Ford's "Kinetic" Design

In 2004, Ford Motor Company began to experiment with a new design concept that became known as “kinetic design.”

The main principle of kinetic design is to make lines on the car that make it feel “athletic, dynamic and in shortness, make it look like its moving even when it’s standing still.” Kinetic is literally defined as “energy in motion” and Ford very much wanted to make their cars looks as if they are moving forward and in a constant state of evolution. Martin Smith, Ford of Europe’s executive design director, stated that Europeans wanted a Ford that showed emotion and a sense of refinement, rather than something that looked lifeless and cartoonish.

With this in mind, designer’s formulated the SAV in 2005, the first concept car to display the kinetic design aesthetic. Since then they’ve created kinetic features on most of their European models, such as the Ka and the Focus.

At this point, the question Ford faces the most is will kinetic design translate to American car-buyers? In 2005, Peter Horbury, the Executive Director of Ford North American Design, stated that “kinetic design DNA doesn't mean the same thing to buyers in this market, so it won't resonate the same way.” Horbury further acknowledged that while many Americans are of varied cultures and have different values, they still tend to share the same universal idea about life. They don’t enjoy the quite, but rather they prefer directness and action. Therefore, he believes Americans would prefer a bolder, structured design, something loud and flashy rather than sleek and refined.

Whether or not Americans will embrace or reject kinetic design still remains to be seen, since U.S audiences only recently at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show got their first look at the Ford Verve, a kinetic designed sedan planned to go to market in Europe and Asia by 2009 and in America by 2010.

Ford currently believes that Americans are looking for “technology, design and fuel efficiency.” The smaller, economical, European kinetic design is their answer.



Posted By: Rob Goodman

Sources:

No Author. (2009). Ford Kinetic Design. Ford of Britain. Retrieved from http://www.ford.co.uk/Cars/KineticDesign/mdp=v1204941954768

Abuelsamid, Sam. (2008) Detroit 2008: Ford Verve Sedan concept brings "Kinetic design" to the U.S. for the first time. Auto Blog Green. Retrieved from http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-concept/#.

Image retrieved from http://green.autoblog.com/2008/01/13/detroit-2008-ford-verve-sedan-concept/#.

1980 Hybrid Concept Car

In 1980, the Briggs & Stratton Corp. introduced its plug-in, hybrid concept car stating, "we are all seeing our personal mobility threatened by rising petroleum prices and dwindling resources.

The fundamental appeal of electric cars is that they allow us to use energy sources other than petroleum on the road." The B&S car used a parallel hybrid system which allowed the owner to choose between gas, electric power, or both; a concept that has been borrowed by the Hybrid cars of today.

The 1980 March edition of Motor Trend Magazine found "the car's plug-in, electric-only range was between 30 and 60 miles, enough for many people to commute to and from work without using the gas motor. In hybrid mode, the car's range was about 200 miles."

The car appeared strange though, due to its 6-wheeled design. The weight of the batteries required extra support so 2 extra wheels were added to the address the problem. The car was built with little consideration for safety, the batteries were so heavy they could come hurtling toward the driver in the event of a crash. The B&S concept car had other problems as well--it was disturbingly loud due to its internal mechanical processes.

However, the B&S concept car was an important project for the Hybrid car industry. It's design concepts were improved upon to make more efficient Hybrid models. Although the "Green" movement is a prominent facet of today, its stirrings can be seen in projects like this.

Posted By: Jessica Lantz


Sources:

Carney, Dan . (June 1, 2007). Lawnmower-Engine MakerOnce Had the Lead in Hybrids. In The Wall Street Journal Online. Retrieved October 25, 2009, from http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB117932740689804953.html.

Image Retrieved October 25, 2009 from
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1980-briggs-and-stratton-hybrid-concept-car.htm

Ford's "New Edge" Design

Starting in the mid 1990’s and continuing into the first half of the next century, the Ford Motor Company , looking to create something new and exciting that would also be favorable to their production needs, created an innovative styling technique known as “new edge.”

The basis for this name came from the use of adding sharp angled lines, arcs, and curves on a vehicles body surface that collided with one another to create the effect of highlighting and shadow. Not only was this technique aesthetically pleasing, but because the parts of the body were assembled by piece to create such lines in the design, it made it more labor easy and cost effective to produce. Ford initially utilized the styling technique in several of their concept cars which never fully came to fruition, such as the GT90 in 1995. However, the design was first publicly featured and produced in Europe with such models as the Ford Ka in 1996, and most notably the Ford Focus in 1998. In 1999, the Ford Mustang’s 4th generation pony car became the first North American vehicle to feature the new edge design, followed shortly by the introduction of the Ford Focus into the North American market in 2000.

Although other popular Ford vehicles followed suit by having particular new design elements added to them, Ford has yet to produce another fully new edge designed vehicle since they switched gears to the new “kinetic” styling technique.


Posted By: Rob Goodman

Sources:

Krebs, Michelle. (1997). New Designer To Take a Seat at Ford’s Drawing Board. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/automobiles/new-designer-to-take-a-seat-at-ford-s-drawing-board.html.

Winter, Drew. (1998). Living on the Edge: New Ford styling trend isn’t too tough, stampers say. Ward’s Auto World. Retrieved from http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_living_edge_new/.

Image retrieved from http://www.carprices.co.uk/models/Ford/fordfocus

The Prius: Car of the 21st Century

The production of Toyota’s Prius went global in 2000 with the introduction of this seemingly-minute car into American markets. And America didn’t realize the impact it would have on society.

The Prius was created and designed specifically to be the icon car of the 21st Century and Green Movement. It was predestined to stand for specific ideals and social statements. This car is not simply a transport vehicle; it is now used to represent the individual that drives it. This exemplifies an undercurrent of the 21st century culture; how items can represent different ideas and beliefs the consumer stands for or feels strongly about.

The Prius represents much through its physical structure. Such as the future, through its sleek and innovative body while also representing the great leaps mankind has made to help preserve the environment. This alternative method of power has made a great statement to society; illustrating how even a means of transportation can help to reduce stress on the earth and precious resources.

The Prius has been a huge success and has begun a new off-shoot industry composed of fuel-efficient and alternatively powered vehicles.

Posted By: Kylie Graham


Sources:

Kaho, Todd, (2007). Decade of the Toyota Prius Hybrid. GreenCar, Retrieved from http://www.greencar.com/articles/decade-toyota-prius-hybrid.php

Image retrieved October 8, 2009 from http://www.greencar.com/articles/decade-toyota-prius-hybrid.php