As usual, the snow and the cold weather arrived just in time. After a very mild December, Mother Nature remembered that all the international journalists were due in Detroit for the auto show, so she turned on an icy blast and just enough snow to be a nuisance. The show itself was one of contrasts. After very strong sales in 2015 where an all-time US sales record of almost 17.5 million units was set, you would expect an almost euphoric atmosphere. Instead there were some notable companies missing from the floor, a good deal of space was dedicated to suppliers and for some reason there was a very large Rob Report stand. Another contrast was the record low fuel price at local filling stations, juxtaposed with the tremendous effort that almost every manufacturer has devoted to electric, hybrid and fuel cell propulsion. But… enough of this introspection. Let’s look at the cars.
Starting with the domestics, Ford had its usual large stand — lots of cars and trucks, but not much new or exciting. The Fusion facelift should help maintain the great momentum that this well designed mid-sized car has earned, but frankly it was hard to spot the differences without one of the old models alongside.
Two of the more interesting vehicles were hidden away on a mezzanine floor. The new, even bolder version of the Raptor Off-Road pick-up truck and alongside, the Focus RS, which is new in the US market in 2016.
The Lincoln stand was remote from the parent company this year and featured the return of the Continental as a full size four-door sedan. At least Ford has come to realize the power of the classic model names from the old glory days, so maybe they will get rid of the ‘alphabet soup’ on the other Lincoln models too — MKC, MKX, MKZ etc, etc. Alas, Cadillac is probably too far down that road to go in a similar direction and they are too hell bent on chasing the German manufacturers. The design is not as bold as the original concept, but it is clearly a Lincoln and presents a fresh look. The strong belt moulding incorporates the ‘fixed’ door handles and integrates the door mirrors. The door latches are electronic and just require finger contact to release. Similarly on the inside the doors are opened with just the push of a button. Some points of contention: The grille looks like a cross between a Jaguar and a Kia and the taillights are pure Dodge ‘racetrack’. Why? The 5 small, rectangular headlights on each side are cool, but they look rather like an Acura.
General Motors had little in the way of new mainstream products, but they did show the production version of the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. Some people said that the styling is similar to the BMW i3, but if so, I would say the Bolt wins hands down.
The Cadillac stand featured the new XT5 SUV. This is an evolutionary replacement for the SRX (more alphabet soup confusion) and clearly follows the Cadillac design theme. Arguably not as attractive is its predecessor, it is further let down by a mediocre interior.
It was left to Buick to provide some flare and excitement for GM. Evolving from last year’s Avenir 4 door concept, Buick displayed the Avista concept. The Avista is a large 2 door, 4-seat coupe that is even more striking than the Avenir. Its dark blue paint job appeared to be inches deep and accentuated the sweeping lines and bold features. The shape of the DLO* was gorgeous and it was highlighted by tasteful bright trim. This is the kind of car we would all like to see built, but how big is the market for large two door cars??? Quel dommage!
*DLO: This is an acronym for ‘Day Light Opening’ and is used to describe the graphic appearance of the vehicle’s side glass. The DLO is the most important graphic element of the vehicle’s design and provides a major contrasting surface to accentuate a form. Further emphasis may be created by outlining the DLO with bright trim. By concealing the A-Pillars and/or rear-most pillars with flush glass or other treatments, the DLO may be extended to include the front and/or rear screens. This design treatment works best with a light coloured car, dark tinted glass and blacked out pillars.
GM is doing some good work in the design studios; the new Buick LaCrosse just a few feet away from the Avista is a very nicely executed full size car. Nothing extreme or extravagant, just a really nice car – perfect for the Buick customers.
For Fiat Chrysler Automobiles the main event was the introduction of the new Pacifica minivan. Chrysler invented the segment back in 1983 and has dominated sales ever since. Ford and GM dropped out of the market, but Toyota and Honda are close on Chrysler’s heals. The all-new people hauler, available with a hybrid powertrain, is planned to replace both Chrysler and Dodge versions of the prior model and consolidate FCA’s position in the segment. In the short term the Dodge Caravan will be continued to fully assess the potential ongoing demand for the old model. The new design is strong with a front face reminiscent of the 200 sedan. It also comes laden with features, including foot-actuated sliding doors, touch screens in the back for kids video games and even a built in vacuum cleaner!
