Hau Thai-Tang: searching for synergy; As the 2005 Mustang's chief engineer he hit the automotive radar screen. In his new job, he has to merge the needs of Advanced Product Creation and SVT.

    Ford's Product Development Center, or PDC, is located near the Henry Ford Museum, and Ford's Dearborn, MI, test track. Literally next door is Ford's Design Center; while across the street is the dynamometer building where the engines that won Le Mans and the Indy 500 in the 1960s were developed. Despite being surrounded by history and creativity, the PDC itself is a depressing place: the walls are painted an indeterminate shade of gray and punctuated by ridged glass panels well above shoulder height, executive assistants are sequestered in-between these walls and those of the offices beyond, and the offices themselves--though spacious--are painted the same hideous color as the hallway. About halfway down the corridor is the office of Hau Thai-Tang, director of Advanced Product Creation and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT). It's a wonder he and his team can be creative at all in such depressing surroundings.

    "At the end of the day," says Hau Thai-Tang, director of Advanced Product Creation and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT), "we're trying to do more products faster. One of the key enablers for that is kicking off programs that have compatible assumptions...You can read more.