Ford Oz bids to design next Taurus

The next generation Ford Taurus -- the car that threatens to eventually replace the homegrown Falcon sedan -- could be designed in Australia.

Ford Australia's design department will be one of seven styling studios in the Ford world to submit a blueprint for the carmaker's new global large sedan, which is it is speculated will share much of its structure and componentry -- and possibly become an identical twin -- with the next all-new Falcon.

Under the 'One Ford' global car policy, both the Taurus (pictured) and Falcon are likely to become much more closely related when the new models for both vehicles come on line some time in 2016 or beyond.

Speaking at the launch of Ford's latest global vehicle, the Focus small car, the head of design for Ford in North America, Moray Callum, told the Carsales Network: "Absolutely [Ford Australia] will be part of the process, they're already very much involved.

"They [Ford Australia] know how to design sedans -- and good looking sedans -- and we harness our talent wherever it is in the Ford world. There's an amazing capability in Australia, particularly in large cars. We've asked Melbourne to submit early proposals, but to be frank Australia is involved in almost everything we do, even on models that aren't sold in Australia."

Callum said Ford Australia was in the process of hiring more designers as the company became more global in its use of styling and engineering talent.

The Carsales Network understands that the Taurus and Falcon replacements are next in the queue in Ford's global car strategy -- after the next generation mid-size car [Mondeo] is complete.

Ford Australia has already submitted design proposals for the successor to the Mondeo (in Europe) and Fusion (in North America), two vehicles that will become one within the next two years. The design of that model has progressed from concept to the production phase, but Ford has not yet revealed which of its studios around the world submitted the winning proposal.

"We're not saying for now, but I'm sure credit will be given where it's due," said Callum, the former head of design at Mazda and brother of Ian Callum, Jaguar's styling chief.

He said Ford design around the world was becoming "more cohesive".

"These days it's hard to pick where some of the early sketches have come from, all the studios around the world are really starting to talk a similar design language."

In addition to Ford Australia's Broadmeadows design centre, the six other main design studios in the Ford world are located in Dearborn Michigan, Irvine California, Cologne Germany, Dunton England, Shanghai China, and South America.

"This is the new Ford," he said. "We go to where the best talent is, no matter where it is in the Ford world. We're very lucky to have talented designers in all corners of the globe."

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