Table of contents for No. 257 in AUTO & DESIGN

Translate a passion for driving into exciting forms. That’s where it all started for the design of the Dragon, the second model to come out of the Californian start-up Drako after the GTE of 2020. "The design of this SUV combines the excitement typical of racing cars with the huge stylistic opportunities that only an electric car designed from scratch can bring to the table”, says Lowie Vermeersch, founder and creative director of the Turin-based Granstudio style centre. "The idea was to come up with a vehicle that had the versatility of the latest generation electric SUVs but with extreme performance, sexy surfaces and the best driving dynamics. A tricky challenge given the dimensions and weight typical of high-wheelers”, Vermeersch continues. The Granstudio team led by Giovanni Piccardo and Andrea…

WATCH THE VIDEO This time the Volkswagen designers worked on a Wolfsburg-Melbourne line. The second generation of Amarok, the successful pickup of the German maker which in its previous edition sold 830 thousand units, is in fact destined to glide mainly among the kangaroos over the vast Australian expanses, where the “utes” - abbreviation for “utility vehicles” - dominate the roads. “This is the successor to an icon,” says Gu-Han Kim, head of the Volkswagen design studio in Melbourne and leader of this project. Despite its origins (there is a collaboration with the Ford Development Team, also based in Melbourne) Amarok “has a VW DNA, every aspect of it makes it a true VW.” Produced in the South African plant of Silverton and also destined for other important markets such…

Citroën’s ambitions in the 21st century are much the same as they were when the brand was founded 100 years ago: To be accessible, to be surprising and to give a sense of freedom to the brand’s buyers. With a costly transition to electrification made even more perilous by inflationary and recessionary fears, Citroën is seeking a path forward that honors that ethos, CEO Vincent Cobee says. “The aspects of economic tension and energy transition are in stark contrast,” Cobee said. “We wanted to provide answers to those challenges — with the added dimension that we have only one planet, and resources are constrained.” The full-electric Oli (“all-e”) concept offers a “laboratory of ideas” to meet this challenge, with innovative and sustainable materials chosen for their life-cycle impact that are…

Improving people’s lives to make them easier, safer and more sustainable through the application of increasingly advanced technologies. This was the challenge proposed by Hyundai to the students on the Transportation Design course at the IED Turin, as part of their thesis project involving the Ioniq brand. An experience that is fully in line with the "Progress for Humanity" vision, namely the all-round transformation that is leading Hyundai to become a provider of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable smart mobility solutions. Forty-three students from eleven countries, organised into teams, responded to the brief by working in synergy, under the guidance of the course coordinator, Michele Albera, and the IED lecturers, with the participation of the Hyundai Europe Style Centre in the persons of: Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer; Eduardo Ramirez, Head…

Then, when Changan’s sales volume comprised half of that market, it saw the opportunity for social change as users began to enjoy life and cars entered the home. Thus, Changan devoted itself to the independent development of passenger cars, starting its second venture. The manufacturer released the classic SUV model, the CS75, which was unveiled with unprecedented success: "The No.1 selling Chinese brand SUV", "Chinese car design is on the rise!", "The most beautiful SUV in China" (some of the praise for the CS75). At the same time, the debut of a series of popular products such as the "most beautiful two-segment car Yidian XD" and the classic Yidian was testimony to Changan’s design definition of a classic model. The success of the classic models is not only the success…

Changan’s research and development team has broken down the needs of each consumer 'profile' into a series of specifications and guidelines for sight, sound, touch, space, and so on, which are ultimately integrated through the design approach. The RWD CC is a new model born from such a design approach. The essence of life is to evolve towards a more perfect life form, constantly growing, moving on, breaking through. The design concept of " Vitality" is like a seed sown in the soil of Eastern culture by Changan, rooted in the East and growing in the East, drawing on the nutrients of Eastern culture to grow different shaped branches and produce different flavoured fruits. From the overall stance and type language to the individual detailing, both the mid-sized RWD CC…

With the advent of the new era of mobility, the role of the car in the lives of users is changing, which makes us designers pay more and more attention to the most original question: we always say that design needs to be forward-looking and break through, but what is the so-called “breakthrough”? “The truth is that the user may have changed before we did. Users now are no longer a group with a specific label, we can’t even sum ourselves up in one or two words, and this is even more true of user profiles.” The digital information age has broadened the level of people’s needs and experiences, and, nowadays, users, who are a mix of work, life, interests and aesthetics, are destined to have multiple identities. Switching roles…

There is something romantic about Hyundai’s most recent and futuristic concept, with more than a hint of "back to the future". Starting with the name, Hyundai N Vision 74, as we will see later through the testimony of SangYup Lee, design manager of the Korean firm. Let’s face it right away: it is a supercar whose production has not yet been foreseen, as for now it is defined by its designers as “a lab on four wheels.” It is understandable: it is an FC hybrid, that is, with a fuel cell. In short, hydrogen. With another concept presented almost simultaneously - RN22e, an electric car with the new E-GMP modular platform and the body of the Ioniq 6 - it represents the company’s commitment in the field of zero-emission technologies.…

