Ford’s Evos introduces the catchily-titled ‘Kinetic 2.0′ design language, stepping off from what the company has been hinting at recently with the Start and Vertrek.
The overall vehicle fails to startle in the way that many of the concepts in Frankfurt do, but what’s most interesting about it is the ‘premiumization’ of Ford’s design language. It might not be exciting, but there’s a lot of Aston Martin tones in the haunch and shoulder line. More pertinently, the new and more aggressive DRG is – we’re told – close to what we’ll see on the next Mondeo.
If this is true, Ford is intent on moving its DRG closer to the the premium brands, with its future cars. Blue collar premium anyone?
The Opel is the third of three urban mobility concepts on show in Frankfurt. While the VW Nils follows a spare, glider-like product aesthetic and the Audi Urban Concept has a minature race car feel, the Opel is more like the kind of thing one might expect when someone mentions the words ‘urban’, ‘mobility’ and ‘concept together in the same sentence. Developed with Kiska, there are some clever, logical elements to its design. We were particularly impressed with the interior package and layout. But as a vision of the future of mobility, its aesthetic is a little too reminiscent of projects we’ve been seeing in this space for the last 10 years or so.
Many we’ve spoken to have gushed with praise over the Peugeot HX1. It’s not altogether clear why initially – can a super-long, super-low luxury sedan really be all that relevant when all around abound new mobility, urban pods? Yes.
Because the HX1 isn’t just a dumb, egotistical display of excess, it’s a brilliant reordering of the MPV paradigm. Rather than placing emphasis on the middle row of seats – as is the norm in every current car that can carry more than five people – here the rearmost row takes priority, with occasional seating provided by a pair of rumble seats that stow in the rear surface of the front chairs.
Peugeot’s concept exterior design language also continues to impress and if the interior presents the idea of land-based private jet travel, the understated, aero-centric exterior is the perfect match.
There’s a subtlety, deftness of touch and depth to the car that it’s no surprise it’s near the top of so many lists.
Head of Interior Design, Amko Leenarts and Senior Designer Adam Bazydlo, present the different zones of the HX1′s interior:
The new Fiat Panda is a deeply impressive step up in perceived quality over its predecessor, yet the most alluring part of the display (for me, at least) is the very early Giugiaro Panda 30 looking down on its bigger, more refined yet less pure forebear.
The Citroen Tubik concept – all 2x2x5 meters of it – is one of the biggest talking points of Frankfurt ’11 and every word we’ve heard has been positive. There are those who are reminded of the past by the hat-tip to the corrugated H-van, but for those who don’t get the reference there’s plenty more to enjoy.
But as well as the vehicle’s (it’s difficult to call it a van or a car) execution and design themes, the strategic justification behind such a proposition is genuinely believable. Citroen believes that through its Multicity, micro-leasing scheme, much greater derivation of products is key: no longer will all cars need to be all things, to all men, all the time when one can take an Ion to commute and something akin to the Tubik for road trips and family holidays. It’s a compelling case for a thoroughly engaging piece of design.
Here Head of Advanced Design, Carlo Bonzanigo, decodes the concept:
Amidst the furor of the new 991 launch was a small reminder of the origins of the car. Neatly juxtaposed against a series of new blue and silver 911s was an elegant and effortlessly cool 1963 Typ901. There may have been a rush to see the latest 911, but it was the car launched at this motor show 48 years ago that stopped me in my tracks.
