Irish Ford Vignale Magazine | Launch Issue by Ford Europe - Ford Vignale Magazine

INTERVIEW

CHARLIZE THERON

STYLE & SUBSTANCE PAGE 22.

EDITORIAL WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF FORD VIGNALE

t’s my pleasure to introduce the Ford Vignale magazine. In this issue we have a feature on the Ford Vignale Mondeo, already in

selected FordStores across Europe and the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car, the production version of which will be in selected FordStores next year. But in addition to these, I honestly believe that with the Ford Vignale brand we are witnessing a new approach to the driver experience. Ford Vignale reflects a philosophy we’ve developed at Ford about what you, the discerning modern driver, want from your car. Luxury but also efficiency, an experience that’s sophisticated yet smart. In other words, Ford Vignale is there to support the lifestyle of people like yourself. For whom time is at a premium, but who don’t believe that means you have to compromise on the good things in life. I know because I feel the same way myself. The Ford Vignale experience is about more than the car. It’s also about a premium service that includes your own personal Vignale Relationship Manager and Service Specialist. Removing the potential inconvenience of, for instance, arranging and getting to your next service, which frees up time for more life-enriching experiences. So it’s no coincidence the magazine you’re holding is so focused on time. From time-saving tips for the modern city, to how one of Europe’s top chefs deals with time, stress and teamwork. But also how to spend all that saved time, for example with a (timeefficient) trip to one of Europe’s hippest cities. In design terms, I feel both the Ford Mondeo Vignale and Ford S-MAX Vignale reflect perfectly a contemporary, premium lifestyle. Talking of design, this issue includes an interview with Ford designer Sonja Vandenberk, where she discusses her work on the design of the Ford Vignale – specifically the colours and the materials – and reveals where, in everyday life, she discovers inspiration. Back on the time theme, it’s also no coincidence Charlize Theron is our cover interview. She’s a prolific actress who still manages to take career breaks. We could probably all learn a thing or two about time management from this iconic yet down-to-earth star. I hope you enjoy reading this magazine as much as we did putting it together. For me it marks the dawn of a fresh chapter in Ford’s history, the Ford Vignale chapter. I’m delighted you’re here to experience it with us from the outset.

Jim Farley CEO Ford Europe

In anticipation of the Ford S-MAX Vignale, here is the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car. On the one hand, sporty, spacious and equipped with the very latest innovations and smartest technology. On the other, designed right down to the smallest detail with painstaking commitment to the finest traditions of craftsmanship. Your chance to get a closer look starts on page 38.

Vehicle shown may not represent full UK or Ireland specification.

12 AT YOUR SERVICE

Famous Valencia chef (and Ford Mondeo Vignale driver) Ricard Camarena and FordStore Vignale Relationship Manager Pablo Vidal share their passion: serving customers. Plus: Three Vignale Relationship Managers tell all about the very special Ford Vignale services.

08 26 38 4

Ford Vignale

WORLD OF FORD Automotive and mobility news & trends.

THE AUTONOMOUS CAR Step by step Ford is working towards the car that drives itself.

FORD VIGNALE TO THE MAX With its seven seats, the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car is spacious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but this car is also a perfect combination of beauty and technology.

44 53

MOVEMENT Where film, fashion, dance and Ford Vignale come together.

MAKING TIME COUNT How innovators are finding ways to give you more of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most precious commodity.

CONTENTS

46 30 34

COOL CITY Compact; brimming with great culture; restaurants and shops; a vibrant nightlife – Copenhagen has it all.

‘HARMONY IS THE KEY WORD’

MATERIAL MAN

Ford Vignale designer Sonja Vandenberk

He is a major source of inspiration

about her endless search for the finest

for the Ford design team: Peter

materials and the perfect paint in order to

Zumthor, the master architect

create the beautiful car.

who’s also a master craftsman

Plus: Ford Vignale craftsmanship – it’s all in

with a deep appreciation of the

the detail.

finest materials.

Publisher: Ford Europe www.ford-vignale.com Produced by: Pelican Custom Delflandlaan 4 1062 EB AMSTERDAM The Netherlands +31 20 7581000 www.pelicancustom.com Pelican Custom: Frank Kloppert, Jeannette Stavorinus, Raymond van Buuren, Elizabeth Zesjkova, Sofie Vermooten, Marieke de Vries Editors in Chief: Catherine Blee (Ford Europe), Hans Verstraaten Art Director: Jaap Sinke Associate Art Directors: Mervyn Hall, Danny van den IJssel (coordination) Editors: Nicky Bouwmeester, Tom Collingridge, Jenny Davis/IFA, Jens Holierhoek, Lieke Lemmens, André Nientied, Alexander Schlangen, Edwin Winkels Copy Editors: Diane Baumann, Peter McSean

22 CHARLIZE THERON

On her life as an exceptionally busy actress and activist – and how she takes time to relax.

Images: Rob van Hazendonk, Michael Jefferson, David de Jong, Sander Nagel, Adam Quest, Christian Rolfes, Edwin Walvisch, Georges van Wensveen, CopenhagenMediaCenter, Getty Images, Hollandse Hoogte, iStockphoto LP Advertising Director: Paul Laurey (Pelican Media) Production Management: Daniëlle van Tol Copyright Ford Vignale Magazine is published by Ford Europe. If you have any suggestions, questions or comments, please contact Pelican Custom by email: info@pelicanmedia.nl. Thank you for your feedback. No part of this publication may be reproduced and/ or published by print, photocopy, audiorecording, publishing on the Internet or in any other way whatsoever without the prior written consent of Ford Europe and Pelican Custom.

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FORD VIGNALE,

PROUD SPONSOR OF VALENCIA SAILING WEEK 6

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WORLD OF FORD

From 19th until 23rd May, Valencia celebrated the Ford Vignale Valencia Sailing Week. Ford Vignale is proud to support and be the logistics partner of this prestigious event, which takes places in the ‘hometown’ of Ford Vignale Valencia. This is where the Ford Mondeo Vignale is built in the Almussafes factory and production will commence shortly on the Ford S-MAX Vignale. Being the host of the first race of the 2015 52 Super Series (the monohull inshore race class) feels natural for Ford. The key attributes of the competing boats – they’re lightweight, fast and innovative – are closely related to the high-end technology that benefits a Ford Vignale. The presence of Ford in the world of sailing is not new. In the 1970s, Ford sponsored the legendary America´s Cup, the world’s oldest boat race, which dates back to 1851. When the 32nd and 33rd editions of the America´s Cup were held in Valencia, Ford was also present as a logistics partner. Ford looks back at a thrilling sailing week in Valencia. It saw the Swedish team of Rán Racing win the the first race of the world’s leading 52 Super Series – a competition between 12-strong international teams in a total of five races. After 11 rounds in the Valencia waters, the TP52 world champions of 2013 scored a total of 45 points. Following the Cascais Cup, the overall winner of this year’s 52 Super Series will be crowned.

Ford Vignale

“ My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time” - Steve Jobs

The sound of art The Connected Canvas is not your average work of art hanging on the wall. It’s not only nice to look at, it’s also great to listen to. The canvas is a speaker that can stream your choice of music or when you select the Play Art Mode, music and sounds composed by its artist. Prices start at £ 640. soundwall.co.uk

And the winner is… red Already more than 1.1 million Europeans have configured their Ford Mustang online. Their favorite exterior paint colour is clear: Race Red. Absolute Black comes second and Deep Impact Blue third. In China, too, Race Red is top of the list, while in the United States Black is the chart topper.

Smart luggage… After an exhausting flight, the last thing you need is to wait by the luggage carrousel for a suitcase that never arrives. So Samsung and Samsonite are working together on their own line of smart luggage. Every piece of luggage will be equipped with a chip that can be tracked by a smartphone using GPS technology. So its whereabouts will never be a mystery again. www.dufl.com

…Smarter luggage Losing your suitcase is also impossible when you use Dufl. Dufl is, in the maker’s own words, a ‘premium baggage handling service’. When you subscribe you get a suitcase that you pack with the clothes you normally take on a business trip. Dufl then stores the bag for you. Every time you fly to a meeting, you share your schedule through the Dufl app. Your bag with your clothes is sent to your hotel and picked up afterwards. The contents of your suitcase are then cleaned, ready for the next trip. Pretty convenient. (10 US dollars a month for storage, 3-day shipping costs 99 US dollars). The Dufl services are not yet available in Europe.

