Vignale is the luxury car sub-brand of Ford Motor Company used in automobiles sold in Europe.[1] The former company Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was an Italian automobilecoachbuilder established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin,[2] by Alfredo Vignale (1913–69).[3] After its founder's death in 1969, Carrozzeria Vignale was acquired by De Tomaso (founded by Argentine businessman and race driver Alejandro de Tomaso). The studio ceased operation in 1973, but ownership of the name was taken over by Ford Motor Company (which had majority ownership of De Tomaso).[4]
Since then, Ford has continued to use the name sporadically to the present day. Up to present days, Ford of Europe released Vignale versions of models Mondeo,[5]Edge,[6]Fiesta, Focus, and Kuga, among others.[7]
1959 ad for the Ferrari 340 coupe bodied by Carrozeria Vignale
Also Rodolfo Bonetto designed a couple of cars in the early 1950s before moving to Boneschi. Later Vignale designs were created by Virginio Vairo.[11] Vignale also designed and built cars themselves, usually low volume variants of the main production cars of these automobile manufacturers. Amongst them were 850, Samantha, Eveline and the Vignale Gamine, based on the Fiat 500.[12] In 1968, Vignale designed the body of their last prototype, the Tatra 613. Vignale was taken over by De Tomaso in 1969[2] who already owned Carrozzeria Ghia.[1] Shortly after selling, Alfredo Vignale died in a car crash on November 16, 1969.[10] Both coachbuilders were sold to Ford in 1973 but the Vignale brand was discontinued.
In September 2013, Ford of Europe announced plans to resurrect the Vignale name as an upscale luxury sub-brand of Ford.[14] The cars would be visually distincted from regular Ford products and have an improved dealership experience. Exclusive services, such as free lifetime car washes, will be offered as well. The first Ford model to receive the Vignale name was the 2015 Ford Mondeo.[5] The first model to carry the Vignale brand name was the 2015 Mondeo.[15]
On 1 March 2016 Ford of Europe announced a Kuga Vignaleconcept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show[16] where the company also announced the line-up of Vignale products, S-Max, Edge, and Mondeo Vignale five-door models debut alongside Kuga Vignale Concept, offering a vision of the future of upscale SUVs as well as revealing Vignale Ambassadors and the signature Vignale collection.[17]
Designs
List of cars designed and bodied at Carrozzeria Vignale or coachbuilt to a third-party design.[10]
^Tabucchi, Maurizio (2003). Maserati: The Grand Prix, Sports and GT cars model by model, 1926-2003. Milano: Giorgio Nada Editore s.r.l. p. 246. ISBN8879112600.
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