American manufacturer Ford is planning new styling cues for its compact and mid-sized cars, cues which will expand globally in their respective classes. The new design language will be the evolution of the current kinetic design used on European built cars and will be called [ad}"kinetic 2.0".
"We are developing an appropriate design language that will work all over the world," Martin Smith, Ford Europe design chief was quoted as saying by Autonews at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
The reasons behind the globalization of the European design language is, of course, money; or at least the need to save some. There are, however, other things to consider when contemplating adopting a new design.
Currently, apart for the kinetic, Ford uses in the United States the "red, white and bold" styling. Until the Internet arrived and increased its influence, manufacturers had different styling cues for their different markets. Now, Internet and the increasing globalization make for a "killer car to work anywhere," mentioned Smith.
In Frankfurt, Ford launched the new C-Max, the forefather of what the American manufacturer plans to be an entire new generation of C-segment cars. The C-Max, which will be followed by the new Focus in late 2010, is the latest to benefit from the kinetic styling.
Of course, a globalization in styling may worry those hardcore Ford fans. It is unlikely an F-150 may be very successful if drawn like a Fiesta. Still according to Smith, "built tough" will continue to look tough as well. Neither the F-150, nor the Taurus are subject to the newly planned Kinetic 2.0 global design.
"We are developing an appropriate design language that will work all over the world," Martin Smith, Ford Europe design chief was quoted as saying by Autonews at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show.
The reasons behind the globalization of the European design language is, of course, money; or at least the need to save some. There are, however, other things to consider when contemplating adopting a new design.
Currently, apart for the kinetic, Ford uses in the United States the "red, white and bold" styling. Until the Internet arrived and increased its influence, manufacturers had different styling cues for their different markets. Now, Internet and the increasing globalization make for a "killer car to work anywhere," mentioned Smith.
In Frankfurt, Ford launched the new C-Max, the forefather of what the American manufacturer plans to be an entire new generation of C-segment cars. The C-Max, which will be followed by the new Focus in late 2010, is the latest to benefit from the kinetic styling.
Of course, a globalization in styling may worry those hardcore Ford fans. It is unlikely an F-150 may be very successful if drawn like a Fiesta. Still according to Smith, "built tough" will continue to look tough as well. Neither the F-150, nor the Taurus are subject to the newly planned Kinetic 2.0 global design.