Table of contents for No. 164 in AUTO & DESIGN

The 500 first saw the light fifty years ago, in an Italy that was finally reawakening after the darkness of the Second World War and the immediate postwar years. The date was July 4, 1957, and the tiny utility car, offering four seats and a sunroof at an affordable price for much of the population, marked the true beginning of mass mobility in Italy and of a golden age for Fiat. This July 4, exactly 50 years later, the 500 makes its return in a form that is both contemporary and faithful to the spirit of the original. While the scenario may be completely different, the launch of this car is equally significant. The 500 comes back in an atmosphere of vibrant prosperity for Fiat after years of hard times,…

In presenting the Iosis concept two years ago at Frankfurt, Ford’s designers promised that the new Mondeo was to be more dynamic and emotive and a product of the Kinetic Design philosophy expressed by the Iosis. Proof that this promise had been kept came in September 2006, with the unveiling of the estate version of the Mondeo in prototype guise at Paris, but it was only at Geneva this March that we were able to fully appreciate the improved aesthetics and quality of the third generation of Ford’s D segment saloon. “While the S-Max was an initial, significant indicator of our new design language, the Mondeo finalises and completes Kinetic Design. It is its most complete expression in a production model”, says Martin Smith, Executive Design Director of Ford Europe,…

One of the most interesting new offerings at the 2007 edition of the Geneva motor show came from the US. Presented in concept guise, but unmistakably identifiable as a possible production model, the Dodge Demon is a clear signal from DaimlerChrysler of its intentions to launch the brand best known for the Viper supercar in Europe in the near future. Although there is still no official word on the matter, it is not hard to imagine the little roadster on its stand at Geneva – which has already earned the nickname ‘baby Viper’ – looking perfectly at home on the roads of the Old Continent. Compact – at less than four metres in length – and sporting a generally well resolved exterior design and a promising interior, the Demon could…

Yet again the Geneva Motor Show has been chosen by PSA Peugeot Citroën as a stage for the unveiling of new models which not only add to the range, but also represent the group’s increasing interest in partnerships with third party manufacturers. Two years ago, with the compact C1 and 107 developed in collaboration with the Japanese marque Toyota, we noted that, despite sharing the same mechanicals, interiors and even many of the body panels, the three brands had managed to assert their own identities relatively successfully, producing three city cars that were similar in spirit but easily recognisable as members of their respective families (see Auto & Design No. 152). This time, with the aim of venturing into hitherto unexplored territory – the SUV segment – Peugeot and Citroën…

At first glance, the Mila Future developed and presented at Geneva by Magna Steyr may seem no more than a mere exercise in futuristic forms defined by highly sculpted volumes. In reality, however, this is a vision, with solid technological foundations, of what the hydrogen powered motor car of the near future could look like. Magna Steyr is no stranger to technological innovation. The Graz-based Austrian company, specialises in automotive engineering, industrialisation and research – with particular emphasis on alternative energy sources, developing powertrain management systems for hybrid vehicles, natural gas tanks and hydrogen storage systems. For example, Magna-Steyr developed the hydrogen tanks for BMW’s experimental 7 Series and has recently built a three-wheeled natural gas powered rickshaw for the Indian market. Its clients include automotive industry heavyweights such as…

In the mid 1960s, B&B was the first manufacturer in the world to adopt cold cure polyurethane foam moulding technology. This meant a hitherto unimaginable scope for innovative layouts and shapes for furniture, as structural elements, such as frames and springs, could now be embedded within the actual stuffing material itself. The results were chairs that eloquently expressed the desire for freedom and informality of young consumers in the 1970s. One of the most original applications of this technology was the ‘Le bambole’ (the dolls) series of modular padded chairs conceived by Mario Bellini in 1972. This series has now been brought back into production, with only minor modifications to the design and manufacturing technology. Inspired by the cushion and created more with reclining in mind than sitting, these consist…

At its launch in 1999, the first generation X5 ushered in a whole new segment – the SAV, or Sports Activity Vehicle segment. This extremely successful model, with over 580 thousand examples sold to date, is now being replaced by a second generation, which is completely new while remaining faithful to the concept and format of the original. The new X5, which we drove on a rain, hail and wind lashed day on the roads of Sicily, proved to be the perfect car for such adverse conditions. Despite gaining considerably in size – now 18 centimetres longer, 6 wider and 5 taller – the new car is agile, easy to drive, reassuring on even the most treacherous tarmac, fun when pushed a little harder yet relaxing as a motorway cruiser.…