Ford Vignale

WORLD OF FORD

A stressful day not at the office The Ford European Commuter Survey produced some remarkable findings. 5,503 commuters in Barcelona, Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris and Rome were asked what is more stressful: your job or getting to it. 26 per cent found commuting stressful, compared to only 23 per cent who found work stressful. Earlier research had already discovered that commuters in Rome travel on average 111 minutes per journey, followed by 104 minutes in London and 100 minutes in Madrid. Ford conducted the survey as part of Ford Smart Mobility, Ford’s plan to help change the way the world moves through innovation in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience and big data. According to Andreas Ostendorf, Vice President Sustainability,

Environment & Safety Engineering, Ford of Europe, the survey findings show that it’s time to rethink how we deal with commuting. “For many people, it can feel like they’ve done a full day before they have even set foot in the office. Society is becoming increasingly urban, with cities growing in size and number and we need a transport infrastructure that can keep pace with that expansion. Protecting the freedom of mobility requires more than just new train routes and roads. We all have to work together on a network of interconnected and sustainable solutions.”

Saving up Ford is pushing the limits of downsizing. Experiments at the Ford European Research Centre in Aken showed that the 1.0-litre EcoBoost-engine can reduce fuel consumption by up to 6 per cent by using cylinder deactivation technologies. In smooth driving conditions there is no need for all cylinders to work simultaneously. One of the cylinders will turn off temporary, which will lead to greater fuel efficiency. “Even for an aggressively downsized engine such as the 1.0-litre EcoBoost, a significant improvement in vehicle fuel economy is found by exploiting cylinder deactivation” explains Andreas Schamel, Ford director, Global Powertrain, Research & Advanced Engineering.

What is more stressful?

job

5,503

commuting

Commuters travel time

Rome

London

Madrid

Ford Vignale

I N T U I T I V E LY DE S IG N E D A R O U N D YO U

New Business Class

Experience the perfect space for work, play and relaxation with the New Business Class on Singapore Airlines. An all-in-one business panel with in-seat power supply keeps you plugged in, while convenient stowage areas keep your belongings within easy reach. The 28-inch wide seat features new reclining positions for maximum comfort and transforms into a fully flat bed for a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest. Every feature is thoughtfully designed with you in mind.

WORLD OF FORD

World’s most innovative Ford has been declared ‘Most innovative volume brand 2015’ at the Automotive Innovations Awards. The competition was stiff, with 53 automotive brands competing, but Ford won the award for its safety and driver assistance systems, including innovations such as Active Park Assist and Active City Stop. The new Ford Focus was first in its class, while the Ford Mondeo achieved a top-3 ranking in its segment.

Handle on Mobility The Ford Smart Mobility plan has recently been extended to include The Handle on Mobility experiment. This experiment investigates how electric bicycles can help daily commuters travel faster, safer, healthier and with less stress. The study will also focus on how businesses in city centres can use e-bikes to deliver their goods or services faster. Two different e-bikes - one designed for commuters, the other for businesses - were used in the experiment. The commuter e-bike, for example, can easily fold into the trunk of your Ford while charging. Using SYNC compatibility, the bike can also communicate with its user. Faced with congestion up ahead, the driver simply

parks their car and switches to their e-bike. The built-in app lists possible journeys then provides step-by-step or turn-by-turn navigation. Not only bike journeys will be shown. When necessary, other modes of transport, such as trains can be recommended. The app also updates the route as circumstances change.

Tiny engine Big winner The Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost did it again. For the eighth time in just four years it is awarded for its drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology. The Ford 1.0-litre EcoBoost is named the “Best Engine Under 1.0-litre” at the 2015 International Engine of the Year Awards. After being crowned “Best New Engine” in 2012 and overall winner in 2013 and 2014, it is the fourth consecutive win at the Engine of the Year awards. According to the jury - a panel of 87 automotive journalists from 35 countries - “Ford’s 1.0-litre EcoBoost remains one of the finest examples of engine downsizing.” The three-cylinder 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is available with 100 PS, 125 PS and 140 PS.

Ford Vignale

AT YOUR SERVICE Ricard Camarena, owner of four restaurants and gastronomic guru is considered the best Michelin-starred chef in Valencia. During a spin in a Ford Mondeo Vignale, handed to him by Vignale Relationship Manager Pablo Vidal, he reveals the secrets of craftsmanship, creativity and leadership and explains how to manage time and still offer a high quality experience.

ou might not think so, but Ricard and Pablo have many things in common. Not only that they both live and work in Valencia. They are both full of passion, wanting to be the best in their field and they both grew up surrounded by the things they’re doing now. 41 year-old Chef Ricard Camarena had to prepare lunches and dinners at home when he was only eight years

Ford Vignale

old because both his parents were out working all day. While 34 year-old Pablo Vidal, Vignale Relationship Manager in Catarroja, 10 minutes south of Valencia’s city centre, grew up amongst the Ford cars that his father sold throughout his career and as a little boy admired the Probe, Puma and Scorpio gleaming in his father’s showroom.

THE VIGNALE EXPERIENCE

Ford Vignale Relationship Manager, Pablo Vidal guides chef Ricard Camarena through the ins and outs of the Ford Mondeo Vignale. Ford Vignale

Ricard Camarena selecting vegetables for that evening’s dinner.

Ricard Camarena:

‘ It’s important that people see that you’re devoted to them’

Both young men push themselves to make sure their clients return, leaving their ‘showrooms’ completely satisfied after their latest experience. “It’s important,” explains Ricard, “that people see that you’re devoted to them. When they come to your restaurant, they come for you. That means that you have to dedicate to them all the time they need and want. You have to show passion for them. I can’t be at all my restaurants at the same time, but all of my team are

representing me and have to act the same way as I do towards the client.” A view not so different from the Ford Vignale way of thinking. “When I get a new client,” says Pablo, “I spend all the time with them that they need. If that’s an hour, it’s an hour: the client decides how long it takes. I make them feel comfortable. First offering them a drink, then explaining everything they want to know.’ Cooking

This morning Pablo Vidal picked up Ricard Camarena at his home to drive him to the FordStore and hand over a brand new Ford Mondeo Vignale. The top chef then enjoyed a ride through Valencia, stopping at the spots where he can find, touch, taste and buy the essentials of his culinary art. First the beautiful Central Market where he buys fresh fish, meat, and some fruit and vegetables. Then to just outside the city to the ‘huerta’, the big vegetable gardens where specially-selected farmers grow organic vegetables for him. “I tell them the exact moment I will want them to harvest the courgette, aubergine or cucumber and the size they need to be.” Camarena’s cooking is based on using vegetables as his primary product.

Ford Vignale

A local farmer holding up a cucumber flower.

Ford Vignale

Pablo Vidal:

‘ I spend all the time with a client that they need’

Ricard Camarena:

‘ I’m still learning to manage my time perfectly’

“The ‘materia prima’ is very important, the product has to be perfect,” explains the chef. “The selection of the product, the way you touch it and use it, that is an artisan’s work. The product is different every day, so you have to treat it differently; it’s alive. A machine couldn’t do that.” Instead of a machine, Ricard has his talent, and a wonderful team of 60 workers across his four restaurants: the Michelin-starred restaurant that bears his name, the more informal Canalla Bistro around the corner, the gastro bar in the Central Market and the brand new Habitual, just near the ‘lab’ where he develops new recipes. “I select my team first on their personality. They have to be able to work in a group, to be social. It’s a hard job, I work 16 hours a day, but it gives me huge satisfaction.” As the leader, he’s the one who controls everything. Or almost. “I decide on the food we make. I’m the leader, yes. I think that’s something natural, you can’t learn that. But I’m not a leader who yells in the kitchen, who’s always angry... When you shout, it’s a sign you’ve lost control. You have to support your team, pushing them a little bit, but very naturally.’

