Table of contents for No. 247 in AUTO & DESIGN

"Colours and materials are two of the most important elements of a Toyota. Here at ED2 we carry out various innovative experiments, but the goal is to find quality solutions for high-volume products for some markets, Europe included. For the new Toyota Yaris we developed the 'Tokyo Fusion', a red with orange and pink tones that fits perfectly in Japan and Europe. For the Aygo X Prologue we chose a spicy multi-layered red, ideal for such a dynamic and attractive model”. Julie Schwieder, Senior CMF Designer «Colori e materiali sono due dei più importanti elementi di una Toyota. Qui all’ED2 portiamo avanti diverse sperimentazioni innovative, ma l’obiettivo finale è la ricerca di soluzioni di qualità per prodotti di grande volume non solo per il mercato europeo. Un esempio? Per la…

"Here we travel in the future". The Toyota ED2 centre also works on projects that will transform the Japanese brand from car manufacturer to mobility service provider. "As a brand, Toyota has always aimed to improve people's lives", explains Laurent Bouzige, Head of Strategy & Mobility. "And here we imagine new scenarios in which vehicles and infrastructure are able to communicate with each other, helping people in their daily lives and making life easier for the more vulnerable". The French style centre has come up with a veritable fleet of futuristic vehicles that were supposed to make their debut during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed for the pandemic. So here then is the e-Palette, an autonomous bus dedicated to moving athletes and staff around the Olympic village, but whose internal…

Dynamic in its language, contemporary in its configuration and details, yet unmistakably hinged on a formal construction that will soon celebrate a half century: the latest creation of Renault design synthesises an intriguing look to the future and a proud, sure, retro flavour. In order not to sweeten the modernity of its nostalgia, however, a precise selection of stylistic features created in so many years of history was requested from the designers. “The original model is so well known and representative that, if you interviewed a number of people in a big piazza, everyone would recall a different memory”, says Gilles Vidal, head of style at Renault since last November. “Someone would imagine the original R5 of 1972, others the celebrated sports versions Alpine and Maxiturbo, and yet others would…

A premium, zero-emissions crossover. The Mercedes-Benz EQA is offered as an entry model to the German brand’s electric range, with a stylistic identity that is easily traced back to that of the GLA, a vehicle with which it shares a platform and components. Its architecture can accommodate thermal, hybrid, or 100% electric engines, but does not permit the EQA to fully enjoy the benefits, in terms of use of space and liveability, that derive from using platforms exclusively conceived for battery-powered cars. “Right from the start of the GLA planning process, we knew that there would be a zero-emissions version and that it would become the most accessible of the EQ electric range”, explains Gorden Wagener, head of design for the Daimler group, during a telephone interview on the occasion…

Due to the recent pandemic people have acquired a degree of acceptance of all aspects of automation. Experts attribute this to the role robots have played in handling distancing operations in public places or in infrared disinfection, while interaction with digital assistants in shops or in communications in general has been positive. It is no coincidence that at the tech show par excellence, the CES in Las Vegas, a well-known company released a video of a robot capable of serving wine at table, proof that the time is perhaps ripe to propose what was previously reported only as a remote possibility. The fact is that examples are multiplying and the intelligence of things is engulfing us: digital assistants are not only to be found in smart speakers, which are also…

Artificial intelligence: a technological myth that is struggling to become a reality. It has, however, been transformed into a marketing claim used for smartphones to cars, especially those that drive by themselves (or are thought to be able to). Let’s clear up any ambiguities: the term artificial intelligence presupposes the ability of a machine (we mean a computer) to “reason” with many-valued logic, which isn’t just binary, i.e., digital with “bit thinking” made of sequences of 1s and 0s, of open and closed circuits. Unfortunately, non-binary machines with logic other than the current one do not exist. Despite the investments made over the last decades, no one has manged to industrially construct computers belonging to the chimerical fifth generation capable of exceeding the limits of current computers, also called “Von…

