Vignale is theluxury car sub-brand ofFord Motor Company used in automobiles sold inEurope.[1] The former companyCarrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was an Italianautomobilecoachbuilder 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 byDe Tomaso (founded by Argentine businessman and race driverAlejandro de Tomaso). The studio ceased operation in 1973, but ownership of the name was taken over byFord 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 releasedVignale versions of modelsMondeo,[5]Edge,[6]Fiesta,Focus, andKuga, 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 toBoneschi. Later Vignale designs were created byVirginio 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 theVignale Gamine, based on theFiat 500.[12] In 1968, Vignale designed the body of their last prototype, theTatra 613. Vignale was taken over byDe Tomaso in 1969[2] who already ownedCarrozzeria Ghia.[1] Shortly after selling, Alfredo Vignale died in a car crash on November 16, 1969.[10] Both coachbuilders were sold toFord in 1973 but the Vignale brand was discontinued.
In September 2013,Ford of Europe announced plans to resurrect theVignale 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 theVignale name was the 2015Ford Mondeo.[5]
On 1 March 2016 Ford of Europe announced a KugaVignaleconcept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show[15] where the company also announced the line-up of Vignale products,S-Max,Edge, and MondeoVignale five-door models debut alongsideKuga Vignale Concept, offering a vision of the future of upscale SUVs as well as revealing Vignale Ambassadors and the signature Vignale collection.[16]
^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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