In a release to the media today, Ford explained how the Ford 427 Concept paved the way for the new three-bar grille design that’s starting to appear on many Ford products. The Ford Fusion undoubtedly borrows from the 427, but the end product looks nothing like the concept. Tim Boyd, director of business development for Ford Global Design explained the role of the 427. “It was a creative process that generated the whole three-bar grill design element. It helped make the Fusion such a success that we’re rolling it out on many vehicles throughout the Ford lineup in North America,” he said. The Leftlane Perspective: But is this all Ford plans to do with the 427 concept? If so, then Ford fans will surely be disappointed. The Fusion may be a step forward in terms of design, but the 427 would have been a leap. If Ford wants to effectively challenge vehicles like the Chrysler 300 C and the 2009 Chevy Impala, it’s going to have to get more aggressive with the design of the whole car, not just the grille. There’s no question the Fusion is selling well, but we tend to thing the 427 would have sold even better. See a comparison of the 427 and the Fusion after the jump…
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