Bob Hall
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Born | 1953 |
Occupations |
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Spouse | Karen Hall |
Bob Hall is a former American motoring journalist best known for his work as an automotive product planner.[1]
Hall is best known as a founder member of the development team who produced the Mazda MX-5.[2]
Hall started his career as a journalist for Motor Trend.[3]
Hall's first blackboard sketch of a two-seater convertible car in the early 1980s resulted in him being offered a job by Mazda Motors although he has no formal engineering qualifications. Hall is considered to be the "biological father" of the MX-5 (known in the United States as the Miata), although he was not responsible for the engineering and styling work that brought it to production.[3]
After leaving Mazda, Hall continued his career as an automotive journalist in Australia.[4]
Hall lived in Malaysia from 2004 to 2011,[5] working for Proton as Head of product planning and programme engineering.[6]
In September 2014 Hall joined Geely, where it has been said he's been tasked to come up with an all-new mass-selling vehicle to hit the spot with western markets.[7] While he has not commented on what the new vehicle may be, he has said it will not be a front-engine, rear-drive sportscar.[8]
He is married to Karen,[5] is the twin brother of Jim Hall (who worked in product management at General Motors),[9] and is fluent in Japanese.[10]
...I would not develop, in any way, a front-engine, rear drive roadster sports car...