New Head of Alfa design
Frank Stephenson is the new Head of the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre
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.
Back off, buddy.
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).
Why oh why can't the Italians try to find a new Franco Scaglione?
I bet it hides under kids beds and makes moaning sounds after lights out.
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.
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