Freeman Thomas...Good luck at Ford

Couldn't pick a better guy for the job.

Just think, within a year or so, Fords that look like Ferrari Dinos, one of Freeman's self professed favorite cars.

What more could you ask?

Congrats Freeman!

Please put me on the top of the waiting list for that Ford Dino.

 

Freeman, don't forget, you've got a 15000 member strong focus group of real car guys and girls right here.

 

Everyone,

Thank you!

Freeman

 

you must feel like a kid in a candy store. have fun!

 

Ford is doing better than GM, IMO. I am not sure why GM cannot execute one good looking interior in their bread and butter cars. Any Grand Prix, any SUV, any econo or midline car looks like it came from some amateur sweat shop. Even the latest Vette is lacking when it comes to textures, finishes, and QA/QC. I was actually impressed by the Ford Five Hundred interior. It is simple (harmonious rectalinear shapes), clean, and airy. Ford's exterior design dept. is not doing a bad job with corporate identity, either. The new F150 and the passenger cars have some common themes or family resemblance. None of this deconstructivist Bangle stuff. And their referential / retro designs are actually done fairly well. The have done more than just repeat the form for form's sake with the Gt40. Fine...the TBird is an exception, although I do not mind the proportions.
IOW, Freeman could have chosen a more uphill gig, like GM, or BMW....
Congrats, and all the best with the corporate politics !

luke (used to be an architect, then an industrial designer, now finally settled on software human factors and ergonomics)

 

Wayne, I'm thinking about GM and Chrysler while trying to put your comment in proportion but am coming up at a loss for substantiating it. The Ford trucks have been a resounding success for ages, the new Mustang is a hit (gets 28 mpg Hwy) and I applaud Ford for having the forward thinking to develop the first Hybrid SUV at a risky time BEFORE fuel prices soared.

Freeman's touch could only propel them to a higher level ...
(similar to when Tom asks him to push the barn-find onto the flatbed,
chuckle!)

 

Freeman,

Congratulations and good luck!

Regards,

Art S.

 

Isn't that a brand new model?
Give it some time.
In the mean time, please direct the comparison to GM and Chrysler - I din't get a factual answer...


FEH, Ford Escape Hybrids, are so poular they are commanding a premium. I know, as I've been looking and support the environmental aspects of PZEV. FEH having an emmisions index of 0.09 (avg is 0.8, Ford Excursion is at 1.49).
In addition,the control systems being developed for Hybrids are touted as the basis for fuel cell technology.
Forward thinking indeed!

 

slight derail, but was the 500 just the competition's reaction car thrown out on the market?

also, best of luck at Ford Thomas. I grew up with a guy over there, we were born on the same day. He said he always wanted to work for Ford, especially on the mustangs. Apparently, last I checked, that's what he was doing - more on the chassis side of things rather than design.

 

Why do people only see what they want to see????

The refresh for the 500 was being worked on, and planned, before the car ever hit the showroom floor. This is what Ford will be doing with all of their models from here forward. You know, keeping them fresh on an ongoing basis, instead of just letting them stagnate.

Also, the total projected sales for the Chicago cars (500, Montego, Freestyle) is 200K annually. Ford does not care how they get their, as this plant is completely flexible (meaning they can change the mix at any time, to react to the market better). They are on target to meet that goal (averaging 17,500-19K units per month).

Appx 45% of 500 sales have been conquest sales, and less than 15% have been to fleets. Sales for the first 6 months are just under 50K units.

As a point of comparison, the 300 has appx 25% of sales going to fleets.

I realize that the reality of the situation is not nearly as interesting as the fable............ but it is the truth.

The upcoming Fusion/Milan are looking to be big hits.

 

great job!!! have fun n think of us!!!