Also new on the FCA stand was the Fiat 124 Spider. From certain angles you can clearly see the shared Mazda MX-5/Miata underpinnings, but overall the design is fresh and should attract some new customers to the Fiat stores. We like it better than the Mazda!
There was a relatively large Alfa Romeo presence on the FCA stand with four Giulia Quadrifoglio models on display. The car certainly looks great (especially this model), but it is going to be quite hard for Alfa to penetrate this highly competitive segment with a brand that is essentially new to the market. It will also be hard for Americans to master pronunciation of the full name!
The Frankfurt Automotive show (IAA 2015), which took place last month, was, once again, the opportunity for a tour de force by the German manufacturers.
At the enormous Frankfurt Messe, almost every building was devoted to a Germanic manufacturer. Even so, the massive Hall 3 was too small for the whole Volkswagen Group, so Audi was forced into a “detached house” in the middle of another building.
Obviously, we hear the derisive spirits that say: “Yes, but that was before…….. However, we will gladly make you a bet. The group VW will rise again. Meet us here in two years and let’s see where they stand….
We are going to begin our overview of the show with the ‘dream’ so let us look at the concept cars.
Our focus is on three studies that we believe are undoubtedly precursors of what our automobile future will be.
To start with, Porsche presented Mission-E, which was, this time, a real surprise and probably the star of the show. Michael MAUER (Porsche Design Director) and his team tried to answer this simple question: “What would a 100% Porsche vehicle look like?”
Technically the layout is very simple, following the example of Tesla with a battery pack located to provide a low center of gravity, feeding two electric motors, one driving each axle. Even though it is natural to compare both vehicles, Porsche takes advantage of its experience with the 918 Spyder and 919 Hybrid and utilizes 800-volt technology (rather than the 400 volts used by the majority of electric cars in production today). The announced performance is stunning: 600 HP, 3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and 8.5 more seconds to 200 km/h… The range is close to that of Tesla at 500 km.
The design, for a sedan, is ultra-sporty and features strong themes consistent with the marque. The front fenders are dramatic and, as usual for a Stuttgart product, are higher than the hood. The wide shoulders in the back further underline the brand style. The wheels are dramatic and the rear doors are rear hinged eliminating the B-Pillar. The headlights come straight from the Le Mans race car.
The dashboard is pure and simple and unlike present production vehicles, uses screens that respond to gestural rather than tactile orders from the driver. Innovation is just part of the Porsche DNA.
The Panamera replacement will not be derived from this vehicle, because this one will be based on the “MSB” platform developed by Porsche for the VW Group. As we said in the introduction, we will start with the dreams… But we hope that one-day soon we can see this kind of machine on our roads……. Why not by 2020.
Audi, also betting heavily on an electric future, presented the E-Tron Quattro concept.
Adopting a silhouette halfway between an SUV and a station wagon or estate car, this impressive yet elegant new concept is born. Indeed, it continues the styling cues introduced with the recent Prologue study presented at earlier international shows. A lowered, widened and complex radiator grill, sharp and striking lines, all contribute to a masterful design. The interior, drawn by Frenchman Thomas PINEL, presents a dashboard somewhat less abstract than shown in the Prologue. Less abstract and therefore really much closer to production … The instrument panel is directed towards the driver and has a high-tech, yet sporty appearance. The exterior rear-view mirrors have been replaced by cameras and interior display screens using an ‘OLED’ interface (a technology mainly used in rear lights until now). The projections for performance and range are attractive, and once again, Tesla seems to be the competitor in the gun-sight. Production is slated for 2018, but that remains to be seen… In the meantime, Tesla continues to build its market..…
The third striking concept was the Mercedes baptized simply IAA… but for « Intelligent Aerodynamic Automobile ». Presented on the ground floor of one of the most impressive exhibition halls, this concept is jarring at first.
Its general shape reminds one of a smooth pebble with few sharp edges. Indeed, the plan for this Mercedes is to reduce drag (the drag coefficient is 0.19), reduce fuel consumption and thus drive better CO2 emissions.
The very low drag coefficient is made possible thanks to the adoption of moveable body panels. At 80 km/hour, what the company with the three-pointed star calls a » physical transformation » takes place — the back of the car lengthens by approximately fifty centimeters, this together with carefully crafted ‘ailerons’ and other devices combine to reduce drag at highway speeds.
