More Moves: Peter Horbury leaves Ford back to Volvo and will be replaced by Moray Callum

Ford Motor Company today announced key changes to bolster vehicle design leadership at both Volvo Cars and Ford’s Americas operations.

Peter Horbury executive director, Ford Americas design, will return to Volvo as vice president, design, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Horbury will replace Stephen Mattin, who has left Volvo to pursue other opportunities. Moray Callum, currently director of design for cars, Ford Americas, will replace Horbury as executive director, Ford Americas design in Dearborn. Both appointments are effective May 1.
Continue Reading…

New Ford Mustang and Mustang Convertible

With the introduction of the Dodge Challenger and soon the Chevrolet Camaro, both made with the same Retro theme as Ford has been producing its Mustang over the past years, it is interesting to think how these obvious Retro designs can be optimized to extend their life times. Normal cars get a new face every 3 years and are mostly completely renewed every 6 years, but since these companies decided to go back in time, how do they envision refreshing this?

Well, Ford has tried taking on this difficult task, and presented the new Mustang. It comes with nice little detail changes that each in themselves would be indeed quite nice. The only problem is that all of these were made just as that, individual changes, and in the whole grand scheme of things none of them really harmonize with each other. As said, it is difficult, but maybe when you go back in time to a certain generation of vehicle, look at its successor at that time to get a hint of where you may want to go.., or better yet… GET ORIGINAL and DROP THE STUPID RETRO! Designers have creativity. They can do better than this!

New Ford Taurus Aimes to Improve Ford’s Image from 2010

DETROIT, Jan.11, 2009 – The Ford Taurus – the car that changed America’s view of full-size sedans – is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world’s best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag.

“The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford’s growing new car launch momentum,” said Mark Fields, president of the Americas. “This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for – and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering – quality, fuel-efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies, wrapped in bold, sporty and expressive designs.”

The new Taurus benefits from Ford’s Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner – with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible.

“Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. “Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule.”

Continue Reading…

Jaguar XF Supercharged Design Evaluation

By Cor Steenstra with Photography by Chris Jones and Cor Steenstra The models in our extensive photo gallery are Grace Chavez from HBO’s Zane’s, and Jonathan Eng.

The Jaguar XF in both the Supercharged version that we drove, as well as it normally aspirated version, is a very high quality 4 door sedan with a semi-hatch/coupe like body style, very much in line with what Mercedes with the CLS, VW with the CC and Porsche with the Panamera are already producing or about to introduce. We found that the design immediately impresses on passers-by, which is quite a surprise since it does resemble the European larger hatchbacks in a way, but the way the design was executed here, there is definitely no mistaking here: This is a High-End, High Quality dynamic vehicle.

Fit and finish on both exterior and interior was of very high standard, and, as with the XK we drove earlier, the quality of the leather used in the interior and especially the way it was used on the dashboard is really impressive, with clean stitch lines and precise fit. The interior also made quite an impression with its novelty detailing, the air vents that are in hiding when either the airco is not switched on or the car is switched off, and the turn-knob gearshift that is also hiding flush when the ignition is switched off.

Interior space is excellent in the front, and comfortable in the back provided the occupants are not excessively tall. All round vision is very good, and the gadgets at the driver’s disposal for safer driving are plenty. The Supercharged version also was of course very quick on its feet, with enormous power in acceleration and very safe and comfortable drive at higher speeds. We never felt out of control once, which is a sharp contract to for instance our experience with the Lexus IS-F.

Continue Reading…

Auto bailout prospects revived in Senate

By John Crawley and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Prospects for an auto industry bailout revived in the U.S. Senate on Thursday as surprise negotiations on a compromise moved forward and a vote was possible later in the day. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor that the deal, if struck, “would overwhelmingly pass” the chamber that just hours ago seemed resigned to sending the automakers back to Detroit empty-handed. The scenario at the core of the possible compromise was proposed by Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, who would grant loans under stricter conditions than favored by Democrats and the White House.

Continue Reading…

Bailout plan could soon face House vote

By John Crawley and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. House of Representatives could vote as early as Wednesday on a $15 billion plan to bail out and restructure U.S. automakers but the initiative may face Republican roadblocks in the Senate. The White House and congressional Democrats sought to quickly finalize an agreement in principle struck Tuesday night on conditions for providing $15 billion in low-interest loans to avert a threatened industry collapse if one or more of “The Big Three” U.S. automakers were to fail. But some issues remained unresolved, apparently including a Democratic demand that automakers drop lawsuits against states seeking to reduce tailpipe pollution.

Continue Reading…

White House sceptical on final Democrats auto bailout plan

By Thomas Ferraro and John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House and Democrats edged toward agreement on Monday to rescue U.S. automakers by extending emergency loans but their plan leaves key restructuring decisions to the incoming Obama administration.

Three days of talks between congressional Democrats and Bush administration officials neared conclusion with a draft bill, obtained by Reuters, outlining temporary low interest loans, terms for repayment and oversight submitted for final White House review.

The final figure was still being worked out with the plan worth between $14 billion and $17 billion. The rescue aims to avert the threatened collapse of General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC, saving thousands of factory and millions of related jobs in the U.S. recession.

Continue Reading…

Bush, Democrats seek to finalize auto bailout

By Thomas Ferraro and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – White House and congressional negotiators sought on Sunday to resolve remaining differences over an emergency rescue for the struggling auto industry, a stark symbol of the deepening U.S. economic crisis.

Prodded by shock unemployment figures that showed the country shed more than half a million jobs last month alone, negotiators tried to turn into legislation an agreement in principle to provide “The Big Three” U.S. automakers with at least $15 billion in short-term loans.

Continue Reading…