Ford has plans to bring to market an upscale trim level for European models that it’s calling Vignale. To give us an idea of just what Vignale entails, the Dearborn-based manufacturer is bringing a pair of concepts to this year’s Frankfurt auto show: the Mondeo Vignale concept—in both sedan and wagon forms. Fitted with a unique front fascia, a high-gloss grille, abundant chrome décor, and an exquisitely crafted interior, these concepts leave our European correspondents very eager to experience the real thing when the trim level hits the market in early 2015.
Beyond the enhanced equipment level, Ford promises to offer a unique level of service. The experiential highlight of the Vignale treatment must be free carwashes for a lifetime, but we suppose that air-travel services, rewards points, a leather document wallet, and “a dealer principal greeting on the handover of (the) new car” aren’t necessarily terrible things, either. In some ways, the Vignale package reflects the Lincoln Black Label offerings previewed at Pebble Beach earlier this year, but the level of refinement in the interior seems even higher in the upper-echelon Euro trim.
The Vignale nameplate essentially picks up where Ghia left off, with some extra content and service. Ford did away with the Ghia trim level, which denoted Ford’s upscale offerings for decades, just two years ago. The move is an interesting twist of automotive history, as Ghia, an Italian design house, actually had snatched up coachbuilder Vignale in 1969, only to be sold to Ford a year later.
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The Ghia moniker, we were told two years ago, had become “stale” and “associated with old people.” It was therefore replaced with the generic “Titanium” trim level. Back then, we were also told that Ford would come up with a different strategy for its upscale models. Welcome back, Vignale.
Source: CarAndDriver
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