"At ED2 we find different stylistic influences given the various nationalities of its designers. Our task is to intercept those with a more European taste and translate them into forms that are consistent with our design philosophy without losing the typical Toyota spirit. My experience in Japan has taught me that Europeans tend to have a more conservative taste in exterior design, preferring shapes that are dynamic and sporty but not excessively unconventional. The Aygo X Prologue follows this direction: it’s bold and elegant at the same time". Mario Majdandzic, Chief Exterior Designer «All’ED2 si incontrano diverse influenze stilistiche in virtù delle varie nazionalità dei suoi designer. Il nostro compito è intercettare quelle dal gusto maggiormente europeo e tradurle in forme coerenti con la nostra filosofia di design senza perdere…

Let’s imagine a race car, but one that can be comfortably driven to the racetrack. An extreme vehicle, but one that can also be used for a weekend getaway. A vehicle in which every element is geared towards speed, but that has an aesthetic harmony capable of creating excitement by referencing mythical models of the past. “Following these principles, we designed the Lamborghini Huracán STO (Super Trofeo Omologata), a hypercar developed with Lamborghini Squadra Corse”, explains Mitja Borkert, head of design for Lamborghini, connecting from the company headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. The Huracán STO has the genes of some of the sportiest Lamborghini: it derives directly from the Super Trofeo EVO, developed for the one-make championship by Lamborghini Squadra Corse, but also from the GT3 EVO - three-time winner of…

The Renaulution announced by Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault group, aims to transform the French manufacturer, projecting it into the future, and design is one of the main protagonists of this revolution. The process concerns platforms, technologies, forms, and models, and has accelerated the Design reorganisation phase that can now count on a boss for each brand with the supervision of Laurens Van den Acker (Gilles Vidal for Renault, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos for Dacia, Anthony Villain for Alpine, and Patrick Lecharpy for Mobilize). In the next pages, we’ll tell you about this revolution that, the designers insist, “will leave a mark”. La Renaulution annunciata da Luca de Meo, Ceo del gruppo Renault, vuole trasformare il costruttore francese proiettandolo nel futuro e il design è uno dei grandi protagonisti di questa…

Dacia is also taking part in the Renault revolution - the Renaulution. Beginning with the new head of design, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, who returned to Paris, following Luca de Meo, after an exciting and profitable period at Seat. The Bigster concept - a C-segment SUV to be produced by 2025 - is not the only novelty of the Romanian manufacturer, but it is, perhaps, the most significant calling card of the new direction. “It represents the future ambitions of Dacia”, Mesonero-Romanos explains, “with our entry into a segment where we were missing, with a new design language and the ambition to conquer not only the head, but also the heart, of drivers”. After the success of Duster, of which it is a kind of big sister, this Bigster is promising: a…

"I cona Design never sleeps". Present on three continents and therefore active 24 hours a day, Icona Design started out in 2010 as a company specialising in automotive styling, which today accounts for 80% of its turnover. The future promises diversification on the back of a process that already started a couple of years ago: from industrial design to the product, from user experience to future mobility and smart cities. Teresio Gigi Gaudio, Chairman and founder of Icona Design with partners Cecomp and Technocad, explains with satisfaction that the international dimension of the company is also down to its geographic location. "An adventure like this could only start in Turin, the undisputed capital of automotive design, but at the same time we opened in China, in Shanghai, where we sensed…

Renowned for bringing back Mercedes to motorsport (DTM and Formule 1), Prof Hubbert was a true aficionado, able to take tremendous risks in developing the Mercedes-Benz car range and in launching a historic product offensive, hence his nickname: “Mister Mercedes”. The creation of the Smart brand in collaboration with Nicolas Hayek, the A Klasse and the revival of the Maybach brand are some of the typical examples that illustrate Prof Hubbert’s ability to visualise the future of a brand which proudly boasts having invented the very first car. Although I didn’t have daily dealings with him, key projects such as the Maybach, the F400 Carving prototype and my role as Head of the Mitsubishi Design Division (2001-2004) brought us to appreciate and respect each other. Somehow, the chemistry between us…