Time is the jewel

During those 16 hours of work, Ricard Camarena doesn’t have much time for other things. During his leisure time he wants to maximize the time with his wife and two sons. Which makes the Ford Vignale concept ideal for him, claims Pablo Vidal. “Vignale drivers can call me on my direct number. I’ll visit their home or office to pick up their car for a service or repairs. I’ll liaise with the repairmen. There’s no middle man, no waiting time. In fact there’s even a 24/7 hotline for Vignale customers. That’s our idea of ‘time is the jewel’.” Pablo has a degree in business management and worked in a bank and an advertising agency before recently joining Ford. His experience in clients servicing helps him in this new job. “I spend time with the client, welcome them into the special Vignale lounge and provide solutions to their needs. Everybody cares about time, because it’s very valuable.” The Ford Vignale concept ‘Time is the jewel’ means Ricard Camarena doesn’t have to sacrifice the rare but precious moments he has with his two sons, in the morning when he takes them to school. “But I’m still learning to manage my time perfectly,” he says. “I can always use some help with that.” Ford Vignale

Three Vignale Relationship Managers tell who they are and what makes their job so special.

‘I give customers space’ ANDREAS PETERS Autohaus Tobaben, Hamburg, Germany

Andreas Peters loves tranquility and space and he ensures his customers get both at Autohaus Tobaben in Hamburg.

“I

like to play golf. I’m not really good at it, but what counts for me is the relaxation and nature. For a while you can forget the world. It gives me energy and inspiration for my personal life and for my work at Autohaus Tobaben in Hamburg. It’s a flexible familyowned company and I’ve enjoyed working there for nine years now. As a Relationship Manager I’m responsible for Ford Vignale.” “The role suits me perfectly. You have to be able to recognise what people want and give them space to make their own, well-considered decision. I see it as a form of service. It’s in my nature. Sales managers who force a sale shoot themselves in the foot. The customer will leave feeling unhappy and probably won’t return. Recently, I had to buy a couple of new golf clubs. I could have done it easily online but I got such good advice in a shop that I bought them there. I felt welcome.” “I think it’s the same when buying a car. Anyone interested in Ford Vignale should feel welcome in the Vignale Lounge. They should be able to appraise the car, touch it and feel free to ask important questions. This takes time, but everyone gets that from me.” “There’s so much to discover in this premium lounge. Materials, colours, comfort, technical aspects – you name it. A customer might possibly miss a few things on his or her own, but together we can ensure that exploring Ford Vignale becomes an experience.”

Ford Vignale

THE VIGNALE EXPERIENCE

‘It’s all about respect’ PIERRE VITRÉ

Courtoise Automobiles, Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône, France

Pierre Vitré loves to take client services to a higher level. He also enjoys planes, both flying them and jumping out of them.

“F

eeling part of the wind – that’s what I like most about parachute jumping. Far from being a solitary sport, it’s all about sharing emotions with friends who are jumping with you. The funny thing is that you don’t even have to speak. Back on the ground, you feel like you have journeyed together forever.” “It is a similar human interaction with clients that makes me passionate about my work as a Ford Vignale Relationship Manager in Saint-Ouen-l’Aumône near Paris. Getting to know clients better to understand personal tastes and needs – it’s all very rewarding to me. I always try to give them the same feeling they’d have in a luxury hotel, where the staff recognise you immediately and put flowers in your room. If it’s done with sincerity, clients feel special and understood.” “I always try to think of little gestures that can make our service truly personal. Like sending clients a photograph of the very first moment they sat in their brand-new car and drove away. Or pre-programming the car radio with music stations that I know my client will like.” “It is all about respect, not only for the clients tastes but also for their time, which is obviously very precious. Ford Vignale encompasses several high-level services that accommodate that, like collecting the client’s car for servicing and returning it. I personally even like to think in terms of offering a ‘time bubble’ to clients who come to our showroom. It is similar to when I play with my two boys at home: the time I give to them is exclusively dedicated to our personal exchanges, and nothing else can interfere.”

Ford Vignale

‘I join the dots’ STACEY CONNELLY TrustFord, Barnsley, United Kingdom

As a busy father of two, passionate snowboarder and Vignale Relationship Manager, Stacey Connelly knows the value of saving customers time.

“I

’m father to two adrenalin junkies, aged 10 and six and I’m also passionate about my hobbies, which include travel and snowboarding. I’m equally passionate about my work as a Vignale Relationship Manager.” “Saving my customers time is important to me. On the service side, home visits do that. But it’s also about building a relationship with my customers and knowing their circumstances and preferences. With me as their single point of contact they don’t have to explain their issue three times. Just tell me and I’ll join the dots. In that way, service and time-saving go hand in hand.” “I love keeping up with the latest developments in design and technology. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about the Ford Mondeo Vignale. The new design lines, grille, cockpit – the whole styling is so absolutely bang-on. At my dealership we always try to give great service to all customers, obviously. But with Ford Vignale, that commitment and attention goes further. We address a customer’s individual problem with a personalised solution.” “I’ve lived in Barnsley, in Northern England all my life and I don’t need to go to a luxury brand store to enjoy great customer service. I’ve got two basset hounds and when I walk over to my local pub for a quiet drink, the landlord can see me coming through a window opposite the bar. When I arrive, my favourite pint is on the bar waiting for me and the landlord is standing with a dog biscuit in each hand. At that moment, I feel like I’m the only customer who matters. That’s the feeling I want to create for my Ford Vignale customers.”

Ford Vignale

THE VIGNALE EXPERIENCE

‘We will offer the cherry on the cake’

Ford Vignale customers have access to a world of exclusive services. One of these is the special Ford Vignale One Call Service: a dedicated support team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to resolve any enquiry or potential concern. The service is available to all Ford Vignale customers throughout the 21 markets in Europe.

Christian Gondek is a Ford Vignale One Call Manager in Germany and has been working for Ford for 11 years. “The Ford Vignale is all about premium cars, so we approach our customers in a premium way. Ford Vignale One Call is unique: we are the only automotive brand to offer such a premium service. We have specialist advisors who can be contacted 24/7 via a single phone number. All team members have a business or technical degree and experience in customer service. We genuinely cherish and appreciate the time a customer spends with us and our main focus is on meeting Vignale customers’ needs and giving them an enhanced experience. For example, we can offer advice on our cars, or organise a test drive or add service assistance. And we can also arrange a visit to a FordStore – at which point we don’t just give the customer the FordStore number, but we actually arrange an appointment, at a time that suits him/her best, right there and then. We will offer the so-called cherry on the cake.”

Florence Jazé works as a Ford Vignale One Call Manager in France. She joined Ford four years ago. “I think this is such an exciting project. We launched the Ford Vignale One Call Service together with the introduction of Ford Vignale. We have spent the last few months refining our processes and implementing the project on different levels. Our main goal is to satisfy the Ford Vignale customer, whatever his/ her request. Ford Vignale customers are often busy people whose time is of the essence. So we make things easier for them. A request or problem reported at the Ford Vignale One Call Service is handled as quickly as possible and by just one advisor from the initial call right through until this Ford Vignale customer is satisfied. We try to make it personal: Ford Vignale customers will get to know the person on the other end of the line and won’t be shunted from pillar to post. If necessary, the Ford Vignale One Call advisor can quickly get in touch with the customer’s Vignale Relationship Manager at the FordStore or dealer to help in handling his/her request. Ideally we hope to get very few calls, as that would suggest our Ford Vignale customers are happy. But if someone does need us, we’ll provide them with a very high level of service and frequent contact.”

Ford Vignale

THE VIGNALE INTERVIEW

Charlize Theron Style & substance

Ferocious as the bald and bold Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, Charlize Theron turned 40 this summer. But the multiple awardwinning actress doesn’t care about getting older: “I’m just going to let it happen. My life is in a really good place.”

lthough Charlize Theron started her career as a dancer and model, she’s not afraid to get ugly in movies. She gained 30lbs to convincingly play serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003), a role that won her the Oscar for Best Actress. And when she decided to shave her head for her part as the fierce Imperator, Furiosa, in George Miller’s post-apocalyptic action movie Mad Max: Fury Road she handled the electric clippers herself. “To survive in this underworld place, Furiosa just has to be almost forgotten as a woman. So I thought: ‘What if I shave my head?’ I didn’t have clippers, so my friend bought me some. He said: ‘You should do it.’ So 45 minutes later, it was off and we sent a selfie to George Miller. He wrote back: ‘Awesome, Furiosa!’’’ The extreme haircut had an unexpected advantage. “Suddenly, I was 20 minutes early for everything in my life,” she laughs. “It’s unbelievable how much time we spend on our hair!”

