Table of contents for No. 235 in AUTO & DESIGN

A top-class SUV, and electric too, but without giving up on the Audi design language. Mission accomplished? According to Philipp Römers “The e-tron is functional, but good looking at the same time.” “The proportions are perfect, large wheels, powerfully muscular, short overhang and the play on the surfaces match marvellously with the characteristics of this SUV and of our brand.” The head of what will be a great family, the e-tron represents the debut for Audi in mass-production of electric vehicles. Two engines, 408 bhp, 0-100 in 5.7 seconds, 400 kilometres range are very important data for a car weighing two and a half tons and nearly five metres in length (4.90 to be precise). Römers, who leads Studio 2 of Audi Exterior Design, is one of the ‘fathers’ of…

Once again it is Italian genius that got there first. The youngsters – they’re all youngsters - from the Linky start-up have carefully analysed what was missing to bridge the gap of the so-called last mile, namely the often short distance to be covered from a transport hub to the final destination, deducing that the micro-mobility vehicles currently in use especially among the young (scooters, folding bikes, electric mini-skates …) were missing one essential requirement: portability. So in 2015 enter the Linky electric folding longboard, the result of a patent that through the union of rotation and translation allows the object to be compacted like a laptop and fitted conveniently into a backpack. This is the heart of a project that also stands out for the materials employed and its…

Minimalism and innovative man-machine interfaces designed for the car of tomorrow and the day after, but as always derived from consumer electronics that is becoming more and more integrated with the automotive world. This was seen, or rather glimpsed, at the last edition of CES in Las Vegas, the technology show that, as has been the case for some editions now, has placed the car and its digital revolution at centre stage. And this can be seen in the many concepts of the last few months and in new models such as the Renault Clio, which makes onboard technology and all its liquid crystal displays a key element. But it is precisely these displays that appear to be "dated" and predictable. They look old hat and, even more damning, second…

Historical tradition and a changing world, electric cars and the global market: how does design respond to a context in continuous and rapid evolution? We put this question to Moray Callum, VP Design of Ford. The room where we met him was the office of William Clay Ford Sr at the Dearborn headquarters, a place rich in history. The strength of a successful, unmistakable DNA provided the starting point for our conversation. It has been announced that you will be making an SUV inspired by the Mustang. How do you reconcile two types of vehic le so different from each other? "The Mustang has some unique visual clues and we are looking to assess how to translate them into different products. For the moment we will start with an electric…

A variety of constructs related to the universe of sports utilities can be detected in the formal language of many of the most popular cars of recent years: from opaque protections to raised roofs, to veritable bodywork hybrids, the habit seems to have irreversibly contaminated the syntax of design. In a context so focused on a single trend, the traditional five-door low height unit can still exert surprising magnetism. "It was exactly what I had in mind with this project", says Yasutake Tsuchida, Chief Designer of the latest Mazda3: "I was aiming to redefine the aesthetic potential of this apparently traditional typology to win back those customers that beauty matters to". Jo Stenuit, head of Mazda Europe's styling, was of the same opinion: "Many people still like low, profiled cars,…

While autonomous driving is now an industry buzz word, implementation of such future mobility still seems some way away. Even so, the Mercedes-Benz commercial van division has taken up the challenge of developing a transport vehicle that could change urban mobility beyond current belief. Called the Urbanetic, it combines the options of an autonomous-drive people-mover for up to 12 occupants with those of a cargo delivery van. And exploiting the possible interchangeability of both body styles using a uniform skateboard platform has resulted in a breakthrough multifunctional vehicle concept. Or, as Gorden Wagener, chief design officer at Daimler AG, said: “Vision Urbanetic takes our design language of sensual purity way into the future, with a standalone aesthetic for a mobility concept that has never been seen before.” Reducing CO2 and…

While in the world of cars the engine always exerts a strong influence on the shape, when it’s a matter of the exposed, bare structure of a motorcycle, which is in itself capable of generating the visual consistency of the vehicle, the bond between mechanics and style becomes incredibly tight. That’s why, in today’s epoch of gradual transition towards the electric, analysing the relationship between zero emission engines and evolution of aesthetics may hold in store some interesting surprises for bikers and bike-lovers. As in the case, for example, of the young Swedish brand, Cake: “We started from the precise intent to bring people as close as possible to clean mobility”, Karl Ytterborn, co-founder, tells us. “This meant a completely different approach from the rather aggressive and macho traditions typical…

If a semiotician or a mere observer of customs were to wonder what matter the dreams of motorists of the last 89 years are made of, he would encounter many and provocative answers between the walls of a small, historical museum in Cambiano (Turin). Here, as the enthusiasts know very well, are the creations of the perhaps most famous and prestigious Italian Coachbuilder, a symphony of shapes and volumes that has made an inestimable contribution to the score of Made in Italy motor excellence. Carlo Bonzanigo, current Design Director of Pininfarina, is well aware of it and expresses himself with regard to the most recent project: “If in every project there is a coefficient of difficulty linked to having to satisfy the customer's visual codes, in this case it was…

Meticulous forms, clean surfaces and painstaking attention to detail. Infiniti presented its QX Inspiration at the last Detroit Show. This concept with medium sized Suv architecture aims to tell us a lot about itself through design. "The formal language we used for this new concept hints at the power and character of the brand's cars and future electrified engines”, explains Karim Habib, who has been in charge of Infiniti design since March 2017. "The QX Inspiration represents the beginning of a new styling age and indicates the direction we want to go in. Technology and new electric power units have given us the opportunity to evolve our design philosophy”, continues Habib. The exterior styling was built around a pattern of contrasts. The smooth, soft surfaces that cover the chassis alternate…

Now in its fourth generation, the Suzuki Jimny does not betray the openly offroad spirit that has distinguished it since its beginnings in the early 70s. Two decades after the release of the previous version (the third, in 1998), this compact, lightweight off-roader returns to the spotlight with a fresh, updated look that pays homage to all the most acclaimed features of the previous series: round headlights, direction indicators independent of the lights, grille with vertical slots and combination rear lights. "Close on 50 years of history are certainly a responsibility, but they also represent an enormous heritage for us to look to", explains Hisanori Matsushima, head of the Suzuki Italia design centre. "That's why, when we started thinking about the new Jimny, we decided to ask our customers what…