Autoblog

Ford has begun running a pilot program in Germany and Switzerland that would allow buyers to customize their rides in ways currently unavailable to customers in Europe.

The program, imaginatively called "Ford Individual", is similar to the packages available through Volkswagen and BMW, and will consist of a few distinctly different styling directions.

One is entitled the "Sporty Line" that's primary focus will be more on modern-looking additions, like exterior styling bits, wheels and interior accoutrements. The "Luxury Line" will allow buyers to add leather and wood grain, while the "Hitec Line" consists of in-car entertainment packages, rear-view cameras and other techy tidbits.

Initially the only vehicle that will benefit from these additions is the Ford S-Max, however, demand may allow Ford to broaden the vehicles available for customization.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Volkswagen Individual has created a 2-door Touareg pickup that recalls VW's NAIAS 2000 Advanced Activity Concept (AAC), shown at right.

Apparently captured on display at an Italian show (we don't know which one), it shows that the Touareg is more than capable of spawning a very fun-looking truck. In fact, the absence of the concept's mini-doors make this pickup look much sportier than the AAC. Chrome roll bars sit aft of the wood-accented B-pillar, and the bed is lined with rough-and-tumble diamond-plate.

The cab is trimmed out in wood, aluminum, and gorgeous brown leather accents. So far, Dutch site AutoScoops.eu is the only place we know of that has photos of the truck. We'll see if we can get more info out of VW, but in the meantime check out some additional shots of the rear, interior, and bedliner at AutoScoops.

[Source: AutoScoops.eu via Motor Authority]

Is BMW's flagship 7-Series luxury saloon still too plebian for you? Then right this way, sir, to BMW Individual.

The Individual 7-Series gives customers additional bespoke options to reflect their individuality. The special touches are seen mostly on the inside, with full "Merino" leather upholstery (and we thought that was a type of wool), in a choice of three different colors, plus an Alcantara headliner, piano-lacquer wood trim, and special illuminated doorsill plates (shown). Outside the special 7 gets 20-inch wheels, and customers can specify unique paint colors for an additional $3000, on top of the $11,000 the package adds to the price of a 750 or $10,000 to the 760, long wheel-base or standard.

Given that Volkswagen has a similar program by the same name, it's a little surprising BMW couldn't come up with something a little more...individual.

Related posts:

• For the naughty and nice: BMW Individual M6 Convertible in Neiman Marcus Christmas Book
• BMW soon to treat U.S. customers as Individuals

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

This week, Volkswagen introduced a new logo for their Volkswagen Individual line. Launched in 2003, Individual is Volkswagen's answer to other in-house customization and accessorization divisions like Audi Exclusive, Porsche Exclusive, and in Japan, Toyota Modellista.

In addition to customer-oriented personalization options, Individual also creates complete cars that are sold with the "Individual" branding. The Eos Individual (which you can check out after the jump) is one of the latest creations, and sports several attractive modifications like alternate wheels and a custom two-tone interior. Individual models are also available for the Touareg, Passat, Golf, Jetta, Sharan, Touran, and Golf Plus. Going forward, any vehicle that sports customizations by Individual will wear the newly-unveiled Individual logo shown above.

Volkswagen has also tasked the group with overseeing special projects like the 'R" product lineup (which today consists of the R32), "Product Impulse" vehicles such as the Touareg W12 Sport, and new niche creations such as the CrossPolo. "Green" efforts like the Touran EcoFuel and Polo BlueMotion have also fallen under the purview of VW Individual.

That's a lot of responsibility. Whether it's a set of rims, a one-off like the Phaeton Lounge, or a product offshoot like the R32 or CrossPolo, Volkswagen Individual's fingerprints are everywhere, and that seems to be a good thing.

(Photos, multiple press releases after the jump.)

[Source: Volkswagen]