Direct

Originally the South African-born Theron moved to the US to pursue a career as a dancer and model but she was forced to quit dancing due to a knee injury. She was ‘discovered’ as an actress by an agent who witnessed her creating a scene in a bank when she couldn’t cash a $500 cheque from her mother. “I’m nice and polite, but I don’t know when to shut up. I am honest and direct and sometimes people can take that kind of harshly.”

‘ I learnt not to plan too much ahead because you can’t control your destiny. So I’ve never had a five-year plan’

Ford Vignale

Charlize Theron with her friend for 18 years, Sean Penn, who directed her in The Last Face. For a year and a half they were also a couple.

Shortly after being signed she landed a small part in 2 Days in the Valley (1996) and soon after starred in The Devil’s Advocate (1997) and The Cider House Rules (1999). A star was born – in just a few years. She was – and is – considered a natural. Directors love her for her discipline, her focus on her role, her sound suggestions for changing scenes and dialogue. She knows what acting is: not so much a glamorous job as plain hard work. Teamwork. Nowadays, the much sought-after actress alternates parts in big budget movies like Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) with low-budget movies like the thriller Dark Places (2015), an art house drama about a woman surviving the brutal killing of her family as a child. It’s a trauma that’s chillingly close to the bone for Theron: when she was fifteen she witnessed her mother shoot – and kill – her abusive father in self-defence. 24

Ford Vignale

“Dark Places examines what trauma does to a child. I had a very traumatic experience in my life but I’m not haunted by it. I had a mother who led me through the grief, shock and anger and guided me towards not being a victim. She taught me to be a strong woman. Above all, my father’s death taught me that life is short and you have to make the most of it. I learnt not to plan too much ahead because you can’t control your destiny. So I’ve never had a five-year plan.” Activist

Theron definitely didn’t plan to fall in love with the 15-year-older Sean Penn, who recently directed her in The Last Face. “We’d known each other for 18 years before our relationship turned romantic. We were just really good friends, so I really didn’t see it coming. We took it slow because we were aware that we could lose the friendship.” The couple split up this

spring and are once more what they were throughout those 18 years: really good friends. Charlize is also a happy mum since adopting her son Jackson in 2012. “You don’t realise that you have so much love inside you until you become a mother. Now life is about finding a balance between having the life I want and being there for my son.” Besides being an actress and a mother, she is also an activist. She shares her love with the world through her many good causes. In 2007 she created the Charlize Theron Outreach Project, to support African youth in the fight against HIV and AIDS. A year later she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace by UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon for her dedication “to improve the lives of women and children in South Africa and to prevent and stop violence against women and girls”.

CHARLIZE THERON: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Apart from that, Theron is an active member of animal rights organisation PETA and appeared in an anti-fur campaign. She has also marched in pro-choice rallies and is a supporter of same-sex marriage. She has publicly stated that she refuses to get married until same-sex marriage is legal in all of the US. The fact that she turned 40 in August doesn’t bother Theron at all, although Hollywood has very rigid ideas about the expiry date of actresses. “The younger we are, the more valuable we are. But our faces and bodies change. That’s life, and I’m just going to let it happen.” But at 40 she still doesn’t have to wait for movie parts. She is starring again as the evil Ravenna in The Huntsman, the sequel to the successful Snowwhite and the Huntsman. She stars in The Last Face as a director of an international aid agency in Africa who becomes involved in a political and social revolution. Next year, she’s in Brain on Fire, a drama about a young woman’s rapid descent into insanity. Her track record of over 40 movies proves that she can play anything.

Monster (2003) Theron won a well-deserved Academy Award plus a Golden Globe for her chilling portrayal of real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos who got the death penalty for

MONSTER

murdering seven men.

North Country (2005) She received another Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for her role as a miner who filed and won the first sexual harassment case in the US. This much acclaimed movie was based on a true story.

The Huntsman (2016) Theron will return as the evil Ravenna in this prequel to the

NORTH COUNTRY

successful Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), based on the famous fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Brain on Fire (2016) This movie also is based on a true

She sees her time as very precious. Disciplined as she is, she works with a daily, weekly and monthly schedule, dividing attention between her child, her acting, her good causes – and, yes, a few chosen hours when she relaxes. How? By taking a ride on her Harley Davidson.

story - about a young woman’s rapid descent into insanity. Charlize Theron owns the movie rights and will produce the movie.

THE HUNTSMAN

Ford Vignale

TO STEER OR NOT TO STEER The autonomous car is on its way. Ford is entering the final stages of development at its Research & Innovation Center in Palo Alto in the heart of Silicon Valley. So how will your future car â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one that steers, navigates, brakes and accelerates without your interference â&#x20AC;&#x201C; change mobility?

Ford Vignale

FUTURE TECH

The autonomous car constantly sends and receives data via sensors so it knows exactly what’s going on in the world around it.

n January this year Ford introduced Ford Smart Mobility to the world. This affirms Ford’s plans to accelerate innovation in connectivity, mobility, customer experience, big data and autonomous vehicles. They’re all equally important because they’re all related, but the idea of a self-driving car particularly fires the imagination. What has always been science fiction is now on the brink of becoming reality – a car that takes over all of the controls and brings us quickly, safely and comfortably to our destination. 2020

Ford CEO Mark Fields declared earlier this year that it is likely the first autonomous car will be seen on roads as early as 2020. However, we’ll have to wait until 2035 or 2040 before technology and legislation are so far developed that you can get in your car, fall asleep and wake up only when you’ve arrived at your destination. Ford certainly has the knowledge and technology to be the first to deliver a fully automated vehicle. After all, it already has semi-autonomous vehicles on the road today. However, it is not the company’s ambition to be first by doing whatever it takes. “We may or may not come out with a fully autonomous vehicle in that timeframe, because our approach is that when we do, we want to make sure that it’s accessible for everyone and not just, let’s say, luxury car customers”, says Fields.

THE FORD RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTER The newly opened Ford Research and Innovation Center will operate in an externally facing, highly collaborative way with Stanford’s engineering department. Chris Gerdes, professor of mechanical engineering in the department, will lead the tests. His approach to testing with automated vehicles is far from cautious, as in most cases, Professor Gerdes believes – like Ford

Research

– that to test the driving limits of

Immediately after announcing its Smart Mobility programme, Ford opened a research centre in the beating heart of the high-tech world: Palo Alto, Silicon Valley. The main goal is to drive innovation. With some 125 researchers, engineers and scientists, it’s one of the biggest automotive research centres in Silicon Valley. All the key themes declared in the Ford Smart Mobility programme are being translated into relevant research in this new leading facility. For the research on autonomous driving, Ford has formed an alliance with the world-famous Stanford University, also located

automated vehicles, you need to push the envelope. Already he has shown that an automated vehicle on a racetrack can be just about as good as a trained race driver. Gerdes’s lab likes to improve vehicle safety by improving the vehicle itself or by upgrading the skills of the driver. Also route planning and prediction algorithms are being developed.

Ford Vignale

THE FUTURE IS NOW A lot of technology required for a fully self-driving car is available right now. It is likely that your new

70 mph

40 mph

car is equipped with adaptive cruise control. When the system’s radar sees that the distance and speed of the vehicles ahead are decreasing, it adjusts the speed of the car to maintain a safe margin. Automatic steering – a great example of autonomous driving – exists, too. Ford was one of the

Adaptive cruise control

first manufacturers to equip its cars with active park assist systems.

driver will be warned accordingly.

your intended driving lane.

objects in front of the car.

Another intelligent system that

It is not unlikely that your car is

Active City Stop is designed to

The system constantly calculates

helps the driver is traffic sign

fitted with lane-keeping system

lend a hand at low speeds.

the braking force required to

recognition. Speed signs can be

with lane-keeping aid, which

The technology uses a forward-

avoid a collision and

identified automatically and the

helps prevent you drifting outside

looking radar sensor to detect

automatically applies full braking force when needed. When in the future your car wants to drive all by itself, it will depend on radars to act as its own ‘eyes on the road’. Some current Ford models – such as the new Focus, all-new Mondeo and upcoming new Ford Edge – are already equipped with BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) a radar that triggers a warning when another motorist is in your blindspot. The additional cross-traffic alert uses radar to help alert drivers to oncoming traffic when reversing out of a parking space.

