Ford steals Cadillac CTS designer

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
Max Wolff to become Lincoln Design Director.


Ford's luxury nameplate, Lincoln, is set to welcome a new design director, the first dedicated design director for the brand. The role will be filled by former GM designer Max Wolff, who will head the design team in the new year.

Until Wolff's appointment, Peter Horbury and Moray Callum, Ford's Executive Director of Design, The Americas, oversaw Lincoln-Mercury designs – the two brands were paired before Ford decided to kill off Mercury earlier this year. While Gerry McGovern headed Lincoln-Mercury design for a brief period before becoming director of Advanced Design at Land Rover in 2004, Lincoln itself has never had a design director dedicated solely to the brand.

Wolff brings with him extensive global perspective and luxury design experience; his most recent role was with Cadillac, where he was head of exteriors. The Australian-born designer joined GM's Holden division soon after graduating from Monash University. He later worked at Daewoo in Korea before relocating to Warren, Michigan, working under the direction of Clay Dean, Cadillac's design director. We last caught up with Wolff at the unveiling of the Cadillac XTS Platinum concept, revealed at the 2010 Detroit auto show.

"Max's drive, talent and knowledge of automotive design within the premium segment of the market make him a great addition to the global design team." said J Mays, Ford's chief creative officer and group Design VP. "He is a recognized design leader and has a successful track record in the development of production and concept vehicles, including the Holden SSX show car."

Wolff's appointment signals Ford's plan to accelerate Lincoln's development with more investment and attention to standout product design. He will report to Moray Callum, helping the Lincoln team expand and enhance its brand lineup, which will include seven all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles in the next four years and its first-ever C-segment vehicle.

"Working with a young, motivated and internationally experienced team with the opportunity of taking a brand to the next level is very exciting, as is the opportunity to work with J Mays and Moray Callum," said Wolff.
 
Well, that sounds like a good thing. Likely a better choice than Chris Bangle, anyway. :)
 
As long as they don't make it as fugly as

cadillac-cts-coupe21.jpg
 
As long as they don't make it as fugly as

cadillac-cts-coupe21.jpg

I just saw the coupe in person for the first time this morning when I was dropping the Saxmobile off for service.

While the car is taller then I thought it was going to be... it's dead sexy in person...

I would drive the wheels off one of those... :D

of course, I pretty much drive the wheels off everything I've owned... :p
 
I just saw the coupe in person for the first time this morning when I was dropping the Saxmobile off for service.

While the car is taller then I thought it was going to be... it's dead sexy in person...

I would drive the wheels off one of those... :D

of course, I pretty much drive the wheels off everything I've owned... :p

Yea I saw one at work, I thought it was pretty sweet looking.
 
I like the CTS coupe overall, but I'm not a huge fan of the back end. If it were just a little shorter (less tall, not less long) and had the exhaust tips at the edges I think it would look sweet. I've seen a few of them in person.
 
I'm with you Dave, from the rear wheels forward looks sweet. The back is out of place. I haven't seen one in person though.
 
I'm with you Dave, from the rear wheels forward looks sweet. The back is out of place. I haven't seen one in person though.

You gotta see it in person... it's just not the same as in pics...

saw one on the road a few days ago...
 
Overall, I like the MKT, and the reviews have been favorable. I can't say that I am entirely sold on the name, or the grille yet though..
 
Overall, I like the MKT, and the reviews have been favorable. I can't say that I am entirely sold on the name, or the grille yet though..

True, i may wind up with a Ford Flex. I don't like min vans and i was never an SUV person. I like that both the Flex and MKT have a 3rd row seat that can fit an adult comfortably.
 
True, i may wind up with a Ford Flex. I don't like min vans and i was never an SUV person. I like that both the Flex and MKT have a 3rd row seat that can fit an adult comfortably.

I'm pretty sure the Flex and MKT are the same chassis. The MKT interior is to die for though over the Flex! :)
 
I'm pretty sure the Flex and MKT are the same chassis. The MKT interior is to die for though over the Flex! :)

The flex titanium edition interior is not too shabby with the two tone leather, etc. It is price the will dictate what i can get. And i will have to have the AWD turbo. Maybe at the end of next year i will try to fine a nice certificated pre-owned Flex or MKT. Will need to wait and see how the economy does and if my job situation changes for the better.
With the baby, and having my mother, grandmother, and possibly my in-laws with me next year, having 7 seats will be just what i need.
 
Both the flex and the MKT are expensive as hell. All new cars are though. With the ecoboost either should be a nice car - not blindingly fast, but a great family hauler.

I sat in the Taurus SHO and the MKS at the auto show. Both really nice cars, but I just couldn't see anything in the Lincoln that would make me buy it over the SHO. The SHO is $40k, the MKS is $55k - so there's a big jump there.
 
They are pricey, that i why i will wait and hope to get a deal on a used or CPO. But FORD's are holding their value, not like they are going the depreciate like the town cars of the last decade.


Both the flex and the MKT are expensive as hell. All new cars are though. With the ecoboost either should be a nice car - not blindingly fast, but a great family hauler.

I sat in the Taurus SHO and the MKS at the auto show. Both really nice cars, but I just couldn't see anything in the Lincoln that would make me buy it over the SHO. The SHO is $40k, the MKS is $55k - so there's a big jump there.
 
There is a pretty 2010 pearl red MK whatever wagon thing, here on the cape, 12K, the asking price is 38K, it seems to be pretty loaded...

I only looked at it in passing... black int btw... :D
 
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