The inside is even more futuristic, flooded with the bright white of science fiction films. A multitude of touch-sensitive screens liven up a dashboard that is punctuated by an aluminum ‘banner’ that extends around the entire cabin with its four individual seats. This concept is not pure electric, but rather a hybrid.
Concept IAA seems to be the precursor for future products and even though this would be a major departure from the present Mercedes universe, nobody doubts that they wanted to introduce a new design direction…
On the subject of pleasant surprises and of dreams, how can we not speak about the Cactus-M concept from Citroën …
Citroën made our mouths water with a concept that revived the spirit of the Mehari. It is based on the C4 Cactus, keeping most of that cars elements, but simplifying them to make this a real Outdoor vehicle. Indeed, the two long doors of the concept are molded plastic, but have features that remind us of the Airbump on the original vehicle. There is no carpet on the inside, but a lot of plastic. Everything is completely washable, including the seat fabric, which is also resistant to salt. The front end is bold and the rear “spoiler” allows surfboards to be carried across the non-existent “roof”. It all conveys a strong message: Let’s go to the beach! The climax of the presentation was the ‘auto-deploying tent’, making a perfect sleeping place for two. In summary, it is a pity that this vehicle is not intended for production, because we can just imagine ourselves turning up the Beach Boys and looking for some big surf …
Peugeot demonstrated its know-how with the sexiest show car: Fractal, is a small electric coupé with a removable roof which accentuates the surround sound effect — often an Achilles’ heel in spite of the efforts of the audio engineers. The Fractal system integrates the very latest acoustic installation incorporating 13 speakers with sub-woofers integrated below every seat. The software and the sound system were developed by Focal StelLab in conjunction with Peugeot. Every detail of the car is designed to minimize the sound signature. For example, the road wheel spokes are dihedral in shape to dampen aerodynamic noise. These spokes were manufactured using 3D printing. In terms of design, the lines exhibit the brand image and are mature enough for series production. The “coupe franche” in the back, which is becoming a Peugeot signature, integrates a special material with a patterned surface, which, according to Gilles VIDAL, Director of the Design, forces the air flowing over the body to ‘stick’ to the surface and reduce aerodynamic drag. The ‘cote de prestige’, that is the distance between the rear edge of the front wheel opening and the front door cut line, has been visually increased, or shall we say ‘optimized’. This positions the cab towards the back of the vehicle, emphasizing the hood and conveying a feeling of power.
The cockpit is all about the driver and the other occupants. The steering wheel integrates touch-pads on both spokes that allow the driver to control the functions and equipment of the car. All the features can be controlled by a tactile deck in the central console. This central console is study in simplicity. Using less material, rather than constantly adding more. Rear seat occupants also benefit from this deck to manage their own dedicated atmosphere. After the concept Exalt, which was inspired by the world of the piano, Fractal pulls its origins from the auditorium and the recording studio. Materials, such as the black oak applied to the dashboard, the doors and the seats transport us in the universe of the concert hall. The dramatic sheet of copper across the instrument panel and extending into the doors is intended to be reminiscent of the audio connections in a sound studio.
Gilles VIDAL, explained to us that Fractal was a real laboratory for ideas from the Peugeot studio. Indeed, besides the acoustics, this concept allows for the exploration of things like 3D printing to create forms that are impracticable by any other process. The contribution of digital tools provided a method for the designers to calculate the most efficient way to create the form of every individual component.
When we asked if this vehicle could be produced, I think we saw a smile come to Vidal’s lips..… but then I must admit we really wanted to see a smile there.
Of course we must eventually return to reality, so let’s look now at some of the production vehicles on display.
One word can be used to describe the VW Tiguan II which was presented at the show: Continuity. Even if it is a little more « squared » and totally new, it is stylistically close to the original. This is the first vehicle to use the new MQB platform, which is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor thus it seems more distinguished (thoroughbred) and more sports oriented.
Alfa returns to the center stage with the eagerly awaited Giulia that will replace the flagship 159 which ceased production a few years ago. After many delays, here at last is the return of Alfa with a clear message — “return to basics”. At first glance some people will say that it reminds them of a 3 series BMW, but it does not matter! It is an Alfa. The car is distinguished by great styling details. The hood is long, the front end and grill are bold, the whole car screams heritage. The strong feature line that starts from the air extractor behind the front wheel, just under the cloverleaf badge, the huge intake ducts, the massive cloverleaf wheels exposing ‘dinner plate’ sized discs, everything exudes the emotion and the sporting history. Pure lust.