Out with the 206 CC, in with the 207 CC. Peugeot strengthens its foothold in the 2+2 Coupé/Cabriolet segment by replacing a model that almost single-handedly rekindled public interest in appealing yet affordable open-topped cars. Designed by Peugeot’s own style centre, the profile of the 207 CC exudes dynamism through tense lines, with a curve starting at the base of the A pillar, continuing through the roof and toward the vertically truncated tail. The effect is completed with the “Sport” front shared with the standard hatchback. The CC also shares its length and wheelbase with the hatchback (4037 and 2540 mm respectively), although it is wider (at 1750 mm, compared with 1748 for the hatch) and lower (1397 mm compared with 1472 mm). As with the 206 CC, one of…

The Opel GT has secured the title of Cabrio of the Year 2007, an annual prize awarded at the Geneva motor show. The European brand of General Motors is no stranger to the award, having already won in 2004 with the Tigra Twin Top. Now in its fourteenth edition, the prize is assigned by an international panel (including representatives of Auto & Design) to an open-topped car selected from all production cabriolets and roadsters launched during the previous year and currently on sale at a price of no more than 60,000 Swiss Francs (approximately € 37,500). La Opel GT è la Cabrio of the Year 2007, riconoscimento assegnato come ogni anno in occasione del salone di Ginevra, già vinto nel 2004 dal marchio europeo del gruppo General Motors con la…

All the world’s concept cars under the same roof for five days. With just one condition – that they are true concept cars, objects of genuine research and innovation. “Too often, cars presented at motor shows and touted as concept cars are in reality nothing more than previews of imminent production models”, says Lorenza Pininfarina, president of the Coachbuilders’ Association and vice president of ANFIA (National Association of the Automotive Industry), when asked to explain the motives behind the Next International Car Design Expoforum. The event, coinciding with the Turin, Design Capital 2008 initiative, is an exhibition open to all – R&D centres of major manufacturers, independent studios and individual designers – conceived by ANFIA and organised with the support of Promotor. “It is an opportunity to assess the state…

For BMW design chief Chris Bangle, the three door 1 Series and the concept for the soon to be launched M3 presented at Geneva are but another step in the direction of an automotive revolution in which he has so much confidence that he even goes so far as to set a date: “The window”, he says, “will be between 2020 and 2025.” It is high time for change, he claims. “The change from wood to steel took about ten years, and it took about fifteen to change from hand welding to automated assembly lines. The transition to a new type of car will take no longer.” But what type of car is he talking about? Perhaps even he himself isn’t entirely sure, but he has countless ideas in mind,…

The Thalìa concept for a hydrogen powered four seater sports car offering the rear occupants an unusual raised seating position, unveiled at Geneva by Fioravanti, was the designer’s vision of a cleaner future for the automobile, combining performance with the pleasure of driving and travelling. “Reconciling an awareness for the environment with the widely differing needs of motorised mobility”, begins Leonardo Fioravanti, “is an issue that Fioravanti has addressed since its inception in 1987, and one that has led to the creation of over 30 patented solutions. In 1994, when hybrid technology seemed destined only for small work vehicles, we interpreted it in a sports key with the Sensiva. In 1996, we focused on the rationalised, efficient use of materials with the Nyce, while the Flair was a significant study…

For more than half a century – or since 1953, to be precise, when the PV 445 was launched – estates have been the flagships of the Volvo marque and a symbol of its international success. With the V70 presented at Geneva alongside the XC70 crossover, the Swedish marque shows that it has another ace up its sleeve – an ability to reconcile versatility with the dynamism and the new concept of luxury of the S80 saloon. “The station wagon”, says Volvo design director Steve Mattin, “is the spearhead of our range. Our goal was to perfect it, giving it even more extraordinary qualities.” The new car shares both its destiny and its bodyshell with the new XC70. The new XC70 is more elegant and efficient than its predecessor, yet…

