New Edge

New Edge was a styling theme used by Ford Motor Company for many of its passenger vehicles in the late 1990s and early 2000s and initially authored by Jack Telnack, who served as Vice President of Design for Ford from 1980 to 1997. Under Telnack's oversight, New Edge was implemented by other Ford designers, including Claude Lobo and Australian, John Doughty.^[1]

New Edge distinctively combined intersecting arcs and other features, creating "surface tension by adding creases to soft aerodynamic shapes." ^[2] Describing the 2000 Ford Focus's implementation of the styling theme, New York Times writer Michelle Krebs said the Focus "features crisp lines and taut surfaces. The Focus won't be mistaken for anything else on the road. I found more people liked its look than hated it, and few were indifferent."^[3] Reputedly, New Edge design saved production time, the edges themselves ostensibly making the panels much easier to align.^[3]

After the international Ford Focus had won the prestigious European Car of the Year (1999), William Diem of the New York Times wrote, "To some extent, the prize vindicates Ford's risky design for the Focus, especially the New Edge styling -- a combination of straight lines, curves and planes."^[4]

Vehicles with New Edge design

Europe

The Ford Focus featured New Edge.

The first car to feature New Edge was the Ford Ka, released on September 11, 1996; and followed by the revised Mondeo in 1996, the Puma in 1997, the Focus in 1998, and the Cougar. The Ford Fiesta received a facelift incorporating a New Edge front end in 1999. Although Ford did not release any further New Edge designs, notable New Edge features continued on Ford of Europe models; namely the trapezoidal grille and large, extended wheel arches.

New Edge Mustang 1999-2004 Ford Mustang

North America

In North America, New Edge was prominently employed with the Ford Focus, the eighth-generation Mercury Cougar, and the Ford Mustang's 1999 facelift of the 4th generation pony car (1994–2004). New Edge elements were also used on their other more conventional vehicles, like the Ford Taurus, Ford Windstar, and Ford Explorer, which were all redesigned at the turn of the century.

Australia

The Falcon incorporated New Edge design for a time.

Ford Australia employed New Edge with the Falcon for its "AU" model, which was first released in 1998. Ford chose a bold direction for the Falcon's design. The experiment did not prove successful, however, as the Australian public largely rejected the design. It consisted of drooping headlamps and taillights, with sharp angles employed incongruously to rounded surfaces. The wheel wells bulged to the point where any size of wheel appeared too small for the car. Even the flagship models, the XR8 and Fairmont Ghia could not in any way make the most of the design; while some car designs could be considered "ahead of their time", the AU Falcon, 12 years after its initial release, remains a design that the beholder finds difficult to resolve^{[citation needed]}. Ford gave the Falcon an extensive exterior upgrade, as well as mechanical upgrade in 2002. The upgrade has since been lauded by the press and performed well in the market. The 2002 exterior refresh served as the basis of the Falcon's design from then through to 2008.

References

1. ^ "10 Years Ford Focus, 2008 Anniversary Press Kit". Ford Media Europe. http://www.fordmedia.eu/presskits/2008anniversaries/Booklet_Focus.pdf. 
2. ^ "New Designer to Take a Seat at Ford's Drawing Board". The New York Times, Michelle Krebs, Sunday, September 28, 1997. September 28, 1997. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/automobiles/new-designer-to-take-a-seat-at-ford-s-drawing-board.html. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "2000 Ford Focus; The Econobox Turns a Corner and Picks Up Some Edge". The New York Times, Behind The Wheel, Michelle Krebs, October 31, 1999. October 31, 1999. http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/automobiles/behind-wheel-2000-ford-focus-econobox-turns-corner-picks-up-some-edge.html?scp=4&sq=ford%20%22new%20edge%22&st=cse. Retrieved May 20, 2010. 
4. ^ "Ford Focus Is Off to a Rousing Start". The New York Times, Behind The Wheel, William Diem, November 20, 1998. November 20, 1998. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/20/automobiles/ford-focus-is-off-to-a-rousing-start.html?scp=12&sq=ford%20focus%20wagon&st=cse. Retrieved May 20, 2010.