In Frankfurt, there was a major presentation of the Renault Mégane IV, which is certainly a best-seller in the European C segment dominated by the VW Golf. This latest version is unquestionably more audacious than the predecessor. It maintains all the styling cues of the recent Espace and Talisman, with, for example, the « DLR’s » (Daytime Running Lights), in the front bumper. The grill, which seemed enormous on the Clio, seems better proportioned here and positions this Mégane at the top of range. This horizontal proportion is further emphasized at the rear on some models by large tail lights stretching across the whole width, only briefly interrupted in the middle to allow space for the logo. The vehicle seems to be visually wider and benefits, furthermore, from an extraordinarily strong night time signature. Based on the Renault-Nissan Qashqai (and Kadjar) platform, this automobile benefits from a wheelbase just a little longer than Mégane III and short overhangs. Together with the graphics of the windows and sculptured surfaces, everything combines to improve the status of this next generation Mégane, which is just waiting to hunt down those disaffected Volkswagen owners. Maybe this is the perfect time for new product in this segment.
Two other studies drew our attention. The Hyundai Gran Turismo project and the Honda Project 2&4 Concept. We are speechless … The first one is a study for the Gran Turismo video game and, as with some predecessors (Citroën, Bugatti, etc.), Hyundai is indicating that the brand wants to participate more in the world of motor sport. The second arises from an internal competition at Honda. Inspired by the Formula 1 Honda RA272, winner of Grand Prix of Mexico 1965 It was designed by the motorcycle studio based to Asaka in association with the Wako studio of automobile design. Both these studios are in a suburb of Tokyo. The basic idea is to offer to the best characteristics of the motorcycle and the car, which is why the seat « floats » over the frame allowing the driver to see the road under his legs … The steering wheel (with driver information back-projected on a clear screen) is supported by slim ‘steering column’ that shoots off at a sharp angle towards the center of the car. To the right of the driver there is space for a passenger — after removal of a body panel. As you might expect, the drive train is from a motorcycle. We would like to see the first one of these on the track, but the second one should be in our garage …
It was vintage Frankfurt, with concepts centered on electric or hybrid propulsion and, as expected, a big show of force from all the German manufacturers.
As a final example of the local ‘muscle’, BMW, in presenting the new 7 Series, created a display in a 12,000 m2 hall which integrated a 700 meter test track where we could test drive both the battery-powered and conventional vehicles ….. Yes, you read that correctly, we were able to drive internal combustion-engine vehicles in an enclosed space thanks to a high-tech ventilation system. And, remember, all this was in a display that has a life of just 15 days
Next stop, the Detroit Auto Show in January where we will take another look at the North American market.
Part IV | Renault, surfing on its Captur mini-crossover success, revealed its new Kadjar. After missing the beginning of the SUV market, Renault wants to make a come back after its lack of success with the Koleos in Europe. Based on the same Qashqai architecture, Kadjar wears a strong new “corporate” grille from Renault Design. The body is more dynamic than the interior, which offers just a simple, classic dashboard. Quality materials are used throughout. The middle market SUV war will be fierce during the next few years and we can only hope that the market will always be this competitive.
Seat seems to be showing a stronger presence these days. With its concept 20V20 presentation, the Spanish cousin of the VW Group wanted to send some rather different messages. First, this nice concept likely gives us a good indication of the evolution we should see from the mark moving towards 2020. Lines are sharp, like it was designed and shaped with a scalpel, making accurate lines, angles and triangles. The overall shape is very dynamic, perhaps a little aggressive at first sight, so the future direction is likely to be a bit more sober and elegant. The second message is that Seat will soon be arriving on the SUV market. This concept is close to the Audi Q5 in size and it seems that the first production model will be a compact SUV in competition with Kaptur5 (Renault) and Juke (Nissan). After that, we should see some bigger versions.
As you can see, Geneva left us only a little hungry. The world market is heading in a strong upward direction, even if Europe seems to be a bit late in following… No doubt there will be a plethora of concept cars, model introductions and new features presented during the Frankfort show from September 17 to 27. We can’t wait!