Karl Abarth, born in Austria in 1908 and founder, in 1949, of the small business bearing his name in Turin specialising in creating sports versions of production cars, had a stroke of genius. It was the idea of using everyday cars, the commonest utility models populating the roads of Italy, as the base for his racing specials. The first was the Fiat 750, which was followed by the 850, but the most famous of all was the puny little 500 which, under the new name 565 and sporting rubber bonnet hooks, a three-spoked leather rimmed steering wheel and Abarth livery, went on to become the very symbol of a country that yearned for the thrill of speed – even in the smallest utility car, but with a ‘Scorpion’ in the…

There has been a recent surge of interest in the design of audio devices, fuelled by the proliferation of new digital music storage items – first and foremost the iconic iPod – which in turn have spawned dedicated amplifier systems to enable their use within the home. These innovative products combine the functions of the familiar old speaker with new features and a renewed interest for the aesthetics of technology where it is our habits that are changing more than anything else. We listen to music on the PC while we’re working, so speakers for the computer have become evolved, attractively designed accessories. Music can now be played anywhere in the home using systems such as the Music Tap by Pioneer, which uses ground breaking technology to stream music through…

What does colour mean in a car? Is it a purely decorative element or does it have a deeper meaning? What are the creative processes in the selection of colours defining the brand, model and even the era of a car? Is the automotive industry susceptible to fashion in its choice of new colours? These were among the many questions answered by the designers and technicians of the leading paint manufacturer PPG during a day dedicated to the incredible world of colour. The American based PPG Industries owns over 100 production plants worldwide. Its Italian operations began in 1984 with the acquisition of “Industrie Vernici Italiane” from Fiat and the Quattordio and Caivano plants in Piedmont and Campania. To extend its activities to the car finishing sector, PPG acquired the…

A diesel future for Chevrolet. After the Captiva crossover and the Epica flagship, which debuted last year with the 150 bhp TDCI 2.0 engine, it is now the turn of the midsized Lacetti and Nubira SW, which both receive a 121 bhp version of the same engine. The Lacetti 2.0 TCDI joins the existing 1.4 petrol model and is offered in SX and SX Leather trim, while the Nubira SW 2.0 TCDI joins the 1.6 petrol and is available in SX and CDX Leather trim levels. Both come with air conditioning, refrigerated glove compartment, fog lights, radio/CD player and heated wing mirrors as standard, while the range topping Leather variant also gets leather upholstery, 15” alloys and metal accents in the dash. In Leather guise, the Nubira SW also offers…

The increasingly international scope of the Shanghai Motor Show is proof of the growing importance attributed to the Chinese market by the world’s major carmakers. It was therefore no surprise that two premium European groups, BMW and Volkswagen, chose Shanghai as the venue for the world debuts of two concepts for forthcoming production models: the former with a prototype for an elegant saloon with coupé proportions and the latter with an Audi-badged compact crossover. The show also confirmed the ongoing collaboration between Italian coachbuilders and Chinese automakers. Chery presented its Shooting Sport four-seater compact hatch designed by Torino Design, which also created the Chery Lei and Lui unveiled last year at Beijing. Idea Institute, on the other hand, independently developed the Formula Idea, a single seat racer symbolising the spirit…

“W e have to work within constraints all year round, so we like to be able to work in complete creative freedom at least when we’re designing our concept car for Geneva”, explains Giorgetto Giugiaro as he presents the Vad.ho research model created with his son and head of the company’s style division, Fabrizio. The precept is provocative, redefining the high performance sports car architecture to accommodate an alternative drive system and for optimised aerodynamics. The result is the Vad.ho, named after the industrial district in Moncalieri that has been home to Italdesign Giugiaro since 1974, plus the letter ‘H’ for hydrogen, a play on words encompassing both the company’s past and an alternative fuel technology that looks to the future. An unusual layout has been chosen for the car,…

Three years after he was appointed head of General Motors Europe’s design operations in Rüsselsheim, Germany, Bryan Nesbitt has presented his first major design effort which will have a mid-term impact on all Opel and Vauxhall designs. Still recognisable as an Opel or Vauxhall, it is the form language of this Geneva show car that makes the difference. “It is the signature for GME’s future small, lower-medium and uppermedium generations,” Nesbitt said. “It may be unconventional at first sight, and therefore polarising, but it will be followed by acceptance.” Next year’s successor to GME’s upper-medium Vectra, which will bear another name and gets a bit more up-market position, will be the first production model on which GTC’s design details are applied. The GTC concept shows some new front-end features, with…