Lane-keeping system

in Palo Alto. Ford will deliver the Fusion Hybrid Autonomous Research Vehicle to the university’s engineers for next phase of on-road testing. Safe and efficient

The autonomous car will increase passenger safety enormously. When all cars are connected to each other, are aware of each other’s exact locations, can tell the road conditions and 28

Ford Vignale

understand traffic situations, accidents are unlikely to happen. And what about road efficiency? Autonomous cars are safe to drive much closer to each other than humans are capable of. So every inch of the road will be in use, reducing the chances of traffic jams to a minimum. Inner cities will be less congested and less time spent on the road will reduce the use of energy sources.

Beyond the practical benefits, according to Ravi Shanker, an analyst at the research division of leading investment bank Morgan Stanley, autonomous cars could contribute $5.6 trillion in annual savings globally. It’s a mind-blowing amount that says everything about the positive impact of autonomous driving.

real watches for real people

Oris Aquis Depth Gauge Automatic mechanical movement Patented depth gauge function Unidirectional, revolving top ring with ceramic inlay Water resistant to 500 metres

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Ford Vignale

VIGNALE DESIGN Combining authentic craftsmanship with the latest technology is the essence of Ford Vignale. Sonja Vandenberk, Chief Designer for Colour and Materials at Ford of Europe, tells the story behind the concept.

‘ Harmony is the main thing’ The search for inspiration accompanies Sonja Vandenberk’s every waking moment. Whether she’s walking down a street, driving her car, or watching TV, she always keeps an eye out for interesting objects and products. She’s fascinated about how a product is made, how it works and if it can somehow provide food for thought in her role as Chief Designer, Colour and Material, at Ford of Europe. Sonja has been designing, sketching and making things since she was a child. She grew up in Flanders, Belgium and inherited a keen eye for visual details from her father, a photographer.

“I would see something, for example a toy, but instead of wanting to have it, I wanted to make it myself. So I did: I created my own toys from a very early age.” The fact that she is a renowned designer today comes as little surprise to her parents and others who know her well. But before she reached that point, she took a detour. Like many young girls, she dreamt of becoming a vet and even started studying veterinary medicine. But she quickly realised she had made the wrong choice. Instead, she switched to psychology and was particularly enthralled by the lectures on the

relationship between art and psychology. “And suddenly it clicked: this is my world, this is what I want to do,” she says. After completing her studies in design Vandenberk moved to London and became the editor of an architecture magazine. Through that position she learned about the Royal College of Arts, which was offering a course about transportation design. Like a living room

“And that’s how I got interested in cars, especially the interior of cars. I realized how important the inside of a car is for a driver and

Ford Vignale

It was through this process that the hexagon – used for the upholstery but which has become the icon and trademark of Ford Vignale originated. “You start drawing and making sketches. First in a traditional way, using the diamond form. Then we took a step further until the hexagon emerged. We stretched it and eventually it got a life of its own.”

how much time we spend in our cars. It’s like a living room. At that time there were so many developments going on in car design and the interior of a car started getting more attention. It was such a good moment to be a designer in the car industry and still is. Especially new developments like the self-driving car offer great potential to create a living-room atmosphere inside the car.” She moved to Germany with her boyfriend, also a car designer. She met other car designers who specialised in the field of colour, which piqued her interest. Then she got the chance to join Ford of Europe as a car designer and immediately said yes.

Sonja summarises her passion and mission as a designer: “Ford Vignale is an experience, an adventure. Ford Vignale should involve all the senses. The handicraft and craftsmanship that go into making the Vignale – the stitching, the lines, the materials play a very important role in this. But above all the Ford Vignale must evoke a feeling of harmony, whether you’re looking at the exterior of the car or sitting inside it. Harmony is the main thing we are trying to achieve as designers.”

Designing a car requires teamwork. “That’s rule number one in our field: You’re never a solo artist. It’s 100% teamwork. We have brainstorm sessions where individual ideas can be pitched. Then we challenge each other: someone has an idea, someone else puts another spin on it, a third person says: how about doing it that way? This collective inspiration is the best part of my job.”

Glamorous

Dreaming design

She continues, “At Ford of Europe, I immediately had the feeling that I was in the right place. I work with very good designers, but what is perhaps even more important is the atmosphere on the workfloor. For a designer, atmosphere is very important and here it’s very open. The designers wake up and go to sleep thinking about their projects. They dream design. I often have to say to myself: go home now, it’s time to call it a day.” In October 2013, Vandenberk became Chief Designer, Colour and Material, Ford of Europe. Shortly after her team started working on a new and prestigious project: the Ford Vignale. “Being a designer for the Ford Vignale involves constantly searching for balance, creating perfect details, and finding the right materials to realise those goals. It boils down to answering the question: how can we surprise our customers? As a team we’re constantly searching, trying things out, testing, and brainstorming.” 32

Ford Vignale

‘That’s Vignale: a fine feeling of authentic craftsmanship combined with the best materials and the latest technologies’

An important way to create harmony is through the choice of colour and paint, and Vandenberk is particularly proud of the colour Vignale Nocciola. “The colours of a Vignale should bring out the details and care that go into creating the car, and Vignale Nocciola does just that. It perfectly acccentuates the accents and shape of the car and gives all that chrome a wonderful metallic sparkle. The mineral mica has been mixed into the paint through a special process which gives the car a wonderful radiance. It makes the car look more glamorous.” Craftsmanship is another important source of inspiration for creating harmony and surprising drivers. “We are creating a completely new concept of craftsmanship by combining it with the latest technology,” explains Sonja. “For example, the stitching is computer generated which creates perfection. But the driver should still have the feeling of being surrounded by traditional, handmade materials – for example the impression of feeling the nice, soft leathers of a handmade bag or leather band of a wristwatch. That’s Ford Vignale: a fine feeling of authentic craftsmanship combined with the best materials and the latest technologies.”

Vignale’s craftsmanship A few highlights

The paint The sophisticated Vignale Nocciola metallic paint colour is offered exclusively on Ford Vignale models. Referencing the brand’s origins, Nocciola is the Italian word for ‘hazelnut’. All Ford Vignale cars have metallic paints and they all undergo a special treatment to make them brighter and more premium in appearance.

The seats The seats were inspired by the centuries-old tradition of leather craftsmanship, with the quality customers might normally expect of an upmarket bag from a brand like Chanel or Ferragamo. Each seat is elegantly tailored rather than merely covered. The quilted panels create a distinctive sense of occasion, while ‘tuxedo’ stitching enhances the quality appearance.

The leather The leather has been carefully selected to be soft to touch, comfortable to sit on and luxurious to the eye. Ford chose a full grain luxury Windsor Leather. This undergoes a rigorous selection process, yielding only the finest quality hide. Natural markings are minimized, letting the true beauty of the leather shine through. In full grain leather of this quality, the hair cell is still visible in the top grain surface of the hide. The hide is lightly finished to provide a smooth, semi-anilinelike surface that still meets Ford’s strict durability requirements - giving the leather an exclusive high-end natural appearance. Additional conditioning steps are added to ensure an even softer and more luxurious ‘hand’ feel. High quality leather is used even in those places less readily seen or felt. As a result, Ford Vignale seats require 110% more leather than the leather seats in most other cars. The leather that covers the instrument panel has been chosen to create an elegantly harmonious ambience. All hides that meet the rigourous Vignale standards are transferred to the cutting room, where a team of highly skilled operators splits every piece of cut leather to a controlled thickness. One of the final and most fundamental steps in the process is the pressing of the finished parts, which are exposed to the sun to ensure a consistent surface appearance is maintained over time.

The hexagon panel The distinctive hexagonal panels require the very highest level of technical skill. You will notice, for example, how the perforations and stitching work harmoniously and consistently together within each individual panel area. Only trimmers with considerable experience can achieve work of such precision.

Ford Vignale

Material man Swiss architect Peter Zumthor is a source of inspiration for architects and designers around the world. Fans rave about his great craftsmanship, vast knowledge of materials and their properties, and incredibly creative use of those materials. His craftsmanship and his love for materials have also made him a source of inspiration for the Ford Vignale design team.

