Wednesday 13th June 2007

New Head of Alfa design

Frank Stephenson is the new Head of the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre

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Frank now holds the master crayons at Alfa

Alfa Romeo has a new man in charge of the marker pens.

Frank Stephenson is the new Head of the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre, replacing Wolfgang Egger who left earlier this year. He will report directly to recently appointed Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Style for all Fiat Group Automobiles brands and Maserati.

Stephenson was born on 3 October 1959 in Morocco. He has lived and worked in Spain and graduated from the Art Centre College of Design at Pasadena, California. Stephenson speaks Spanish, English, German and Italian, holds a US passport, loves travelling and has a passion for engines.

He joined Ferrari in 2002 where he contributed to the creation of some of the Prancing Horse’s most recent road going models. In April 2005 he was appointed Head of the Fiat, Lancia and Light Commercial Vehicles Styling Centre, a position that he has held until now.

Stephenson will become associated with Alfa’s next arrivals, the MINI - rivalling Junior and the 147 replacement amongst others.

[shoestring7]

Blimey, the head of Alfa Design, following in the steps of Bertone and Farina is called "Frank"!!!?

Can't he at least do the decent thing and change his name to Franco?

SS7

[flattotheboards]

perhaps he can take alfa into a different era for car design for the better ie make even more striking looking cars.

[errek72]

Oh dear, isn't this the guy that designed the 'new' mini and the F430?
Back off, buddy.

[andy_b]

errek72 said:

Oh dear, isn't this the guy that designed the 'new' mini and the F430?
Back off, buddy.

yes, but in the Mini's case, he didn't write the brief that the designers had to stick too

[THE BIG DOG]

Is that a WIG or is that a WIG he's wearing!?

[planetdave]

Which almost distracts you from the arched eyebrow.

Anywho....

How about giving us another 75? You know, something with all the oily bits in the right places except this time in a stylish body and a hint of rustproofing.

[loveice]

errek72 said:

Oh dear, isn't this the guy that designed the 'new' mini and the F430?
Back off, buddy.

And also the X5 MK1. Anyway, within the past 3 years this guy has changed 4 jobs (BMW-Ferrari-Fiat-Alfa)!!! Do this kind of highly paid people have a normal family?

[golders]

this man has bad syle - look at that suit and tie. also his hair is shocking, Alfa are up Sh*t creek once more lol

[sprinter885]

golders said:

this man has bad syle - look at that suit and tie. also his hair is shocking, Alfa are up Sh*t creek once more lol

..and if I'm not mistaken isn't that a check suit with a stripe shirt....very bad form old man !
He needs Trinny & Susanna.

[Hendry]

loveice said:

errek72 said:

Oh dear, isn't this the guy that designed the 'new' mini and the F430?
Back off, buddy.

And also the X5 MK1. Anyway, within the past 3 years this guy has changed 4 jobs (BMW-Ferrari-Fiat-Alfa)!!! Do this kind of highly paid people have a normal family?

He STYLED the MINI, he didn't design it. He is 'only' a stylist - he has to wrap something around hard points that the designers put together. The two roles are quite different: Gordon Murray designed the McLaren F1, Peter Stephens styled it. I am hoping people here are just careless with language rather than not knowing the difference.

I always thought it odd he went to Ferrari, and it seems Fiat agree, hence him having a few roles in the group. Let's hope he finds Alfa fits his work better.

And anyway, stylists move around a fair bit. Gerry McGovern has got through several sets of business cards (MG Rover, Land Rover, Cadillac, can't remember where he is now), as has Walter da Silva (Alfa, SEAT, now Kia I recall).

[Snoggledog]

article said:

In April 2005 he was appointed Head of the Fiat, Lancia and Light Commercial Vehicles Styling Centre

Have you seen the latest breed of Lancias????? With this chap in charge Alfas styling will be truly hideous.

Why oh why can't the Italians try to find a new Franco Scaglione?

[Snoggledog]

Los Angeles said:

Snoggledog said:

With this chap in charge Alfas styling will be truly hideous.

Why? His Mini is a very acceptable modern interpretation of the original. In fact, his successor seems to have screwed up its proportions on the Mini Mark II, and BMW bean counters jettisoned the elegant wrap-around side windows for an ugly ventilation slot.

Bugger. Got me there. I own a mk1 BMW Mini! I still don't like those Lancias though.

[flat16]

The Italians make a lovely head, especially in the case of an Alfa twin-cam with its beautifully sculpted ports. I was quite disappointed with the subject matter when I clicked on this thread

[flat16]

Snoggledog said:

Have you seen the latest breed of Lancias?????

According to sources in Italy, Vincenzo Lancia has been turning in his grave for quite a while now...

[Bonedaddy]

Snoggledog said:

Why oh why can't the Italians try to find a new Franco Scaglione?

Doesn't that translate into......Frank Stephenson

Rob

[Snoggledog]

Bonedaddy said:

Snoggledog said:

Why oh why can't the Italians try to find a new Franco Scaglione?

Doesn't that translate into......Frank Stephenson

Rob

If it does then he needs a good smack on the head...

Franco Scaglione came up with this...


Frank Stephenson came up with this!

[Oddball RS]

Thats a hell of a thread ender.

[planetdave]

Snoggledog said:

Is it the bastard lovechild of a Rover 75 and a Granada Scorpio?

I bet it hides under kids beds and makes moaning sounds after lights out.

[GAGA]

planetdave said:

Snoggledog said:

Is it the bastard lovechild of a Rover 75 and a Granada Scorpio?

I bet it hides under kids beds and makes moaning sounds after lights out.

Sorry, you all talk just bs... Frank designed nothing at Lancia since 2005. The Thesis was launched in 2002...playing around with two-tone colours has nothing to do with "design" (Hell, even Ferrari sold some 612's with two-tone colours). Lancia played around with different colours and interior designs/materials, 'cos they had nothing new to offer (beside of the new Ypsilon in 2003) and no really new car since then (the Lancia Musa is just a tarted up Fiat Idea). The only design genius at Lancia, who designed the Lancia Fulvia concept car in 2003, left Lancia one or two years ago and is now working for Volkswagen.
Hell, Frank even didn't design the new Lancia HPE/Delta (will come in 2008/2009). The new HPE/Delta was even sent (some weeks/month ago) back to drawing board,'cos his "Fiatness" Sergio Marchionne, wasn't happy with it...


I know it will shock you, but you don't have to be italian in order to make beautiful cars.... just guess who designed the Alfa Romeo 8C. His name is "Wolfgang Egger", yes a German guy who was Alfa Romeos chief designer and he was also responsible for the Alfa 156 and not "Walter de Silva" (yes, de Silva was back then chief-designer at Alfa Romeo, but he didn't design the AR 156)...
And who designed the DeTomaso Pantera...? Yes, it was Tom Tjaarda, a bloke from the USA...( by the way, he designed also the first Ford Fiesta (1976))

Please stop talking about "design", when you talk about the new MINI. BMWs order was just : "How would the Mini look like, if it had gone through some steps of design evolution in all the years till today, like the Porsche 911 ?" Frank just fulfilled their wish with the the best result...nothing really special... This has nothing to do with designing from scratch a complete new car.

[sprinter885]

Well, I think that's told you then...
GAGA-you're not by any chance related to Frank ??

p.s. ...still say the guy could do with a personal stylist.

Edited by sprinter885 on Friday 15th June 09:33