Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/694236
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JUNE 2016 VI Motoring FORD'S total vehicle sales and pas- senger car sales in May in its European 20 traditional markets were its best for the month since 2011 while May com- mercial vehicles sales reached highest levels since 2007. Ford's total vehicle sales in its European 22 markets rose 10.1% to 125,800 vehicles in May, with market share down 0.2 percentage point in May at 7.4% and up 1 percentage point year to date at 7.8%. Across all of 50 European markets, Ford vehicles sales increased by 9.9 % to 128,500 vehicles in May. Market share was down 0.2 of a percentage point for the month at 7.4 percent, and flat at 7.7 percent for the first five months of the year. Ford total vehicle sales in its Euro- pean 20 traditional markets in May rose 11.5 percent to 111,700 vehicles, with market share down 0.2 of a percentage point at 7.6 percent, and down for year- to-date 0.1ppts at 8.0 percent. "Our total sales continue to grow by leveraging the healthiest sales chan- nels, such as private retail, fleet and commercial vehicles, and by expanding our sales of nicer trim levels and per- formance vehicles across the range," said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. "We already have one of the fresh- est vehicle line-ups in the industry and are continuing to strengthen our range. Still this year we will bring out the new Kuga mid-size SUV; expand our most premium line with the S-MAX Vignale, Edge Vignale and Kuga Vignale; launch the new Fiesta ST200 hot hatch and all-new KA+ small car; plus offer a freshened Ranger pickup." Ford's sales in higher value sales channels improved in May versus the same month last year, with retail and fleet sales accounting for 73 percent of Ford's car sales in the month, 1 percentage point up on last year and 4.2 percentage points better than the industry average. Commercial vehicles Ford was Europe's No.1 commercial vehicle brand in May and in the first five months of the year. Ford com- mercial vehicle sales in May rose 26 percent and market share rose by 1.3 percentage points to 12.8 percent on increased demand for the expanded Transit range and the Ranger pickup. Ranger sales were up 58 percent, making May 2016 the best May sales result ever for the pickup since its launch in, 1998 and making it the best-selling pick-up in Europe for the month. In total, Ford sold 25,800 com- mercial vehicles in May in its Euro- pean 20 traditional markets. SUVs Kuga had its best-ever May sales with sales of 10,800 – a 45 percent increase on May 2015. EcoSport sales in the month stood at 5,200, doubling sales compared with the same month last year. To date, about 3,100 Euro- pean customers have ordered a Ford Edge prior to the SUV arriving at their local Ford dealerships. Performance cars Combined sales of Ford's perfor- mance line-up – the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Focus ST diesel, Focus RS and Mustang – rose 145 percent in May and 118 percent year-to-date. Focus RS customer order take now stands at 7,600 since last September, while 18,700 orders for Mustang have been placed since the third quarter of 2015. High Specification model sales Sales of higher specification Ford models continued to increase in May. Titanium specification models' sales rose 5 percentage points in Ford's European 22 traditional markets, to 41 percent from 36 percent. Ford's high series models – the Titanium models plus other high series models includ- ing Mondeo Vignale, Fiesta ST, Focus ST petrol and diesel, and Fiesta and Focus Red/Black Editions – accounted for 57 percent of Ford's passenger car sales, up by 2 percentage points from May 2015. The latest additions of high specification sporty models, the Fiesta ST-Line and the Focus ST-Line are now available to order for the first time, with further two ST-Line models to follow before the end of the year. 1,400 days, more than 1,000 sketches, 5,000 kilos of clay and 1,000 litres of paint. These are just some of the fig- ures that go into designing a new model of car. This is a four-year process that begins with the handiwork of an artisan, using pencil and paper, and ends with a finished vehicle on the assembly line. Along the way, life-size clay vehicles are made, new colours and textures are created and the interior of the new car is defined. Briefing To begin with, the guidelines of the new model are drafted and approved. They form the roadmap that will define the car's DNA, so the entire process must follow these indications. Sketches The designers can now start produc- ing preliminary sketches of the new car. Early versions reflect "what we would like it to look like", says Jaume Sala, head of Interior Design at SEAT, ending up with an image of the new vehicle that is "picture perfect". Over the course of four years they produce over 1,000 sketches. Generating the computer-assisted design Once the sketches are made, they are recreated digitally to give volume to the future vehicle. Not only does the document serve for the design of the new car, it is also used for its technical monitoring. Clay model This life-size model weighs four tonnes, twice that of a conventional car. It serves to physically recreate the exte- rior design, and it is constantly shaped to accommodate modifications. This process also involves the handiwork of a master craftsman who smoothes and shapes the model by hand. Frozen model This is the definitive exterior design that is approved by the company. It looks completely real, even though it is still a clay model. Up to 5,000 kilos of clay can be used throughout the entire process until it is frozen. Creating colours The Color&Trim department is in charge of creating the colours used on the interior and exterior of the new model. Their work begins two years in advance by gathering ideas that stem from new developments in "the areas of fashion, architecture or product design", explains Jordi Font, who is responsi- ble for this department at SEAT. Even though they carry out 100 formulations and use 1,000 litres of paint, ultimately only 12 tones will make it to the colour chart for the exterior of the car. Seats Aspects concerning "comfort and good looks" are carefully considered when developing the car seat, assures Jaume Sala. The Color&Trim department is also involved in this part of the process; they use a sewing machine to prepare patterns "that combine the most suitable fabrics and colours", says Jordi Font. Interior design "Everything is driver-oriented", stresses Sala, who also explains that the protagonism of the touchscreen is such that first they decide where to place it and all the rest is secondary. The design of the interior is especially governed by functionality. "We ask our- selves where it would be most conveni- ent to store a mobile phone, glasses or a bottle of water". For this reason, he concludes, the design has to be "useful and efficient". The end result of all these simultane- ous processes is a brand new model. After four years of intense work, the design team is still going strong as a new project is already in the pipeline. SEAT: a car in 1,400 days Ford Europe sales rise 11.5% in May Best May car sales since 2011 and best commercial vehicle sales since 2007