Kunsthaus Bregenz, Austria 34

Ford Vignale

VIGNALE ICON

Hannover Expo, Germany

is statement about his architecture – and what all architecture should be – is simple, almost down-to-earth: “When I start, my first idea for a building is with the material. I believe architecture is about that. It’s not about paper. It’s not about forms. It’s about space and material.” Zumthor has always been refreshingly straightforward about the role of architecture and tends to dismiss attempts by journalists or academics to tie abstract intellectual notions to his work. This has of course a lot to do with his relatively humble background – he started as a carpenter apprentice. It may also account for his strong local roots in the Swiss Canton of

Graubünden. Despite his global reputation and many international commissions, to this day Zumthor has his studio in the tiny Swiss village of Haldenstein (official population 1,001), where he works with 30 or so staff. One of today’s greatest architects is a very humble man – although one with very firm beliefs. Zumthor believes strongly that architecture is an emotional experience and that buildings should not be intellectualised about, but felt. So perhaps it’s no coincidence that throughout his career many of his most praised buildings have been not only located in the part of Switzerland where he grew up, but also designed to serve an

integral role in those small communities. These include a primary school in Churwalden, an old people’s home in the Canton’s capital, Chur, the art museum in Chur, and the modest but wonderfully understated St Benedict’s Chapel, built in Sumvitg to replace the mountain village’s original chapel, which was destroyed in an avalanche. All these buildings are admired by fellow architects and – much more important to Zumthor – enjoyed by the people who live and work in these buildings.

Ford Vignale

Saint Benedictâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chapel, Switzerland 36

Ford Vignale

‘I don’t only think of the place,’ he says. ‘I visit it, because it’s a physical experience.’

Therme Vals, Switzerland

Unpretentious sensitivity

Many feel Zumthor developed his deep understanding of construction and sensitive use of different building materials during his first job as a conservationist architect for a Swiss local authority, where he was working on the preservation of historical monuments. True or not, it is a quality that continues to inform his work to this day – as can be seen in one of his most prestigious current projects, the Zinc Mine Museum in Allmannajuvet, Norway. Allmannajuvet is a remote forested canyon along the river Storelva. In the late 19th century, it was the site of a large zinc mine and is today an annex of the regional museum. Zumthor’s design brings together at least three of the recurrent themes in his work: sensitivity to a site’s local historical significance, for the mine is a key part of local industrial heritage. And an unpretentious focus on the pragmatic: Zumthor’s building will make the area accessible to greater numbers of visitors. Last but not least, respect for the local setting; for example, in the

WHO IS PETER ZUMTHOR? corrugated roofs of the buildings, which complement perfectly the canyon’s craggy terrain. It is, again, beauty made simple, transparent. Physical experience

Zumthor’s emotional approach to projects also explains why he feels it’s crucial for him to become familiar with the site for a building during the planning stage. “I don’t only think about the place. I visit it, because it’s a physical experience.” This determination to ensure his buildings remain sensitive to their surroundings can be seen in one of Zumthor’s most famous international commissions, the Kunsthaus (Art Gallery) in Bregenz, Austria, a glass and concrete cube overlooking Lake Constance. He explains: “From the outside, the building looks like a lamp. It absorbs the changing light of the sky and the haze of the lake. It reflects light and colour… according to the angle of viewing, the daylight and the weather.”

• Born 1943 in Basel, Switzerland. • Son of a cabinet maker. At 15 became a carpenter’s apprentice. • Studied at local art school and as an exchange student at New York’s Pratt Institute. • Opened own architect’s firm in 1979. • Rapid success soon led to prestigious international commissions. • Today considered one of the world’s greatest living architects. • Major awards include Pritzker Prize (2009) and RIBA Royal Gold Medal (2013). • Throughout career has taught at leading universities from Los Angeles to Munich. • Since 1996 Professor of Academy of Architecture at the Swiss Italian University.

Ford Vignale

FORD VIGNALE TO THE MAX Next year the Ford S-MAX Vignale will be launched. But today, the Ford Vignale Magazine can bring you a preview of it: the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept, a car that paves the way for the showroom version. This thoroughbred Sports Activity Vehicle shows how a seven-seat car can be sporty with coupe characteristics.

he exterior of the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept accentuates the sporting DNA of the S-MAX. After noticing its characteristic profile and the dynamic arc of its roof, your eyes are drawn to the confident, elegant grille with its distinctive Vignale hexagonal design, featuring a darker matt metallic finish and polished aluminium surround. Other distinctive Vignale elements at the front of the car include the unique fog lights and dynamic adaptive LED

Elegance comes first: a long, sleek design finished by a gently sloping sporty roofline.

Vehicle shown may not represent full UK or Ireland specification. 38

Ford Vignale

S-MAX VIGNALE CONCEPT

Ford Vignale

Stylish Ford Vignale references

The design says it all: the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car is a true Sports Activity Vehicle.

for that finishing touch.

The side mirrors have integrated signal functions.

headlamps with LED day running lights. The side mirrors have chrome cappings and integrated indicator functions and for extra convenience they are heated and equipped with a memory function. For the finishing touch, the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car comes complete with premium 21-inch painted alloy Vignale wheels. Modern luxury

Take a look inside: seven seats divided over three rows and lots of space. But on top of being a highly practical people carrier, the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept radiates an ambience of refinement. The stylish hexagonal quilting, the tasteful chrome and leather details everywhere around: call it presidential. Even the floor mats exude sophisticated luxury. The sense of luxury is enhanced by the exclusive Ford Vignale embossed soft-touch leather seats. The driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat is adjustable in 10 different ways, has a memory function and provides the ultimate in comfort. The Sport design seats are even perforated to keep the driver and front passenger cool on warm summer days while in winter the integrated heating function will come into its own. Technology is all around to provide advanced functions like car-to-car communications. Tablet device-docking stations 40

Ford Vignale

Vehicle shown may not represent full UK or Ireland specification.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;On top of being a highly practical people mover, the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept radiates an ambience of refinementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Ford Vignale

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Detail elements and the use of colour are inspired by the latest trends in furniture design, such as high-end sofas. This means handstitched pearlescent leathers and sleek, contemporary lines. Craftsmanship is applied throughoutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 42

Ford Vignale

A warm welcome: the minimalistic dashboard and centre console offer an array of hi-tech features.

Presidential luxury: the stylish hexagonal quilted individual backseats.

Vehicle shown may not represent full UK or Ireland specification.

are sited on the seatbacks directly ahead of passengers in the second row and the intelligent flexible seating concept uses thin seat technology to maximise space for passengers.

lettering. The interior feels like a lounge, not least because of the single-coloured leather that extends from the dashboard all the way back to the rear luggage compartment.

The latest trends

The sound of silence

Following current fashion trends, a darker interior colour palette complements the lighter exterior. Detail elements and the use of colour are inspired by the latest trends in furniture design, such as high-end sofas. This means hand-stitched pearlescent leathers and sleek, contemporary lines. Craftsmanship is applied throughout the interior. Behind the steering wheel and across the passenger side of the dashboard, woven texture-embossed aluminium is used. Metallic textures stylishly contrast warm tones, while a brush-painted panel above the central display features aluminium Vignale

All of that luxury offered by the Ford S-MAX Vignale concept car can be experienced in almost complete silence. Acoustic glass keeps out the unwanted external noise of motoring while Ford Active Noise Cancellation filters out any potential diesel engine sounds. You could even whisper commands to the onboard Ford SYNC with Voice Control and Touchscreen system and be understood. This concept car promises a lot for the production version of the Ford S-MAX Vignale when it arrives next year at selected FordStores in Europe.

Ford Vignale

VIGNALE ART

Film, fashion, dance and Ford Vignale united

MOVEment

MOVEment is a series of seven short films that combine the talents of well-known design houses (including Prada, Calvin Klein Collection and Alexander McQueen), pioneering directors, and renowned choreographers and dancers.

he MOVEment project was presented this spring with London-based Sadler’s Wells, one of the world’s most famous ballet theatres, and Ford Vignale. The VIP premiere event at Sadler’s Wells was also the first public unveiling of the Ford Mondeo Vignale. MOVEment is a concept of Jefferson Hack; and it is not just another idea but a long-term ambition of his. Jefferson Hack is an icon in London creative and cultural circles. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, he came to London to study at the London College of Printing. At just 19 years of age he founded the magazine Dazed & Confused (now Dazed), developing this project within the Dazed Group, which also publishes the magazine AnOther Magazine. But Jefferson’s main focus is not just on publishing content but on inventing new, progressive ideas in journalism, film, photography, television and digital media. In short, Jefferson Hack is a creative whirlwind, and initiating MOVEment was just one more of his many fruitful creations. The idea sprang from a desire to see choreographers and designers working together in the medium of film and thinking about the body in relation to the camera.