In order to wait, and to end this report, a little gallery of cars we did not talk about…
Part III | Lexus surprised all of us with the unveiling of the LF-SA concept coming from the designers at Toyota ED2 Sofia-Antipolis (based in the south of France) and managed by Lance Scott. This small urban car makes a very bold statement. Based on the Toyota IQ platform, it seems to be coming directly from the latest comic book! It might be small, but it is heavily sculptured and the car looks rather ‘thick’ and ‘heavy’.
Specifications seem to dictate fun and luxury in a segment dominated in Europe by Twingo, VW Up and Smart…. The lines seem to be confused at first, but after a longer look, they are completely mastered. We know Laurent Bouzige, the exterior stylist of the project, very well, so his work is not strange for us; the lines have continuity and the highlights on the surfaces are a signature of his. Strangely, there is not really a body feature line, but more a connection between the front and the backlight. The front is the most blatant. We do not like the grille on Lexus cars in general, but this one seems even more enormous, with excess relief and too much aggression – especially for a city car. The grille really is too much and this feature of the car disturbed most of our designer colleagues. In spite of all this, the concept is a success. Surface changes are extremely controlled. It is like a sculpture, a sculptured body. If we look carefully, the back is taught, like animal is ready to pounce! The wheel detail, with large blades extending over the tire is interesting, even it is only suitable for a concept car.
The interior comes from Jacomir Cech and is similarly imaginative, with tense curves crisscrossing the passenger compartment. The addition of elliptic curves with new combinations of materials on the doors gives a light and spacious effect in this small volume. The interior includes many details: the driver’s seat is different from the rest of the interior – the seat is in blue leather/alcantara with beige stitching; the steering wheel repeats the grille theme and has spokes which have metal inserts with an interesting patina applied by a local artisan. The rear view mirror is an LCD screen. The door panels and central console are made with a 3D printing process and realized in foam imitating a honeycomb stitch structure. They are very soft and comfortable.
The grey exterior and blue/ivory colors for the interior give the concept a luxury feeling not often found in the city car segment. Even though the design is outside normal convention, the graphic treatment works well. This Lexus LF-SA follows an expressive and emotional philosophy that is very unusual in the more rational world of European design thinking. Contrary at our initial impression, this concept is a success, and even if the aggressive grille seems contradictory for a car of this size, its luxury look should please the girls.
Nissan revealed the SWAY Concept. From some years Nissan in-house designers have worked to rebuild a style language for the mark. With patience and accuracy, with small touches, show car after show car, they have arrived at this very successful concept that will be the next generation Micra. Nissan seems to be moving away from the frequently copied Germany style. The SWAY is almost a monospace with strong worked surfaces and a pronounced “A line” down the profile. A small error for us is the exaggerated swelling at the base of the A-pillar that we feel is inelegant. The contrasting anodized look of the cant rails which are connected across the backlight and the black glass roof panel give the impression that the roof is suspended over the greenhouse. Subtlety here is helpful. Overhangs, front and rear, are minimized and the wheelbase is long. There is space for 3 wheels between front and rear wheelarches where typically there would be just 2 and a half. Large wheel arches create an impression of real power. One small drawback: body surfaces seem to be a little too complex, causing reflections that hinder us from the reading the true form of the body side. But all of this should be corrected in the final version.
Mazda, the Japanese manufacturer that is less well known than the likes of Honda, Toyota and Nissan, but nevertheless has a large product range with its own personal style providing a great alternative for customers wishing to buy something different. In Geneva, Mazda revealed 3 new cars:
The CX3 is intended to take its place in the growth market of Crossover compacts. Exterior style follows the Mazda tradition with an expressive grille and a strong character line. Interior is modern with a visual effect similar to the one used by Mercedes.
The second Mazda introduction was the final version of the eagerly awaited new MX5 Coupe; the incontestable n°1 small sports car in the world for over 20 years!!! In order to continue satisfying its regular customers, the new MX5 body is a little more round than its predecessors, but a larger grille and slim headlights result in a more aggressive appearance. Nice work has been done with the light running along the bodyside. Reflections change with the angle you view the car giving life to the form. The “nose” is lower than the previous version and the light climbs in order to reach its peak at the level of the front wheelarch. The light comes down again towards the back, including over the rear wheelarch. This is all accomplished with a fluid movement along the body. Truly, it is a sculpture in motion. An interesting small detail: the rear lights are simple and round, enhancing the sporty look, they will remind you of some Italian sports cars. Most important for us is still the retractable roof. This is a very nice feature at the MX5 price point, especially in comparison with other competitive products. We look forward to the pleasure of driving this new toy.