There are different ways to breathe new life into iconic models from the past. Some remain faithful to the design of the car, others opt for shapes that distance themselves from the original design but tell its story through specific references. Italdesign has chosen the latter path to revive DeLorean, the brand of the legendary 1981 DMC-12 designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. Lorean’s new life is called Alpha 5, part saloon car and part coupé, 100% electric, that inherits the legacy of the DMC-24, a curvaceous four-seater already designed by Giugiaro but which was never launched due to the company’s closedown. The Alpha 5 is the result of a time journey that actually never happened. “The DeLorean business ended about ten years after it was founded,” says Carsten Monnerjan, head of…

Born to conquer European and global markets, the pure electric MG Mulan is a result of collaboration between SAIC’s two design hubs, the style centre at its Shanghai headquarters and the advanced design studio in London, which worked in synergy to provide a concrete response to the needs of the immediate future of mobility. On the back of its 100-year history, MG has been working for some time now to consolidate its signature style with a futuristic look highlighting brand values. This new generation crossover, built on the SAIC group’s new all-electric platform, fits perfectly into this scenario, with solutions designed for a sporty and dynamic user on the lookout for a new driving experience in the age of the smart car. According to the Chinese brand’s designers, the MG…

In today’s world, the automotive industry is undergoing tremendous changes driven by social development. The economy, politics, and industry are working in tandem, and the industry is changing at a rapid pace. Under the impetus of the new round of technological revolution, the automotive industry is continuously integrating with the internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other fields, and the new automotive industry, featuring "software-defined cars", is accelerating to take shape. Intelligent and connected vehicles have become an inevitable trend. The automotive industry is facing greater change than has been seen in a century, and the future is full of infinite possibilities. Design-driven brand innovation is the only way to survive and keep going in such an environment. Although we are all talking about innovation, it cannot be…

If you witness the moment when a flower blooms or a seedling breaks through the ground, you will be struck by the power of life. It is this startling power that the new generation of Changan’s design concept "Vitality" embodies. Every shape and gesture of life can be easily replicated. However, the inner vitality of the process of flowering and budding is difficult to capture. The aim of the Vitality design concept is to extract the energy of the moment of metamorphosis and to express this energy through a creative language rooted in Eastern aesthetics. The contrast between the sprawling stance and the tension-filled shape, the constant pursuit of a balance between dynamism and elegance, is the keynote of the design of Changan’s new generation of cars. 如果能够亲眼目睹花朵绽放的瞬间或萌芽破土的刹那 ， 你一定会…

Stepping into the new information age, the car is evolving from the original means of transport to the user’s intelligent partner. "Changan has been thinking about the future of intelligent car life, how to also have temperature under the appearance of technology." The "New Technology Intelligent Aesthetics", which symbolizes the future of automotive life, was born by integrating the development of the times and continuous in-depth exploration, breaking the traditional understanding of the design boundaries of automotive aesthetics. The UNI sequence reconstructs the aesthetic DNA, the secret to the continuous renewal of a century-old brand. UNI, the premium line of Changan passenger cars, is a continuous breakthrough in Changan’s design boundaries. The UNI-T represents the arrival of a new Changan line that is a bold breakthrough for Changan’s new fuel-fired…

“A car is made to break through the limitations of space and connect people to their environment. It can't just be a tool that puts constraints on the user.” What users expect is not a vehicle, but a space that can produce emotional resonance. The interior layout of the CD701 creatively breaks the division of front, rear, and trunk, dividing the interior space into front, rear, and extension compartments according to user needs, creating “one room”, “one hall”, and “one terrace". Here, the user can play a role far beyond the driver and passenger - can be a wage earner, a Gu family, or a fun-loving family with style, “where you just live your own life and the experience is no longer limited." This is what the designer says about…

From the very first pencil stroke it couldn’t have been clearer: the long-awaited four-seater, four-door Ferrari, something completely new in the history of the Prancing Horse, would not be an SUV. "Our aim was to create an innovatively architectured sports car that could not be classified in any existing pigeonhole”, says Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s Design Chief. For him and his team, the Purosangue represents a successful new chapter in the marque’s history, with elegance and power marking the spectacular final result. So the ground to be explored was new, while the direction to be followed was clear-cut. "We focused on the design brief: to create an authentic four-seater, versatile to use, comfortable roominess-wise and easy to access". A complex equation to solve, continues Manzoni, given that it involved designing a…

