Claude Lobo

Claude Lobo (20 August 1943 – 3 June 2011) was an automotive designer who served in various design positions at Ford Motor Company over 32 years, playing a prominent role in designing Ford automobiles including the Ford Capri (Mk I), Mercury Cougar (Mk VII), Ford Ka (Mk I) and Ford Focus (Mk I) – while pioneering innovations including the development of Computer Aided Design.

Born in Paris, France in 1943, Lobo studied at the city's Technical College and the Academy of Applied Arts.

Career at Ford After designing for an electric appliance company and later for Chrysler-Simca, Lobo joined Ford of Germany in 1966, as a designer. In 1967, Lobo became Manager of Exterior Design at what became Ford of Europe, where he held a number of senior design posts, including assignments in small, medium and large car and truck design – and became chief designer of Advanced Program Definition and Computer Aided Design (CAD) in 1987. as well as coordinating the CAD systems between Ford and its subsidiary Mazda.

Lobo returned to Ford of Europe in 1997 as Director of Design, where he was responsible for the development of the European Car of the Year, the Mk I Ford Focus.

We wanted to do an anti-Twingo. The Twingo, as such, is a very clever car; it's a mini-minivan, but we couldn't repeat it. I was not willing to do that. My philosophy was really inspired by the original Mini; I wanted to design a car that was so strong in its appearance and thinking that we wouldn't have to carry out a mid-life facelift. When I presented the Ka to the board in the US, I told them that we either sell it and sell it well or you scrap it – but you cannot facelift it."

Retirement and personal life Lobo retired in 1999 at age 55 from Ford Motor Company. Shortly thereafter, in 2000, he created the Concours d'Elegance d´Automobiles Classiques de Bergerac with Nicole and Jean Descamps. Lobo continued to participate in both internal Ford design competitions and design competitions outside the company, e.g. the 2003 Grand Concours International du Design Automobile, Lille, France.

Lobo had been a professional race car driver in the early 1970s, winning the 24 Hours Nürburgring sports car race and the Marathon de la Route driving a Ford Capri RS with Klaus Ludwig. Lobo also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans,

Lobo was married and father of two children, Alexandre and Nathalie.