Posts Tagged "Giugiaro"

Geneva has historically proven an exciting show because of its ‘neutral’ ground, Swiss location. Neither the Germans, nor the French or the Americans are on home soil and able to stake a real claim to be in the ascendancy. But since the demise of the Turin motor show, this has been the home show of the Italian Carozzeria.

Yet it’s a sign of how many of these style houses have fallen from grace in recent years, that one now arrives in Geneva with a sense of trepidation – rather than excitement – about what to expect from them.

The Guigiaro Brivido (meaning “Thrill”) doesn’t exactly lay those fears to rest, but nonetheless has some strong qualities – it’s certainly a step on from the Tex and Go! of last year’s show. In its size, form and volumes it feels entirely modern. It’s just a shame the graphics and detailing are a let down.

The most notable (distracting) aspect of the design is the signature DLO graphic, which extends into the lower body side. On its own this could be a powerful element, but it is somewhat undermined by the clumsily handled shoulder section which punctures into it from the front fender. This feature’s heavy volume is at odds with the crisp, elegant surfaces around the rear three-quarters.

The Brivido clearly shows one potential direction for a large VW Group coupe, but it’s hard to see which brand would of the group’s up-scale brands would usefully benefit from Guigiaro’s attention, right now. We wander if Guigiaro couldn’t be allowed a little more freedom in its roll as an internal studio within the VW group. In that context, a car of this type and size might more usefully be a proposition for an extreme, alternate direction for a brand like Lamborghini or Bugatti. Perhaps then, this great name could truly recapture the essence of what made his concepts of the 70s so innovative, shocking and ultimately influential.

By Joe Simpson

The Go!

This is the first show at which ItalDesign Giugiaro has exhibited since the Carrozzeria became part of the Volkswagen group. It was slightly odd to see Giugiaro away from its traditional home on the other side of hall 2: it’s now relocated to a position opposite the Teutonic, bright-white environs of the VW stand.

Most designers we spoke to at the show felt that the two Volkswagen-badged designs felt slightly dated and ultimately offered little new. It might sound clichéd, but we couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed there wasn’t something more distinct or groundbreaking, especially given Giugiaro’s VW history with the first Golf not to mention its rich history of concept design.

The Tex

The Tex’s overall form is reminiscent of some of the work ItalDesign Giugiaro has previously done for the Italian brands and it may have worked better as a Seat than a Volkswagen. The interior shows both a theme and detail design elements we’ve seen on previous Volkswagen pre-production concepts.

The Go! is in many ways the more intriguing and appealing piece of design. It appears to be based on the forthcoming VW Up! platform, and shows a somewhat different aesthetic direction to the one VW has been pursuing with the line to date. The high roofline combines with the dropped belt-line of the DLO (itself divided into two distinct sections by a running bar which carries the rear view camera) to evoke a graphic element reminiscent of some of the most famous Carrozzeria concept cars of the 1970s.

Combined with the glass roof this feature creates an interior ambience of incredible airiness. The seat design and light beige upholstery exaggerates this sensation and gives the interior of this VW-branded concept real southern European warmth.

While VW has only recently settled on a DRG that it is quickly applying across its entire range, these concepts illustrate a potential alternative future direction for the face of VW. It manages to still speak of the brand but is friendlier and less stark.

It’s easy to criticise many aspects of these designs, but at least they avoid the surface language and sharp shut-line intersection points that creates a ‘guess the VW group brand’ design appearance that afflicts the Seat and Skoda concepts seen nearby. As a counterpoint to VW’s main studios’ refined – often very strategic work – these concepts appear to illustrate the usefulness of having a separate, yet in-house consultancy, to provide a counter-point to work done in the primary design studios.

It’s just a shame that they lack the consistency and exquisite execution that has been a characteristic of many recent Volkswagen concepts, a sense exacerbated by the beautifully resolved Bulli, which glowers at these cars from across the walkway.

Joe Simpson

This might be a bit strong, but I’d say the Ferrari FF was a candidate for production car design of the show. Some don’t agree and see it as a missed opportunity, but it is undeniable that the FF is a far better proposal for a typology that sees the Panamera occupy a space in the garage.

Designed under the direction of Lowie Vermeersch, former Design Director at Pininfarina, work on the shooting brake concept initially started following the creation of the Sintesi show car of 2007. Ferrari bosses were keen on seeing the car developed from that initial premise, according to insiders, but the project eventually went to Guigiaro’s Italdesign. After Italdesign created an angular proposal, the project again landed in Pininfarina who picked up the ball took it down the pitch.

The result is quite a departure for Ferrari, but undoubtedly a better flagship than the outgoing 612. Though Ferrari purists may hate it, we feel the time is right for such a car from the Pancing Horse brand.

Eric Gallina