Ford Says Next Mustang will be Designed with Styling Input from Around the World

*2006 Ford Mustang Giugiaro Concept Pictured above

Ford believes its Mustang pony car isn't just an icon in North America alone, but an icon all over the world and as such, it should reflect the company's new philosophy in which products are created with global input.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2011 Geneva motor show, Ford's group vice president for global product development Derrick Kuzak, dropped the bomb: the next-generation of the company's pony car will be the first Mustang with styling themes proposed by studios in Europe, Australia and other regions. Up until now, the design of the Mustang was a U.S.-only matter.

"It is a common process we [now] use on every vehicle," Derrick Kuzak told reporters in Geneva. "When we embark on a new product, particularly one that is all new, it involves all of the studios. Then J [Mays, Ford's global design chief] and the design team pick the best of those themes," he added.

Kuzak said that the 2012 Ranger pickup truck for markets outside North America is one of the latest examples of Ford's new global design approach which was adopted in 2008. "The Ranger was done by the Australian studio with input from the European studio," Kuzak said.

So, when will we see the next generation of the Mustang with design input from Ford's studios across the world? Unfortunately, Kuzak didn't provide an answer to that but it is believed that a new Mustang should enter the market by 2014.

Source: Autonews [Sub. Req.]

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Ford to Debut BTCC Focus Race Car at Geneva Motor Show

The first ever touring race car version of the all-new Ford Focus will make its world premiere at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show, ahead of it is scheduled track debut in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch towards the end of March.

The BTCC Focus was developed by Arena Motorsport with technical support from Ford, and it's the first car to come out from a global initiative by Ford to support private teams around the globe in developing one common race car to S2000 specification.

To meet current local regulations, Arena Motorsport's UK-based Team Aon has opted for a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford engine, instead of the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost engine other teams will use in Championships in line with international FIA regulations.

"There has been tremendous interest in new Focus from the racing community and it's the perfect fit for a global touring car," said Jost Capito, director of Ford Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development.

"This new BTCC Focus is the first result of a collaborative effort between Ford and race teams around the world that have already built and raced successful Focus race cars. The teamwork has resulted in a global technical platform for racing using a common Focus with a safety cage built to FIA regulations – a competitive platform that can be tailored for regional competition, based on different rules," Capito added.

Ford said that the new Team Aon Focus touring car is expected to compete in all 10 rounds of this year's British Touring Car Championship .

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Geneva Preshow: Ford Reveals B-MAX Small MPV Study Based on the Fiesta

Scheduled to make its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show this week is Ford's brand-new B-MAX concept that previews the firm's upcoming small MPV, designed to replace the current European Fusion and rival the Opel Meriva. Based on the Fiesta platform, the almost production-ready minivan has some striking features, the most obvious being the new door concept. It has no B-pillar and the twin doors have a conventional opening system in the front and a sliding system in the back.

By eliminating the traditional B-pillar, Ford promises best-in-class access to the cabin without compromising safety. With both front and rear doors open, the aperture measures 1.5 metres, around twice the width offered by competitors, according to Ford.

“With its unique door format and dynamic design, the B-MAX sends a strong message that customers looking for a compact, stylish and versatile vehicle will soon have an exciting new choice,” said Stephen Odell, CEO of Ford Europe. Another highlight is the lack of door handles, with the opening system being remote-controlled.

The B-MAX measures is a little over 4 meters in length, and is 110mm longer than and 110mm taller than the Fiesta five-door hatch, with Ford promising enough room for five passengers. With the rear seats folded 60/40, the car offers a flat load floor that extends up to 2.35 meters in length when the front passenger seat is folded.

The B-MAX is powered by an all-new 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that uses EcoBoost technology and is equipped with Ford's Auto-Start-Stop system. The 3-cylinder unit uses turbocharging, direct fuel injection and twin independent variable cam timing to achieve significant reductions in fuel-consumption and CO₂ emissions. This engine is set to replace larger conventional four-cylinder units in the future and is now undergoing the final development phase.

A production version of the B-MAX is expected to launch within the next two years.

By Dan Mihalascu

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