Mazda has now confirmed what Inside Line reported over a month ago. Derek Jenkins, former head of Volkswagen of America's design center, has been named Design Director, Mazda Design Americas.
Jenkins is best known for projects like the Volkswagen GX3 and R-GT concepts.
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estreka says:
01:11 PM, 04/30/09
Interesting choice. I honestly don't think Mazda needs a new head of design....yet.
hondacura4 says:
01:54 PM, 04/30/09
Acura should have hired this guy.
desmolicious says:
02:02 PM, 04/30/09
When Derek was asked where his family was from, he replied:
"We're from France"...
caroftheweek says:
03:07 PM, 04/30/09
@astreka: Mazda's former head of design, Franz von Holzhausen, left the company last August to design cars for Tesla. Their new "Model S" is his first product from that studio.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-neil29-2009apr29,0,7903226.column
http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/03/tesla-model-s-more-concept-car-than-prototype.html
Can you say "universal acclaim"? Mazda's new guy has some big shoes to fill...
billt9 says:
03:27 PM, 04/30/09
Not super big shoes. The design team is only 25 people.
Mazda must think his cone head contains alien technology that will take over the world.
jederino says:
04:18 PM, 04/30/09
I like the GX3, but not because it's attractive. So far, Mazda has been more interesting than the average automaker, and am anxious to see them step out further.
stovt001 says:
05:14 PM, 04/30/09
My only question - will this lead to the new Mazda3 being fixed?
jederino says:
05:20 PM, 04/30/09
^^No, the Mazda3 will be grinning madly for years to come.
billt9 says:
07:40 PM, 04/30/09
Great people have structures shaped after their image.
He will have the Mazda3 grow a cone head and a small beard. The CX-9 already has grown the beard. I'm looking forward to it on the Mazda3.
flicmod says:
05:33 AM, 05/ 1/09
I'm gonna have to go ahead and, uh, agree with hondacura4 on this one.
trackwrex says:
07:28 AM, 05/ 1/09
acura (i third hondacura4) or subaru should've hired him.