Remember the classic cabriolet with its soft top, clear plastic rear screen and the unmistakable feeling of driving a convertible even with the roof up? Perhaps not, now that the coupé-cabriolet genre reigns supreme in all segments from compact to luxury, sporting roofs that in appearance are almost undistinguishable from their fixed head counterparts, but conceal increasingly sophisticated technology to open up the cabin to the sun and fresh air in a matter of seconds. Peter Schreyer, head of Kia design since last Autumn, has eschewed this current trend, preferring rather to emphasise the classic spirit of the cabriolet with the ex_cee’d concept unveiled at the Korean brand’s stand at Geneva. “Of course, we could have gone for the safer option and followed the trend for folding metal roofs, but…

The BeOn, a two-seater, rear-engined hybrid with a marked motorcycle feel is an attractively designed concept unbound by formal constraints. This ecological buggy is the European Design Institute of Turin’s fourth appearance at Geneva and has provided yet another opportunity for the students of the Master’s course in Transportation Design at the Turin institute to impress the public after already creating a buzz with three extremely diverse projects presented at the Swiss show over the past few years, namely the Delfin light city car from 2004, the sleek X1/99 coupé designed in conjunction with Fiat in 2005 and the striking Haizea designed for the Lancia brand in 2006. The project began with a brief entitled “Emotional hybrid” assigned by the institute to the nineteen students from all over the world.…

Japanese design is often capable of producing solutions for consumer technology and electronics that seemingly have nothing in common with the products of a more European approach to design for household objects, furniture and lighting systems. Whereas there is an established trend among European designers to look towards a more ‘Oriental’ style, embodying essentiality and simplification, a ‘making do with less’, a subtraction of an object’s constituent elements, of material or of decorative features. This is a movement attracting increasing attention in recent times which, however, was already understood and practiced earlier in Italy by exponents such as Bruno Munari and Enzo Mari. Enzo Mari was asked by the wooden furniture manufacturer Hida Sangyo to take part in the ten thousand million Sugi trees project. The result was a series…

Power tool design is an area in which a user-focused approach must be reconciled with precise technical and functional requisites. This is a field in which the design of the object must guarantee attributes like technical performance, ergonomics, practicality and, of course, user safety. The Stuttgart based maker of professional electric power tools Metabo has always been aware of the importance of design, and has now turned to Porsche Design for their Multihammer P’7911, a tool combining the most important functions of a drill with the sheer force of a pneumatic hammer. Conceived to cater for all possible household jobs (drilling with or without percussion function, chiselling and tightening or loosening screws), the tool adopts an innovative hand grip located above the main body rather than underneath, as on conventional…

Flux, by the twenty year old Romanian IED Turin student Mihai Panaitescu, was the winner of the fourth Peugeot Design competition, an exclusively online initiative open to young talents from all over the world. The theme of the competition was summed up in the acronym P.L.E.A.S.E: a car that is pleasurable to drive, lively, efficient, accessible, simple to use and ecological in conception. Three selection stages held between October and February whittled down the proposals submitted to Peugeot’s website from over 4,000 (70 percent of which from Western Europe and 525 from China alone) to a short list of around ten, from which the winner was chosen. The Flux, a concept for a high-tech roadster with an aluminium chassis and fuel cell technology, will be built as a full scale…

61 students from 18 institutes produced 49 proposals on the theme “Design a car that would appeal equally to 16-year-olds and 60-year-olds” for the 2007 World Automotive Design Competition, which concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at Toronto during the Canadian AutoShow. The competition was sponsored by Autodesk, which offered dedicated automotive design software suites to the winners. Paul Kim from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco secured first prize for his Ford Legion. “Paul’s design is an excellent balance of great aesthetics and clever functionality. The exterior design is bold and distinctive through the use of modern surface language and strong graphics”, said Moray Callum, director of design for Ford North America and panel member. Ryan Campbell, from the same school, received second prize for the VW Connextion,…

This February 7, during the Ambiente – International Frankfurt Fair, the German Design Council hosted the second edition of the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the Personal Achievement Award to long-standing design director for Braun, Dieter Rams, an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry at the Royal Society of Arts in London since 1968, chairman of the German Design Council from 1988 to 1998 and member of the executive board of the ICSID (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) from 1991 to 1995. Rams, now an honorary member of the German Design Council, is considered one of the greatest product designers in Germany and, indeed, in the world, has been a key figure in the world’s…