The designers involved in the project created bespoke costumes. The result: seven films that deliver a timely and inspiring update on the long-standing dialogue between fashion and dance. As Jefferson explains his idea, “There has always been an incredible historical dialogue between fashion and dance. Because they are both art forms that deal with the body. For the video age that we are in, I wanted to make a survey uniting the best of fashion, dance and film for a series of performance pieces commissioned for the screen. Some matches were blind dates and some were existing relationships, but all were paired to bring something new and original to the table.” Right from the start, Ford Vignale was a partner in the MOVEment project. With good reason: the project provided a perfect partnership to explore and express the themes of quality design and craftsmanship, two crucial elements in the philosophies of both Ford Vignale and MOVEment. Besides this collaboration Ford Vignale also had a very special partnership with one of the performances, a film made by three highly accomplished artists: choreographer Jasmin Vardimon, director Matthew Donaldson and milliner Stephen Jones. Stephen Jones has for decades been one of Britain’s icons of style and culture. His distinctive, radical aesthetic has made him the world’s most celebrated milliner and in 2009 he curated an ‘anthology’ of hats for the Victoria & Albert Museum that broke worldwide attendance records. The Ford Vignale is an integral part of this film, with a Ford Mondeo Vignale enjoying a ‘co-starring’ role, and Ford Vignale designer Erika Tsubaki and the Ford Vignale team collaborating in the realisation of the performance. www.anothermag.com/movement

Ford Vignale

The ‘City of Spires’ might have been built for the modern short break. Compact; brimming with great culture; restaurants and shops; a vibrant street and nightlife – Copenhagen has it all. But cramming the most into your weekend while still managing to unwind does call for careful planning. Fasten your seat belts…

48 HOURS

Friday 17:00 Touchdown

For a more modest price, try the simple but stylish Hotel Sct Thomas at Frederiksberg Allé 7, in an ideal location between trendy Vesterbro and Værndedamsvej, the heartbeat of foodie Copenhagen. Stylish, yet a lot of value for money. www.hotelsctthomas.dk

With typical Danish transport efficiency, trains leave Kastrup airport for the city centre every five minutes and whisk you to downtown Nørreport Station within 15 minutes. 18:00 Check-in

Visiting one of the world’s design capitals, you could kill two birds with one stone by staying at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, the premium choice of our selection. Every detail of this 1950s stainless steel icon, from façade to furniture to forks, was dreamt up by architect Arne Jacobsen. www.radissonblu.com

Ford Vignale

19:00 Time to hit the town… Bertrams Guldsmeden Hotel

On a more mid-range budget? You can still get your design fix at the Bertrams Guldsmeden Hotel at Vesterbrogade 107. We’re talking less industrial, more hyggeligt – cosy but with a kind of Zen-like Danish cool. www.guldsmedenhotels.com

Freshened up, it’s time for a quick aperitif. Vesterbro, with its many hipster bars is buzzing on Friday nights. We really love the minimalistic Mikkeler Bar at Viktoriagade 8 B-C, brainchild of an award-winning microbrewery, and Lidkoeb with its spacious Danish design, real fireplaces and luxurious leather sofas.

CITY SEARCH

IN COPENHAGEN Kødbyens Fiskebar

21:00 ...before dinner

Every visiting foodie knows about Noma (see seperate story on page 51) but it’s just one of so many great places to eat in Copenhagen. Here are two more with a local spin: Kødbyens Fiskebar at Flæsketorvet 100 serves possibly the best seafood in town. www.fiskebaren.dk. Meanwhile Peder Oxe at Gråbrødretorv 1, on one of Copenhagen’s oldest squares, has a contemporary interior in a high-ceilinged setting, which reflects a menu that’s traditional with a modern twist. www.pederoxe.dk

23:00 Before turning in

It has probably been a long week, but before turning in, swing by one of Copenhagen’s many superb late-night bars. Like Salon 39 at Vodroffsvej 39 in Frederiksberg (officially a different city) for a whiskey-based cocktail accompanied by vinyl jazz records in this laid-back, atmospheric bar. www.salon39.dk

Salon 39

Ford Vignale

Saturday 10:00 Hit the shops

14:00 Murder and intrigue

Re-energised after a good night’s sleep, we recommend a morning of retail therapy. In Copenhagen going shopping means going designer shopping. Everywhere you turn, you’ll spy hip designer shops and part of the fun is discovering your own gems. But ensure your time’s well spent: why not do your discovering en route to one of these landmark design addresses?

Almost as much as design, Denmark now has a name for quality TV. So why not see a bit of Copenhagen while simultaneously visiting locations from your favourite series? Nordic Noir Tours offer two Saturday afternoon tours: one of Borgen locations and one that combines The Killing and The Bridge sites. www.nordicnoirtours.com

Pakhus 48, Klubiensvej 22, is a permanent design exhibition space with showrooms for iconic brands like GRID, Fritz Hansen and Kvadrat. www.pakhus48.dk Designer Zoo, 137 Vesterbrogade. This former sausage factory is home to more cool designers than you can shake a stick at, selling everything from furniture to ceramics, jewellery to knitwear. www.dzoo.dk 11:00 Coffee

An hour for shopping 10-11 and then two hours for coffee – why don’t you make coffee/breakfast your highlight of the morning?

The Coffee Collective

If you’re serious about your coffee, you’ll want to make time for The Coffee Collective. With three completely different outlets across town, these guys aim high in terms of how they serve and source their coffee. www.coffeecollective.dk 13:00 Think lunch, think smørrebrød

No trip to Copenhagen is complete without a smørrebrød (open sandwich) and a visit to Aamanns, near the National Gallery, is no dutiful wade through touristy stodge. Here you’ll get a delicious modern version of this Danish classic. www.aamanns.dk

Pakhus 48

Aamanns

Ford Vignale

18:30 Cocktails, anyone?

Following a quick hotel pit stop, it’s cocktail time! The locals love a cocktail (as the abundance of places serving them testifies). Two of the best: Granola at Værnedamsvej 5 and Ruby, a genuine old speak-easy hidden behind an unmarked door at Nybrogade 10.

Copenhagen at night

Burger & Bun

21:00 ...dinner

Need a change from last night’s culinary sophistication? Hit Burger & Bun at Fælledvej 9. Classy burgers, a hip interior and (only in Copenhagen) run by a Michelin-starred chef. 23:00 ...the mermaid’s calling

Now you’ve completely unwound, it’s time to pump up the heart rate again. Copenhagen’s club scene may be small but it’s high quality. Gravitate to the Meatpacking district for action that ranges from the intimate Jolene www.facebook.com/JoleneBar to the massive 850m2 KB3. With its 13-metre bar, it shouldn’t be problem getting served. www.kb3.dk And if you want it a more underground vibe, ask in the bars.

Ford Vignale

Sunday 11:00 A breath of fresh air…

If it proved a longer night than planned, follow a lie-in and slow breakfast by clearing your head with a stroll through the parks of genteel Frederiksberg. There’s even Copenhagen’s excellent Zoo. 13:00 A final slow bite…

Combine your morning in Frederiksberg with lunch on Værnedamsvej, the ultimate foodie street. Or strike out for Copenhagen’s primary food market on Papirøen (Paper Island).

16:30 Must we go? Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art

14:00 … Finally, some food for thought

Complete your stay with a visit to one of Copenhagen’s many great museums. Start at the recently renovated Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, as stunning as the art it contains and then take a 15-minute stroll through Østre Anlæg Park to The Hirschsprung Collection housed in a beautiful neoclassical building.