Just as the production range is about to display a brand new front layout built around the redesigned logo, Dacia’s search for identity goes beyond the contingencies of the ordinary with a notable prototype, much closer to the representation of a universe of values than a mere design speculation. “The words we usually use to define the brand needed to become more concrete, and substantial”, explains David Durand, head of design at Dacia. “What does robustness mean, for example? And essentiality? The designers were asked to provide a ‘physical’ answer. The quantity and variety of the sketches they produced surprised everyone”. The final transposition of this intent, presented at the Paris Motor Show 2022, revolves around a small two-seater off-roader with no doors or windscreen (“the latter was initially planned,…

Meet the Bentley Batur, the “12-cylinder electric car”. The Batur is the latest creation from the British luxury brand’s Mulliner coachbuilt division and is restricted to just 18 copies. But its significance to the Bentley brand goes beyond its production volume in that it showcases the design language that will be used on Bentley’s first electric car, due to be shown in 2025. The Batur is the first car from Andreas Mindt, who joined Bentley as its head of design from Audi in March 2021 replacing Stefan Sielaff. The coupe, Mindt says, shows off a new, more simplified look that will better suit Bentley as it moves into the electric era. “The basic proportion is more important than the decorative elements,” he told Auto&Design at a preview in the UK…

Much has been written and discussed about the relationship between cars and fashion, experienced in all its facets since the ‘80s. This time, however, the operation envisioned in Milan by Kia entails more than the mere intertwining with a clothing brand, and the trivial customisation of a model offered in a limited edition. It is not a question of projecting an aesthetic universe of recognised impact onto the industrially modifiable elements of the car, as is the usual practice when the standard seats are saddled with fabrics or leathers from major fashion houses. Conversely, in a more interesting and in some ways intellectual manner, the Kia Designers Award aims to promote talent and experimentation in its own right: by highlighting the projects of six young designers who play with materials…

At the beginning of the reform and opening up of China, all users wanted to survive. Changan Automobile saw this opportunity and resolutely entered the field of vehicle manufacturing, providing people with the most effective means of transport and production - the van. The appearance of the Changan Star classic model marked a new era of technological innovation in the field of Chinese microcars. Changan Automobile helped the economy to take off, and at the same time gave itself a foothold in the automotive field, making it Changan’s first successful venture in the true sense of the word. 改革开放之初用户一切为了生存 ， 长安汽车洞察这一机遇 ， 毅然 进入造车领域 ， 为人们提供了最有效的交通生产工具 - 面包车 ， 长安 之星经典车型亮相 ， 标志着中国微车领域进入了一个全新的技术革新 时代 。 长安汽车为经济腾飞助力 ， 同时也让自己在汽车领域有了立足 之地 ， 这也是长安真正意义上的第一次创业成功 。…

The two concept cars appear to be a contradictory set, with Changan using contrasting techniques to express two extreme styles. The two models work together to create a unified brand identity (which is why they are called 'design concept prototype cars'), while also being surprisingly creative, to form a very diverse family DNA. One is the elegant and smooth concept sedan, a cross between a sedan and a sports car: the "Extreme Flow". The other is the tough and strong SUV: the "Yuyue". Although the two vehicles are very different in terms of proportions, lines, and colour accents, their styling concepts derive from the same design philosophy, drawing inspiration from nature, which is a core perspective of Eastern culture. The design of the SUV, for example, is inspired by observing…

As the first product of Deepal, a new digital BEV brand of Changan, SL03 is a manifestation of the company’s reimagination and exploration of future and its campaign to grow into a manufacturer of premium cars. Every design detail of SL03 exemplifies Deepal’s brand philosophy: symbiotic aesthetics, i.e., the constant exploration of a sustainable future where technologies and nature share a symbiotic relationship. The current trend in CMF is towards a lightweight design, towards a new style of design that is homely or technological. The SL03 is an immersive cosmic cockpit that combines a variety of special techniques: the IP panel and door panels are made of translucent skin with an exclusive parametric texture design that highlights the futuristic nature of the car; the seats are decorated with a positioning…

People have always been fascinated by the vision of a future, which is full of uncertainty and infinite possibilities. Our study of the future is not an attempt to find the 'right' future, but a structured exploration of possible futures. The only way to navigate our way through the fog of the future is to engage with it in the present. Future Mobility is Changan Automobile’s attempt to explore what mobile mobility could look like in multiple future scenarios and to find potential opportunities and forward-looking strategic directions. 人们总是着迷于构想未来的图景 ， 而未来充满不确定性 ， 也充满无限可能 。 我们对未来的研究不是试图找到一个 “正确” 的未来 ， 而是以结构化的方式探索可能的未来 。 唯一能够在未来的迷雾中指引我们前行的方式就是在当下投身其中 。 未来出行 就是长安汽车的一次尝试 ， 目的是探索移动出行在多重未来设想中的崭新样貌 ， 并寻找潜在的机会和前瞻的战略方向 。…