"When defining the design of a car's interior, I believe that the right approach today is essentiality. Few and tidy elements looking for a perfect mix between the analogue and digital worlds: this is the only way to achieve the right ergonomics. With the passage of time, interiors have become more and more important, and today they are carried out in parallel with exteriors. CMF design is integrated into the early stage of design process, which make both interior and CMF design more efficient and better coordinated. While there are still differences in the exterior, the tastes of the various markets are becoming more uniform as far as the interior is concerned: today everyone is looking for accessibility, ergonomics and maximum intuitiveness of use”. Alexandre Gommier, Chief Interior Designer «Nella…

In the ever expanding archipelago of so-called 'high-wheeled' vehicles, now undisputed standard-bearers for the tastes of the times, there are people around who still believe there is plenty of room for proposals that depart from mainstream canons. This is certainly the conviction of Thierry Metroz, head of DS design, who has spent a career pursuing that hallmark of French excellence: “Our idea with this project was to explore a different silhouette from what already exists in the C-segment, including crossover-coupés”. We conceived a muscular car, standing high on 20” wheels, of course, but with a sleek saloon profile, partially inspired by last year's Aero Sport Lounge prototype. Something akin to a hatchback limousine, with an extra touch of modernity”. The essential building block for the formal construct is, of course,…

The wind of change in the Renault group with the arrival of the new CEO Luca de Meo has also profoundly revolutionised design. “There is a great feeling between him and everyone in our team. Luca has the ability to easily understand the desires of the market and is a great design enthusiast, which is an excellent starting point,” says Laurens van den Acker, Executive Vice President Renault Group Design and since 2019 member of the executive committee, with satisfaction. The new CEO has decided to change the structure of the style department, restructuring it by brands: “A revolution that has led to the creation of a strong team of design managers for each brand, consisting of Gilles Vidal for Renault, Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos for Dacia, Anthony Villain for Alpine and…

Gordon Murray is one of the gods of Formula 1. A handful of world titles, first with Brabham and then McLaren, punctuated the European career of this South-African engineer, transplanted to England in 1969. Having left the world of racing, between 1991 and 2004 he created supercars for the newly founded McLaren Cars, and it is his signature on that jewel that collectors compete for to the tune of millions: the McLaren F1. The T.50 is the latest creation of Gordon Murray Automotive, which he founded in 2007. “It is the logical heir of the McLaren F1”, he admits. Let it be clear: “The T.50 couldn’t be and isn’t a copy of the F1”, Murray explains: “I never said to myself: I want to make another F1. If anything, I…

Set up a dialogue with the designers of tomorrow so as to generate positive feedback on the challenges facing the automotive industry, leading to design-inspired change. This is the rationale underlying the collaboration between 3M, which has always been at the cutting edge of innovation in multiple sectors, and Autostyle Design Competition, the international event dedicated to car design and young talent organised by Berman (see A&D n° 246). Technical partners in 2019, 3M decided for the all-digital edition of 2020 to launch an automotive wrapping competition entitled "Surface for Change" involving around 40 students from two renowned Italian design schools, the Milan Polytechnic and the Turin Institute of Applied Art and Design. “Designers have the power to translate insights and emotions to inspire confidence and positivity. This competition was…

VoloCity is the child of Volocopter, the pioneering German start-up in the field of drones intended for urban mobility - not on the ground but in the sky. It will be the first flying taxi with autonomous driving and it isn’t science fiction: it will already start operating next year, according to the manufacturers’ plans, and, by 2025, it will be booming. “It represents an absolute innovation in the transport and design sectors”, states Mario Antonioli: “The most important thing, beyond the technical features, was communicating safety and reliability to the user, with a look that could express familiarity, like an everyday car, and trust”. Safety and silence are the two pillars, according to the manufacturers, that dictate every consideration. Antonioli is the Milan designer who took care, within the…

What will life be like in the future? One of the most recurrent design topics in recent years has been the impact of intelligent or smart technologies, with all their potential implications for the home, work and the individual. In an idea of Industry 4.0, the ongoing digital revolution provides designers with material for research and experimentation, producing reactions in users that oscillate between the wonderful and the disturbing due to ubiquitous connectivity and machine learning. The latter are among the emerging trends, confirmed by the recent virtual edition of the CES in Las Vegas, with concepts increasingly oriented towards robotics for private use, digital voice-assistance with everything and remote control devices. More generally, the prediction of a few years ago about total interaction between objects and people seems to…