Parent company Fiat has made Frank Stephenson head of the Alfa Romeo Styling Centre. Stephenson was responsible for the design of Ferrari’s F430 and 612 Scaglietti supercars. He also worked at BMW, where he designed the X5 and the new Mini.
In April 2005 he was appointed Head of the Fiat, Lancia and Light Commercial Vehicles Styling Centre, a position that he has held until today.
Stephenson will report directly to recently appointed Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Head of Style for all Fiat Group Automobiles brands and Maserati.
He replaces Wolfgang Egger, who was responsible for the design of the new Alfa 8C Competizione and Alfa 159 sedan.
Stephenson was born on 3 October 1959 in Morocco. He has lived and worked in Spain and graduated from the Art Center College of Design at Pasadena, California.
06/13, 10:00 AM
posted by:
eam3
So what happened to Wolfgang Egger? I think the Alfa 159 and the AR 8C were beautiful cars in their own right.
06/13, 10:05 AM
posted by:
Syrax
^^true, and i’m still waiting for the 159 GTA
06/13, 10:28 AM
posted by:
gbb
612 Ferrari = the most beautiful thing to ever roll on wheels.
06/13, 10:29 AM
posted by:
purdue
sounds like he has a good portfolio. Those cars (except the X5) are nice designs.
06/13, 11:00 AM
posted by:
Eurolion
W. Egger moved to Audi. LLN, the 159 is based on a Giugiaro design, despite having cooperation from Alfa’s centro stile, probably both designs were merged.
06/13, 11:27 AM
posted by:
jonnycat
Crazy. Too bad a domestic firm couldn’t hire either one of those guys.
06/13, 11:32 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
Alfa Romeo will have the sexiest cars in the repair shop
06/13, 12:16 PM
posted by:
LP640
#
612 Ferrari = the most beautiful thing to ever roll on wheels.
Comment by gbb, posted on June13 at 10:28 am
612 ferrari doesnt look that good. its an amazing GT, comfortable, powerful and much, much better than anything else out there but it doesnt look that good. Could definetly do with a good aggressive restyling.
Since when did Alfa need designers?? They already have good designers take a look at the Brera.
06/13, 12:35 PM
posted by:
meanpants555
But all of these designers just hop around, they only seem to work a few years at any marque.
06/13, 1:00 PM
posted by:
sunshine1810
I hope that Alfa Romeo will not have ugly cars like Ferrari does. I liked the Ferrari 360 much better in terms of design than the 430 even though the 430 is a better driving car. The 612 I think is one of the ugliest Ferrari’s in its history. Even the mighty 599 GTB isn’t the nicest on the eyes but it is much better looking than the 612. Now I can’t predict the future but I do think Alfa’s beautiful new cars will sell better than Frank Stephenson’s designs. My post is based on my opinions. I hope that both Alfa and Ferrari will succeed in their designs.
06/13, 1:04 PM
posted by:
deantj
^^ Agreed. The 360 was gorgeous. The 430 looks a little awkward.
Hopefully this guys will fix Alfa’s perennial design problem, which is a beautiful overall shape scarred by a weak, timid face bracketed by tiny headlights.
06/14, 6:41 AM
posted by:
55amg
I think the 360 wasn’t a good looking car but the 430 is and 612 is hideous. As for the 599 i think its the best looking car in the range right now.
06/14, 11:03 AM
posted by:
GBilbo070
agreed i thought the 360 looked too much, almost like a kit car.
06/14, 11:53 AM
posted by:
Syrax
for me after the 550 barchetta and the 575M ferrari died…
06/14, 1:19 PM
posted by:
eam3
^^ Could not agree more. I love Ferraris and I know they’ve gotten mechanically better. But styling has definitely gone downhill since the demise of the Maranello. Whereas previous Ferraris looked like they were designed with passion the current batch looks like they were molded by a wind tunnel. Efficient? Yes, but hardly as stunning as their previous offerings.
06/14, 2:17 PM
posted by:
LP640
i think the F430 is very good looking, 360 is quite good, 612 is just pig ugly and 599 could have done better but its still good enough
06/14, 7:31 PM
posted by:
Toy Yoda
Wolfgang Egger penned the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, one extremely sexy looking car. Alfa should have kept him. That’s the bad news, not Frank Stephenson coming to Alfa. On the other hand, Audi has Egger, goodnews for Audi.
06/15, 8:13 AM
posted by:
Syrax
^^let’s hope he got there in time to put his hands in the B8 A4.