Part II | After seeing earlier ideas and dreams, Volkswagen returns to the pragmatic with the presentation of the new GTE coupe. A slim profile, with a long roof line that is somehow elusive. Is this also a hint of what we might expect from the new CC in 2016 ? The Sport Coupe GTE is completely different from the conceptual design of VW sedans. With the addition of a tailgate, it moves closer to its Audi Sportback cousins (A5 and A7). The front is handled with an unusual and expressive aspect: you will notice the linear LED lights extending into a horizontal grill. The rear is designed with a rather muscular look. This is new from VW and gets our attention. Apparently this style is a precursor for what will be a new Wolfsburg style direction. The cockpit is close to production level and includes a digital cluster like that on the high end Passat. 4 tactile screens are proposed, one centrally located for infotainment and air conditioning controls, one in the center console between the front seat passengers and two on the backs of the front seats. The trend is not only to take care of the driver, but also to provide as much distraction and enjoyment as possible for the rear seat passengers.
VW also revealed the Alltrack version of the Passat, a 4×4 explorer that uses the most powerful engines available in the new Passat. Journalists chose this elegant, classic sedan as Car of the Year for 2015 from 7 finalists. The interior, finished like the best VW production, also embraces the best technology of the mark. Pricing will determine if the new Passat can dominate the traditional middle class European market, but buyers may also see it as an alternative for more premium cars without losing quality and image.
Peugeot and Citroen did not show anything new during this show and for a good reason. It was necessary to leave pride of place for the introduction of the new mark: DS Automotive… On the booth as a first debut for the new brand, the DS5 raised its new grill complete with the new logo front and center.
A big surprise for us was the absence of any major news from BMW. The 1 Series does benefit from an important exterior restyling, with a finer front face similar to other BMW sedans. The rear lights are now in two parts and less intrusive. In summary, the new Series 1 style will permit this entry to continue the fight at this end of the market.
BMW continues to penetrate the front wheel drive monospace market. For some of us there was a big surprise, with the new Series 2 Grand Tourer, which offers either 7 seats or more space for 5 people and their luggage. BMW wants to cover the needs of every family.
OPEL has some problems on the European market and knows that it is under close observation from the now healthy General Motors headquarters in US. The flashy mark exposed a new entry-level vehicle (Less than 10,000€) the KARL. A small 5 door destined for the city or as a second car, the KARL is really in the Opel tradition with consensual shapes that should please as many people as possible. The interior is sober, but exudes quality with looking rich materials for this price range. Fit and finish is good and we think the KARL will help OPEL to rebuild the brand in Europe.
KIA pleased us by revealing the Sportspace Concept which is a precurser to its future D-class model. The concept was developed by a European styling department, based in Frankfort, Germany and managed by Frenchman Gregory Guillaume. The team, lead by Laurent Boulay, developed simple lines that are sober and elegant; there is no big flourish, no heavily sculptured approach to the design, just simplicity and elegance underlining the sporty yet functional style of the body. The long, long roof-line is underlined by an aluminum insert running from the base of the A-Pillar to the top of D-Pillar. A large integrated carbon surround panel emphasizes the exhaust outlets. The integrated grille and front lights stretch the apparent width of the car as the assembly wraps the front corners of the vehicle. It gives the car a larger look. So, the Sportspace name is really well suited to the vehicle… sporty and distinguished with an elegant simplicity that works perfectly.
Part I | Of course, it is a long standing comment: Switzerland is a neutral country and every car manufacturer wants to reveal its concept-cars and new model introductions at the Geneva show, but with this first year of renewed growth in Europe we are left a little hungry. It is clear that Geneva is an easy destination for all Europeans and that the Palexpo hall itself, just a few steps from the airport, is relatively small and easy to visit. In summary, every year all the ingredients are in place for a friendly and convenient show.
The European market seems to be restarting, with 2014 being the first positive year since 2007. The market is changing too. SUV’s are taking more and more sales, mostly replacing monospace vehicles.
There were many novelties last year, but this year the predominant theme is face-lifts rather than new vehicles. Even though only a few new cars were present, however, don’t forget that we are in Switzerland, so there is a welcome emphasis on sports cars.
