In Design, Millimetres Matter

I chatted with Ford & Lincoln’s head designer Moray Callum, the gentleman who basically gives Ford its face.

We laughed lots, I say it’s great he’s bringing hard buttons back, turns out being an auto designer is a rather morbid joband I asked what one thing makes him the most nuts.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

5th paragraph – Moray’s metaphor on why millimetres matter – imagine altering a face in Photoshop, 8mm here and 6mm there and woah, a totally different face is looking back at you.

Second favourite: 

Moray: You still have to design for the idiot that doesn’t wear a seat belt.

Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

 

 

Top 5 Favourite Things – 2014 LA Auto Show

Wrote it for the paper, click here to read.

Top 5 List from the 2014 LA Auto Show

1 – Language used during the reveal presentations
2 – Jaguar F-TYPE now available in manual
3 – Chatting with the head designer of Ford & Lincoln
4 – Choking on that new-car-smell
5 – Chrysler’s all-new 300 Sedan

It’s 850+ words, which is rare, my stuff’s usually 400 words and rarely longer than 600. It was a great show.

Here’s more photos from the show. Click more to see.

>>> MORE <<< [Read more…]

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Starting at $37,960
This one $48,850

2.0L outputting 141 hp and 129 lb.ft of torque.

Fuel economy rating is 4.2 L/100km, I got 6.9 L/100km.

Massive sunroof, woodgrain trim, and all the safety aids that are en vogue, bundled into a classy styling.

The wide-open interior is thanks to the E-shift.  See the buttons running down the left side of the screen? That’s Drive / Reverse / Park / Neat eh.

Here’s a video [from last year] – the push button shift in action.

When they climbed inside, this interior made all my passengers get wide-eyed and go “ooohhh“.

They did last year too, so if that’s the effect you’re looking for, confirmed: this Lincoln will give you that.

Lincoln has an event on right now, #UncoverLuxury

The gas and hybrid MKZ are the same price.

This is very rare (usually the hybrid version is thousands more.)

Comfortable, perforated leather seats, and soft-touch everywhere.

2 large executives will fit easily into the back, where the rear seats are heated too.

Now you see the controls, now you don’t.

Touch-controlled everything.

Too bad I didn’t notice the shadow on the door there, this was almost a good shot.

The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Starting at $37,960
This one $48,850