Table of contents for 275 in AUTO & DESIGN

Buzzing with energy and innovation: the latest Munich Motor Show (IAA) was undoubtedly the most remarkable event amongst recent European shows. An event imbibed by the sprawling pres ence of China, certainly, but also marked by multiple other signals that are bound to emerge repeatedly. Some are still devel oping (such as rear cameras that will soon make the rear wind screen redundant), whilst others are already featured across vari ous models. We’ve collected six examples, for a glimpse of the future made real. A MONACO QUALCOSA È CAMBIATO Vivacità e ricchezza di novità: l'ultimo Salone di Monaco (IAA) è stato senza dubbio l'evento più significativo tra i recenti appuntamenti europei. Un’occasione intessuta dalla presenza tentacolare della Cina, certo, ma pure da molteplici altri segnali destinati a ripetersi. Alcuni appaiono…

Bentley's EXP 15 concept has been eagerly awaited. It's been awaited since Robin Page returned to the Crewe-based company two years ago after several years in Sweden, where he was head of design at Volvo. EXP 15 — EXPerimental, the 15th in the history of Bentley concepts — is truly a concept, not a teaser setting the stage for a new model. Indeed, the company emphatically emphasizes that this car “will never be produced.” Page explains: “We need it to explain our design principles and direction. It's the birth of a modern design language that will influence all future models.” Perhaps this is also why only the exterior has taken concrete form, while VR, virtual reality, was used for the interior: “Because this way,” observes T.Jon Mayer, Head of UX…

"The mission of this project? To transform a hero into a superhero." This is how Laurens van den Acker encapsulates the Renault design team’s approach to the sixth generation of the Clio, launched at the Munich Motor Show. A pivotal model and historic success for the French manufacturer, with over 17 million units sold worldwide since the first series hit the market in 1990. "We pushed for sportiness, an even more emotional design, technology, and diverse powertrains. Above all, however, it had to remain a Clio." This premise explains the sculpted silhouette, featuring a steeply raked rear window that evokes a coupé, a front end with a grille thrust forward to cleave the air, and concave and convex surfaces that create visual tension, seeming to capture light to accentuate its…

In today’s automotive landscape, design has long outgrown its mere functional purpose. It has become a powerful medium for expressing a brand’s philosophy and evoking emotion. Against this backdrop, the new MG4 marks an important milestone for SAIC’s Design Centre, under the direction of Shao Jingfeng. The MG4 sees the début of a new stylistic language called “Emotional Design Aesthetics” whose aim is to redefine the standards of one of the most competitive and crowded areas of the market, that of compact electric SUVs. A perfect blend of British sports car tradition and the aesthetics of zero-emission mobility, the MG4 is a product of the philosophy that seeks to do more than just grab the attention with eye-catching looks. The focus is equally on ergonomics and functionality with a humancentric…

His studies and work have taken him around the world. Middle East (he was born in Lebanon), Europe, the United States, Asia: a mix of cultures and experiences that have forged his character and stylistic personality. Karim Habib, born 1970, after overseeing design for the BMW Group and Infiniti, has been Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Centre since 2019, and is the author of the “Opposites United” philosophy that guides the forms of the Korean brand’s new models. Do you have any objects or places of reference from which you draw inspiration? “Yes, I have several that belong to various categories. From cars that everyone loves, such as the Ferraris and Alfa Romeos of the Sixties and Seventies, to more niche ones like the 1992 Ford Focus…

An objective look at urban mobility today and a thoughtful analysis of its true needs: these are the themes that inspired this year’s final thesis projects of the Master's Degree in Transportation and Automobile Design at the Milan Polytechnic. For over fifteen years, under the guidance of Professor Fausto Brevi, this programme has trained professionals to take a scientific approach to design and how to handle the relentless challenges faced daily by the world’s car design centres. Aware that vehicles have already changed and will continue to do so, the three student teams developed their projects with the clear goal of proposing effective and efficient solutions for the world we live in. It is essential, after all, not to stop designing for the present because, as laid out in the…

A bridge between Italy and China, an award to celebrate Piedmont’s manufacturing industry and China’s automotive industry. Promoted by the China Design Center (CDC Milan), the TADA international award “Piemonte Meets China – Torino Automotive Design Award” was presented on 26th September, during the Turin Motor Show, and awarded by a jury composed of heads of independent design centres in the Turin area. Five winners were chosen across five award categories. The Changan Deepal S07 won “Best Exterior Design”. Its clean style with simple, modern lines convinced the jury, demonstrating that Chinese cars can also have strong character. The Geely EX5, meanwhile, won the “Best Interior Design” award. The jury was particularly impressed by the ergonomics and perceived quality of the cabin. The Changan Deepal S05 won in the “Best…

Valhalla after Valkyrie. If it weren't for the fact that Aston Martin is associated with the letter V as the initial of its cars, we'd have to wait for an Odin to complete the cycle of Scandinavian mythology. But the pairing is enough. “The story of Valhalla begins with Valkyrie,” explains Miles Nürnberger: “Both pivot points in our history of highperformance, the first two midengined cars, which changed the importance of our products. And if we've always called Valhalla ‘the son of Valkyrie’ it's because that mother is our haute couture, but this son has the same engineering and design ambitions, while also being more usable on a daily basis: still incredible in terms of packaging, engineering, aerodynamics, and engine, but even physically more accessible without being a ‘normal’ car.…

Audi begins anew with the Concept C. “Be warned,” says Tobias Hoss, Head of Exterior Design, smiling as the car is about to be unveiled at the Milan presentation, “this is a vehicle with highly emotional content.” The architecture chosen by the designers for “Audi’s turning point” is that of a roadster with a hard top — a first for the German manufacturer — which marks the début of Massimo Frascella as Audi’s new Chief Design Officer (appointed in June 2024). The Concept C will arrive as a production model in 2027 and repre sents a stylistic bridge between past and future. It’s the spiritual heir to the 1936 Auto Union Type C and other legendary models, such as the first TT from 1998, the RSQ concept from 2004, and…

The automotive world is moving at breakneck speed and, with almost sixty years under its belt, Italdesign knows that staying competitive means adapting quickly to ever-changing scenarios. Joaquin Garcia, Head of Design at the Turin-based design house, explains how the company is gearing up to face new challenges. "Let's start with a simple truth: for us, cars are “the house speciality” and we take great pride in this, as we do in our origins and our history. It’s crucial to remain focused on this, because in the automotive field we have to be able to meet any request. In certain cases, we initiate a co-creation process, working side by side with a client who needs expert collaboration to bring a project to life. We can step in at different levels…