For example, Audi presented the second version of the R8. Less revolutionary then the first, which was a totally new creation from the Ingolstadt company. Style is now underlined with sharper edges and the dramatic, graphic lateral element behind the door is no more. Well, it is still present, but in a more subtle form and split between the greenhouse and the air intake. The interior is 100% new, with the digital screen also seen in the new TT. So, this R8 is not an esthetic revolution, but an interesting evolution.
Ferrari presented the 488GTB — technically it is an evolution of the 458 Italia, but returning to the more pure lines dictated by aerodynamics. Ferrari Design department was definitely paying respect to the history of the mark. The character of the vehicle is achieved with sculptured flanks and enormous air intakes in the rear quarters most surely required for cooling and aerodynamics. The intakes are horizontally divided into two parts, like a signature, but also in order to visually reduce their enormous size. For the interior, sport is king. More of a simple approach: first all the main controls are close to the driver; second the clean, slim centre console, also oriented towards the driver. So, it is (almost) race-car basic, but with the necessary comfort.
From Bentley, Design Director, Luc Donckerwolke (who has since resigned), presented a study called “EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept”. This study, with just 2 seats, is positioned alongside the Continental, but with a more sporty style. Some will think it is like something… or it is inspired from something… but this concept is refreshing, with clear Bentley design cues. It has a typical Bentley front face, but it is more fluid than we are used to seeing. The interior is so British, with elegance, good taste, technology and an interesting vertical, tactile screen.
Each beginning of March is the Geneva Autoshow. Almost intimate by its size, it is also a special event for each manufacturer since they chose Geneva to unveil their most prestigious cars. The 2015 edition will open its doors to the public from March 5th to 15th, after two press days on March 3rd and 4th.
Acura made the biggest splash among the Japanese brands with the long awaited production version of the Acura NSX. The car is stunning, as well as being a technological tour de force. Interestingly, the production design was completed in the US by a team led by Michelle Christensen, the engineering/development was done in the US and the manufacturing will be conducted in a new ‘craft centre’ at the Honda plant in Ohio. Full marks to Honda for allowing the vehicle to be developed outside Japan and in its major market. The final version is faithful to the concept model, even though the packaging went through several iterations to accommodate various different powertrain permutations and the dimensions grew in both length and width. The end result is suitably dramatic from all angles — if only we could drive one.
During the press days Honda displayed their fuel cell concept, presumably to match the one also found on the Toyota stand. Neither car is particularly attractive, but they are distinctive and standing out is certainly an appropriate goal for a vehicle powered by this future technology. Now all we need is a hydrogen infrastructure……..
Honda also demonstrated their racing prowess with a display featuring the Honda powered 2014 Indy 500 winner and the 1965 Mexican GP winning F1 car. We look forward to the return of Honda to F1 this season.
Toyota displayed the FT-1 concept car again — this time with gunmetal grey metallic paint. Frankly it looked a lot better than with last year’s red paint job. The big introduction for Toyota in Detroit was the new mid-sized Tacoma truck. No big design breakthroughs here so let’s move on to Lexus. The signature “bobbin” grilles are getting bigger and bigger, but they are still hard to love. If you can get past the grilles, there are some decent looking products available from this brand — the GSF 4-door and the RCF coupe being two great examples. The ground hugging GT3 racing version of the RCF coupe painted in bright white made a dramatic statement and a strong declaration of intent.
Nissan’s big news was also on the truck side of the business with the introduction of an all-new Titan full-sized pick-up. Neither Nissan nor Toyota have been as successful in the large truck market as they expected, but this is probably another step in the right direction for Nissan, especially with a brand new V8 Cummins diesel available under the hood.
The Infiniti Q60 concept was one of the most interesting designs at the show. The Q60 is 2-door coupe (yes, really!) with strong and interesting design cues from front to rear. The front end is dramatic, with sinister ‘hooded’ headlamps, a bold grille with a large illuminated emblem and two large lower air intakes with integrated fog lamps terminating in bold character lines sweeping up towards the headlamps. The side view is equally strong with big wheels, deep sculptured panels and an interesting quarter window termination. The theme continues in the rear with bold shapes around the exhausts an integrated decklid spoiler and taillamps that echo the “hooded eyes” of the front. Let’s hope they build this one!
