Ford Inspired By English Luxury?

Inspired may be an understatement.

I've bored anyone who would listen for months now by pointing out how much the new grill design used on the Ford 2013 line of cars resembles Aston Martin's practically perfect exteriors. I've always thought it didn't make sense how little effort more economical car makers spent on design. Why not make a car that looks gorgeous but is affordable to those of us who don't earn a NFL star's salary?

Enter the Hyundai Sonata circa 2008. Problem is they were ripping off the front grill of the Jaguar type-s, which is arguably the ugliest Jag ever produced. Now take some queues from the new Jaguar designs and I'll buy me a Korean car!

Ford has done it right though. I've never even considered a Ford...but I'm keeping an eye on them. Use that grill on the front of a high-powered two-door coupe and this German car fan might make the switch to American.

In case you think I'm full of it, check out these cars side by side. And have a look at the grill on the new Ford Explorer grill versus the Range Rover. Someone over in the Ford design department is an anglophile methinks...

 - Brandt Hoekenga