Hirschsprung Colletion

THE WORLD’S GREENEST? When it comes to environmental issues, Copenhagen is the envy of almost every city in the world. But what makes it so green? Well, ambition for a start. The municipality’s is serious about its intention to be carbon neutral by 2025. By then, commercial buildings must reduce electricity consumption by 20% and residential buildings by 10%, and heat consumption must fall overall by 20%. It’s also a collective mindset. The realistic expectation is that 10 years from now, 75% of all trips in Copenhagen will be made by foot, bike or public transport. Of course, cars remain a key part of the transport jigsaw of any city. So Copenhagen aims to have 20-30% of all cars running on biofuel by 2025. A wonderful thing about the city is that you feel the greenness everywhere you go. From cyclists on every street to water quality that allows swimming facilities at various inner harbour locations. So don’t forget your swimsuit! Frederiksberg Gardens

Ford Vignale

If there’s time before your flight, a great place for a final late afternoon drink is the wine bar at Ved Stranden 10, situated on a lovely canal. Water, tranquillity, style: it’s the classic Copenhagen as a final souvenir. www.vedstranden10.dk

René Redzepi by Peter Brinch

Mikkel Heriba

NOMA, ALREADY A LEGEND Is the world’s best restaurant located in Copenhagen? Many gastronomic experts think so. And whether it is or not, a visit to Noma (a conflation of the Danish words for ‘Nordic’ and ‘food’) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Chef René Redzepi works with his very talented and international team on exotic, eccentric and, above all, local dishes (for instance, snailshaped snail mousse nestled among the petals, and beets with onion ash). Redzepi’s kitchen looks more like a laboratory. Want to visit this culinary heaven? Be patient! The waiting time is about six months.

Mikkel Heriba

Check out the menu and decide for yourself.

www.noma.dk Directions? Ask anyone and they’ll point you with pride towards their local world-beater. Ford Vignale

#INLOVEWITHSWITZERLAND since the journey became

the reward. Lisa Baker

Haut Val de Bagnes, Valais

Ford Vignale Book now at MySwitzerland.com or call 00800 100 200 30 and prepare to fall in love! M

SMART AUTUMN

MAKING TIME COUNT How innovators are finding ways to give you more of life’s most precious commodity.

Tesco

SEOUL 8:00

Time is the one commodity that you can never have too much of, the one thing that everybody treasures. In today’s high-octane, highly urbanised world companies and other organisations know that if they can only find ways to free up your time and enhance the quality of that time by making life more convenient and pleasurable, they’ll be providing a service that every consumer will value. Here are just a few of the smarter time-saving and time-enhancing initiatives appearing on the horizon.

Smartphone, smart solution In Seoul, South Korea, where people are said to work some of the longest hours anywhere on the planet, supermarket giant Tesco has introduced virtual grocery stores. Posters in metro stations display rows of everyday supermarket products, each with its own QR code. On their way to work, commuters simply scan the codes of the products they want using their smartphone and their groceries are delivered to their home so they are waiting for them when they get back from work. The trial boosted Tesco’s online sales by 130% and it is now being rolled out across South Korea, with plans to introduce it in other cities including London. What’s more, research suggests that people prefer this ‘virtual’ shopping to online shopping because it retains something of the human element of ‘real’ shopping, thereby achieving what we all want: saving time and enjoying an effortless experience. Ford Vignale

PARIS 10:00

Vélib Bike

The unstoppable rise of the urban bike

Of all the world’s business leaders, Brazilian Richard Semler, CEO of Semco, stands out for his radical thinking. Semco will do anything to hack back the bureaucratic jungle that stops its people being able to just get on with their work – and lives. This includes many timesaving elements, large and small, including commuting. Semco has several offices across Sao Paolo, but instead of going where you’re told, employees can check which building is easiest for them to reach and work there. If the traffic is terrible that day, just work from home. Then there’s the Rush Hour MBA. Instead of employees sitting in Sao Paulo’s terrible evening rush-hour traffic, Semco has introduced two-hour lectures on everything from business practices to astronomy to Spanish history. People then drive home once the traffic has cleared, with time to think about what they’ve just learnt.

Ford Vignale

BRAZIL 18:00

If it doesn’t make sense, don’t do it

Sao Paulo

Across the globe major cities and their policy makers are embracing the bicycle. At the last count, bike-sharing schemes existed in 712 cities globally, with some 800,000 bikes available from more than 37,000 stations.

712 cities 800,000 bikes 37,000 stations

In London, more than 10 million journeys were made in 2014 using a bicycle hire scheme that has 10,000 bikes and more than 700 docking stations, and plans are now underway for east-west and north-south bike super-highways. The Paris Vélib remains the world’s largest scheme outside China. With 173 million journeys made in 2013, there is now one Vélib bike for every 97 Parisians. In New York the privately owned Citi Bike scheme has nearly 100,000 annual subscribers, who on average make some 35,000 trips rides a day. The scheme will soon be expanding into upper Manhattan, Brooklyn and beyond.

The modern way to hail a cab

How big data is making a big difference All around us, Analytics (the smart use of Big Data) is revolutionising how companies do things. It might not sound sexy, but the improvements will create time and space in all our lives. Take a simple supply chain. Analytics software can optimise vehicle loading so that 5-10% fewer truck and delivery van trips are needed to supply our shops and supermarkets. Real-time fleet routing then reduces the miles those trucks have to cover by another 10%, cutting costs and helping the environment. Suppliers can also better predict when they’ll deliver your purchase, so you don’t have to take a ½ day off work next time you buy a washing machine.

Hailo

BARCELONA, LONDON & TOKYO 12:00

And when you’re out shopping, your favourite store can send your phone a message with directions to a nearby branch and a special offer for a product that an algorithm has worked out will fit your taste and budget perfectly. Some see it as big brother, others as a big help. Either way, the experts agree: this is only the start of the analytics revolution. And no one exactly knows what’s coming next.

With unofficial cab services like Uber subject to controversy and legal wrangles, it’s good to know that traditional taxi services are also moving with the times. Hailo, for example, is an app available in cities such as Barcelona, London and Tokyo. No longer do you have to stand on the kerbside in wind and rain, waving your arm in vain as passing cars splash puddles over your best suit. Hailo lets you call a cab to where you’re waiting by hooking into the official local cab scheme, so there’s no chance of hailing a dodgy driver. You can pay by card or cash and it emails you a receipt for your expenses. Simple but effective.

Ford Vignale

LONDON 14:00

Citymapper

Getting about Probably the handiest outdoor apps remain the ones that help get you from A to B in the minimum time with the least stress and the most reliability. Public demand means those apps are getting better and better. Take New York City’s Exit Strategy. This little commuter wonder incorporates various earlier smart concepts – such as Citymapper, which helps you use different transport modes to get to your destination most efficiently; London’s First off the Tube, which tells you which station entrance to use, carriage to get on and exit to take; and traditional smartphone street navigation apps like Google maps and iPhone maps – to get you from A to B quicker than ever. It has interactive subway and bus maps, a street map with addresses overlaid, and optimum subway entrances, platform position and exit. It all works underground, signal or no signal.

NEW YORK 18:00

Manhattan

ebikes

Thinking outside the metal box

Ford Vignale

Ford is also doing its bit. For some time now, the smarter car manufacturer has realised that when people have fast-paced, complex modern lives, they increasingly need mobility solutions that can meet their many varied needs. With this in mind, Ford earlier this year launched Ford Smart Mobility, a series of experiments (initially 25) designed to anticipate what customers will want and need in tomorrow’s transportation eco-system. Experiments now running in cities across five continents include: • Prototype ebikes that have a nine-amphour battery and can go up to 15mph. The bikes draw on Ford automotive-inspired technology, such as a rear-facing ultrasonic sensor to warn of approaching traffic, and fold easily into Ford vehicles. It’s the ideal way as a commuter to keep yourself moving through even the worst rush-hour gridlocks. • On-demand car sharing, a service initially in London where you can, for example, hire cars on a pay-per-minute basis and make one-way trips across the city. By using a fleet of Ford Focus Electric vehicles and Ford Fiestas with EcoBoost powertrains, the scheme helps reduce congestion and pollution even further. • Parking spotter, which is being tested in Atlanta, USA and puts driver-assist sensors that most Ford vehicles already have to work for everyone. As you look for a parking spot around the city, the sensors search for open parking spaces and share that information via a cloud database that other drivers can access. Once you’ve located an open space, you can reserve it and navigate to it. Simple and social.

Diversity of style

Iroko by www.blackedition.com