It is good to see the success of Jaguar/Land Rover under Tata management. Jaguar introduced the XE sedan (a BMW 3-Series fighter) at the show to complete their range of handsome sedans. The XE has the appearance of being a little bigger than the BMW, but in our opinion it is the best looking of the three cars. Land Rover came to the show with the latest version of the Discovery and some new diesel powered models.
All in all the Detroit show was good this year. The atmosphere was upbeat and confident with some stunning designs to grab our attention. The 4 cars that stood out for us were the Ford GT, the Acura NSX, the Buick Avenir and the Infiniti Q60.
In this Episode 4, let’s talk about the German manufacturers and ask this question :
Why is it that the Germans (Audi excepted) seem to have forgotten that the definition of coupe or coupé is:
“A closed two-door car body style with a permanently attached fixed roof”
Mercedes call their new 4-door GLE ‘thing’ a coupe; BMW have 4 and 6 Series Gran Coupe 4-Door Sedans, as well as the X4 and X6 Sports Activity Coupe 4 doors; while VW has a new SUV called the Cross Coupé GTE! What is this all about? Mercedes just went through an elaborate retake on their nomenclature, but cannot tell the difference between a 2-door and a 4-door. BMW’s Gran Coupe 4-doors are at least sleek looking, but what happened to the letter “d” on Grand – or is it Granny? Well, I know…It certainly follow the Pininfarina concept Car called Gran Lusso…The Mercedes GLE and BMW X4/X6 are about as far removed from a coupe as one can get, — except perhaps for the VW GTE! To say that I am disappointed in these manufacturers would be a gross understatement.
Mercedes Benz had quite a few new products to show off. The previously revealed AMG GT provided the main “eye-candy” in a bright pearl white paint job. The car is striking from every angle and should become a force to be reckoned with the market. Not nearly as attractive is the MB copycat version of the BMW X4/X6, the GLE. There is no accounting for (bad) taste I suppose, but few market watchers would have predicted that the ugly duckling “Sports Activity Coupes” from BMW would achieve sufficient traction in their customer base to force MB to follow with a similar – also ugly — product. I just can’t talk about these vehicles any more……. Also on display was the Maybach version of the S-Class. The interior is a bit overdone, with every conceivable feature and luxury detail, but it would be nice to stretch out in the back with a glass of wine while someone else drives you to the yacht.
The F015 autonomous vehicle concept attracted quite a bit of attention. This beast is huge, with 26 inch wheels, four doors each of which has its own large screen TV, the rear doors are rear hinged and there is no B-Pillar, the front seats swivel 180 degrees, so you can have a meeting while being autonomously conveyed to your next destination. What a total waste of time — and it is ugly too. I typically like MB styling, but they seem to have lost their way with the F015 and the GLE. I do still love the S-Class Coupe, however, and yes, it really is a coupe!
There was not much new on the BMW stand. The i8 is still gorgeous, apart from the bright blue seat belts that is. The interior of the i3 on display left me cold, however, Supposedly it is responsible, eco-friendly and in tune with the younger crowd, but the exposed, reconstituted trim boards on the IP and the doors left me crying for leather or vinyl. The seats just left me crying. But all is not lost, the 650i Gran Coupe is beautiful, even if they did get the name wrong.
Audi introduced the new Q7 to mixed reviews. Somehow it is not as elegant as the previous model with sharper feature lines and a more station-wagon look. The body is now graced with a “side spear” towards the bottom of the doors, presumably to disguise the element of slab-sidedness. The grille on the Q7 (along with other models) is larger and more intimidating – good for autobahn driving. Audi still maintains an envied position in the industry with respect to interiors and the Q7 is no exception. To be the benchmark for as long as Audi has in this critical area is an astonishing achievement.
The VW display was brightly lit, as ever and prominently displayed were its Motor Trend Car of the Year and North American Car of the Year awards for the Golf range. VW has struggled for share in the US market this year and continues to underperform. Missing from the VW product line up are the small and mid-sized SUV’s and CUV’s that are presently selling so well in the US. As in previous years, VW again showed a concept for a potential competitor in this segment. This year it was the Cross Coupé GTE. You and I would probably call it an SUV. Shown in a delicate shade of metallic blue, the GTE is a sharp and clean design with a solid “machined” look. It features a low bodyside ‘A’ line that also embraces the unusually low door handles. This low feature line, together with a broad spear on the lower edge of the doors, combine to improve the appearance of another slab-sided body. All in all this is a competent design, they just can’t get it to the dealers soon enough.
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