Auteur/autrice : admin

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NAIAS 2014 | FORD

Tough !

Ford shocked most industry observers with the reveal of its next generation F150 and the news that it will have an all-aluminum body.  The 2015 F150 has bold ‘chunky’ styling inside and out and will be available for sale in the 4th quarter of this year.  The dramatic weight saving of around 700 pounds (318 kg), combined with better dent resistance and improved corrosion resistance is a real game changer in the segment.  If everything works out as planned, this technology leap could put Ford as much as 8 years ahead of the competition in the race to meet future fuel economy mandates.  What has everyone scratching their heads, however, is the economics.  With annual volumes in the 800,000 unit range, will the increased material cost and infrastructure changes required for aluminum pay off for Ford.

Ford’s other big news at the show was the new 2015 Mustang.  Although exhibiting some styling cues from the Evos concept, there is no doubt that this car is all Mustang.  The nose is higher and bulkier than we would like — most likely for pedestrian impact reasons.  This, plus the relatively high belt line, makes the roofline look artificially low and the greenhouse on the small side.  The three vertical tail lamps on each side are pure Mustang and they flash sequentially — of course.  One other facet of the design is the bodyside feature line that is interrupted by the rear wheel arch flare, but then continues for just a few inches in the rear quarter panel.  Just like the Taurus and just as strange………..  We would like to have seen tighter gaps between the tyres and the wheel openings, especially with the bigger wheel/tyre combinations.  The interior maintains all the right Mustang features with the double brow, large round gauges and now huge toggle switches in the centre stack.  It is well executed, but lacks the finesse of a typical European interior.

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NAIAS 2014 | GM

the whole corvette family
Sting Ray at the show
if we feel the front is rather aggressive….what do you think about the rear ?
GMC Canyon
a premium pickup

GM, now fully independent of Government ownership, was generating some heat with the recent announcement of Mary Barra as the company’s first woman CEO and its success in winning both North American Car and Truck of the Year.  The Corvette Stingray was voted Car of the Year and the Chevrolet display featured the new Z06 model with 625 hp ‘on tap’.  There are just too many black scoops and vents all over the car for my taste, but it cannot be ignored – visually or technically.

The whole GM full size pick up truck and SUV range has been renewed for 2014.  These are vital segments in the US and represent a huge commitment of resources and investment.  Visually and technically these trucks are an evolutionary tour de force, joined in the market share battle by new mid-size Colorado and Canyon pickups.  The contrast with Ford’s direction is striking.

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NAIAS 2014 : Our American dream is back !

NaiasThe Polar Vortex that had driven freezing air to Detroit and huge swaths of the North American continent just a week before had now become a fading memory.  In contrast, journalists arriving in Detroit for the North American International Auto Show were greeted by almost balmy weather with temperatures around 4 degrees C.  They were also greeted by a rekindling of the American love affair with the automobile.  Styling and luxury were keynotes of the show with exciting coupes everywhere and very attractive compact SUV’s and crossovers for every taste and wallet.   With the economy growing, industry sales roaring back and fuel prices lower, consumer confidence is back.  The emphasis on electric propulsion and cheap transportation is gone.  Yes, customers want fuel efficiency, but they want it without any compromise to style or excitement.  And the manufacturers are ready to deliver…

stay tuned for a show review…!

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IAA 2013 | Porsche 918 Spyder

In order to dream, we have to tell you something about the Porsche 918 Spyder. The design is not surprising. It is after all a Porsche using the spirit of Stuttgart’s past to (re)invent the future. This car is a real beast, yet the design is “no frills”, just the essentials. And this Porsche can offer a 100% electric mode, called e-Power, for between 16 and 32 kilometers…

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IAA 2013 | Audi Sport Quattro Concept

Celebrating 30 years since the original Quattro, Audi revealed the Audi Sport Quattro Concept. Well…first of all there is no doubt that it is an Audi. Large shoulders, clean design. The single-frame grille, with sculpted inserts, is now in 3D, made of two sections: the lower is nearly vertical and the upper continues the hood line. This concept does not have as much DNA from the 80’s Quattro as the previous Quattro concept shown in Paris in 2011, but it certainly gives us some good hints of Audi’s design direction.

Things are changing. Not too fast, but changing…
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IAA 2013 | Volvo Concept Coupé

With the Volvo Concept Coupé the Swedish company demonstrated a certain kind of wisdom in the design direction. Some will say that it is rather “dejà-vu”, but the style remains elegant. In contrast to the Lexus discussed above, lines are clean, simple and justified.The design language is clearly understandable — you quickly feel comfortable with it. We are willing to bet that the next generation XC or V will have a lot of influence from this design direction. One small detail we felt was important: the shape of the line under the door handle is reminiscent of the P1800…That’s part of the Volvo heritage, isn’t it?

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IAA 2013 | Lexus LF-NX Concept

In the previous articles we talked about simplicity being a new trend, now we have to talk about this strange concept on the Lexus display: the Lexus LF-NX concept. From the outside we have barely seen such a complicated form before. The car stands in the “L-Finesse” design language seen on many Lexus before, but pushed to its maximum (…don’t tell us they can go further…). The huge grille at the front is a signature that we will see more and more from Lexus. The DRLs are separated from the headlamps and a vertical opening separates the bumper from the wing — or fender if you prefer. There are a lot of changes on the surfaces and planes somewhat like a stealth fighter…  but this is not a stealth car, you would surely see it coming. It reminds us of the Lamborghini Egoista concept at certain angles.
On the other hand, the interior looks more controlled. Some metal surfacing highlighted by blue instrument lighting give this concept a futuristic look. The black and orange leather makes it look luxurious too. The designers have also worked on the user experience with touch-sensitive electrostatic switches and touchpad interface. Well, the Toyota/Lexus designers did not choose the direction of simplicity with this design, but somehow it works…
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IAA 2013 | KIA Niro Concept

The Kia Niro Concept is not a surprise. It is usual for Kia Design Europe, led by Gregory Guillaume, to display a cool looking concept. A cool concept that we would like to see on the road very soon! This mini SUV, however, could preview a serious competitor to the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur or Mini Paceman! The style is very clean and simple (seems to be a new trend…) with very good proportions. The form language is strong and displays what Kia design is today and the direction they want to take in the future. Volumes are very muscular and give the car a good stance on the road.