, the Kinetic theme is much more broad in the overall design of a car compared to their American counter-parts.

[Tles]

Think I read somewhere that the Global design chief will stay based in London, not Detroit. Not a bad idea IMHO

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25738C00821D66

Ford design redesign

Kinetic: Mondeo's new-found style will spread across the FoMoCo world.

Ford design boss confirms global new style language and probably Jaguar, LR sale

9 November 2007
goauto - mellor

THE Ford Motor Co’s global design chief J Mays will reorganise the company’s styling departments as the Ford brand shifts to a single design language across the world – as seen on the just-launched Mondeo and the forthcoming 2008 Falcon.

A report in industry journal Automotive News this week quoted Mr Mays as saying that “everyone’s focus will be slightly shifted” but he refused to divulge details. He also said that the probable sale of Ford’s luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover (and possibly Volvo, too) will change his focus.

[ClevlndStemer]

I too am one for the Kinetic design, it is a design that can age better than the 3 bar design of the US. It is also seems to be a lot more flexible, i.e looks good on small cars and SUV's.

[fou_bleu]

the kinetic could be used for 10 years and not look aged i rekon, the three bar looked outdated the day it premiered! lol

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by TTonka

Think I read somewhere that the Global design chief will stay based in London, not Detroit. Not a bad idea IMHO

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25738C00821D66

Has J Mays literally said Kinetic styling will Fords global look? Most articles just say one look will be adopted (this is the first Ive read to say styling featured on the Mondeo and Falcon)

[Tles]

Originally Posted by The_Fantastic_Ford

Has J Mays literally said Kinetic styling will Fords global look? Most articles just say one look will be adopted (this is the first Ive read to say styling featured on the Mondeo and Falcon)

Found further to this today

AUTOBLOG (ex Automotive News Europe)
Mays: Ford's single global design language will debut in six years
Posted Nov 12th 2007 7:05PM by John Neff
Filed under: Euro, Ford

It's been no secret that part of Ford's turnaround plan (or we calling it Bold Moves anymore?) is to reunite its North American and European operations with more platform sharing and a common design language. With product life cycles being as long as they are in this industry, none of that will happen overnight. In fact, J Mays, Ford's group vice president of design and chief creative officer, told Automotive News that a single uniting global design language for both sides of the pond will be ready in about six years.

The main stumbling block is that Ford vehicles in North American and those sold in Europe have successfully established their own recognizable and well-liked design themes. It's called "Kinetic design" in Europe where the best example can be found in the new Mondeo, and "Bold American" in the U.S. where it manifests itself in the form of the three-bar chrome grille.

We've heard from inside sources that there's also a clash of personalities involved here between Ford of Europe's chief designer, Martin Smith, and Peter Horbury who heads up design for Ford in the U.S. Establishing a single visual language for Fords sold on both sides of the pond hinges on these two working together, which we've heard is progressing albeit slowly. Mays tells AN, "I'm so pleased with the professional approach that Peter Horbury and Martin [Smith] have taken on driving us to the right answer," but we assume he has to say that, so take it with a grain of salt.

Now that Aston Martin is gone and Jaguar and Land Rover are on their way out, Mays has time once again to delve deeper into the designs of each brand over which he has dominion. Hopefully the hands on approach will keep Martin and Horbury motivated with the end result being some fantastic Ford designs in a half dozen years.