Off topic, but i cant help but noticing your A7X icon. Nice :P Syn Gates is my hero.

 

Looks like a cross between a CRV and a Tribeca

 

Yeah, I love Avenged Sevenfold (both Zacky and Synyster are amazing). I saw them live in Chicago back in August, it was the best concert ever.
They actually have a concert in LaCrosse, WI (about 4 hours drive from me) this week, I was gonna go, but we'll get a huge snowstorm tomorrow and Wednesday so I don't really feel like driving.

 

They ruined it!

 

I agree, I liked the boxy design too.

What's up with all newer USA Fords having Euro design?

 

Looks like a Mazda to me.

 

Looks decent to me. Not everything I'd want, lookswise, but it definitely looks modern and pretty good overall. I think it'll do alright

 

Actually guys, this is a test mule. I haven't noticed that this is European Ford Kuga. So pretty much its the next Escape in Kuga's body.

 

According to several media outlets, the Ford Vertrek concept shown at this year's NAIAS strongly hints and the next-generation Escape's exterior aesthetic.

 

Yep, cooling mule. The Next Escape will be much closer to the Vertrek. Personally, I think Vertrek does a great job of marrying the sleek, aero European look with more Muscular, American cues.

As for why Fords are starting to look the same, Mays has the green light from Mulally to bring all Fords globally together as much a practical. All Ford's design centers around the world compete and cooperate on designs for stuff in all markets, case in point the Aussie press crowing about the FoA design crew submitting their proposals for the next Taurus.

 

Yeah, but why do all global Fords have to come from Europe?

 

I don't like it as much as i think I should/would

 

I think Ford Europe has a much better record and demonstrated capability for designing small to mid sized vehicles. They seem to basically "get it" much more than SUV/Truck/Large Vehicle centric Detroit, which tends to treat any vehicle under 2 tons as necessary evils.

Europe on the other hand seem to treat small cars as being intrinsically desirable in and of themselves and not as rolling hair shirts to be endured until one can buy a "real' 2-ton car. European cars tend to be more in line with world car needs and desires overall than the typically more rotund and gluttonous American models, which tend to appeal more to typically more rotund and gluttonous Americans. Thus it would make sense to source said cars that would appeal to the broadest market.

To be fair, Detroit, if sometimes slowly and grudgingly, is shedding some of that old "sell them by the pound" thinking as evidenced by, say, the Ford Fusion, a very fine mid-sized sedan.

 

I think we're seeing a bunch of FoE-looking stuff for two reasons:

1 Mays sets the language and picks the designs, and he's a Europhile.

2 Most of the Global products hitting now are Compact-segment. FoE was the natural to take lead on Compacts because they have the track record, whereas FNA and FoA have worse records (Figo being a special case).

But the Explorer is a Global vehicle (albeit one with a limited appeal outside the US) and it's definitely American. The next Taurus and Mustang are both starting here and going abroad, and that's just what we know now.

 

it looks like a big dodge caliber... thats why I don't like it. Its not nearly as "in your face" as the edge.. or the explorer even..

 

I understand that, but Ford Europe didn't even had a SUV until 2008 and now they're designing Escape for the American market, which is 3rd best Ford's seller? That's a risky move if you ask me.

 

I think the big thing will be less of a difference between any of Ford's vehicles worldwide, which might be a good thing for Europhiles, a bad thing for Europhobes as I think the resultant cars will have a bit more of a World/European influence than we're used to here in the States.

I'm not at all worried about FoE taking the lead on the redone Espcape given what a nice car the Kuga is and FoE's recent efforts with the Fiesta and Focus among other models.