The once famous Vignale body shop was bought by De Tomaso in 1969, which also belonged to Ford at the time. The body shop went bankrupt, De Tomaso Ford sold, but the Vignale brand and name kept the blue oval.
However, the last time this designation appeared was on the Focus coupe-cabriolet concept in 2004. However, the automaker brushed off the famous name in order to start selling more luxurious versions of conventional models under it. The main target should then be none other than the successful DS series of the French Citroën.
In the future, the Vignale models should be placed above the Titanium X equipment , which is currently the highest in the Ford hierarchy. The first swallow will be the Mondeo, which will later be joined by the second generation MPV S-Max and SUV Edge.
Visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show will get a chance to see what Ford's future endeavors could look like. The blue oval will bring the Mondeo-based Vignale concept . It is also a kind of consolation that we will not see the sixth generation of the popular model in Europe for at least a few months.
Visually, the Vignale will be distinguished from the classic Mondeo by means of a new bumper, chrome grille, door handles and mirrors, LED fog lights, twenty-inch wheels and finally Vignale badges , which will replace the "conventional" Mondeo. The interior is upholstered in premium leather, which appears not only on the seats, but also in the door panels, center panel and steering wheel. The car has a built-in Wi-Fi connection and a leather bag appears in the trunk.
In addition to special models, Ford also prepares special sales and after-sales care . Selected dealerships worldwide will offer an exclusive Vignale corner, including a personal salesperson. As part of after-sales care, Ford is planning, for example, to clean and wash the car throughout its lifetime.
Ford assumes that 10-15% of customers will opt for the Vignale version. And that is certainly not an insignificant number…
Source: Ford, autocar.co.uk
