Long-time Ford designer Patrick Schiavone, the designer of record for the last three generations of the Ford F-150, has resigned, Ford confirmed today. Schiavone will leave his current post, Design Director, Trucks and Crossovers, in early 2010. The official explanation is that he "received a great job opportunity outside the auto industry."
Schiavone has been with Ford for 21 years. In addition to his work on the F-Series, he was heavily involved in the design of the Ford Flex. "I love the 'cool factor' of the Flex," Schiavone said in an October 2009 press release. "It's the only hip three-row vehicle on the planet."
Before he went over to the truck and SUV side of Ford's business, Schiavone had plenty to do with the design of Ford passenger cars.
Most notably, he is credited with the design of the 1994 Ford Mustang, whose retro throwback design (however imprecise a tribute it seems now) lifted the famous nameplate up from the tired Fox-body years.
firstwagon says:
01:50 PM, 12/18/09
I think "cool" and "hip" are a bit of an overstatement. Maybe "offbeat" or "non-mainstream" are better words to use.
brn says:
01:58 PM, 12/18/09
semantics
felonious says:
02:14 PM, 12/18/09
I wonder what he's going to do now. Retire? Go to another American car company? (lol) I'm interested in finding out the rest of this story.
eriches says:
02:29 PM, 12/18/09
@ felonious: Details are few on Schiavone's resignation at this point, but we're tracking the story. Look for a more detailed piece on Auto Observer and in IL news next week. -- Erin Riches
inlinesix says:
02:57 PM, 12/18/09
"It's the only hip three-row vehicle on the planet."
It may be the only boxy 3-row crossover but thats not saying much. Its not hip.
felonious says:
03:10 PM, 12/18/09
It was more of a rhetorical question, but thanks for the reply Erin. :)
greenpony says:
06:28 PM, 12/18/09
Heck, I'd own a Flex if I needed a larger people-transporter. And I *do* own an F-150. (A kick-ass one at that). But I'll have to admit his styling fell short with the mid-90s stang.
p71_crownvic says:
10:37 PM, 12/21/09
Gee...looking at both the F-150 and Flex...I thought this guy was going to look like a drooling 4 year old.
Oh well...no loss for Ford. The Flex is an overpriced xB rip off that has missed it's yearly sales goal by 63,077 units.
And the F-150 is just plain hideous. If Rosanne was a truck...she'd be an F-150.
p71_crownvic says:
10:38 PM, 12/21/09
Interesting though that he took a position at Whirl Pool. I guess they like his appliances at Ford so much they just couldn't pass him up