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Talking to car designers is one of the biggest perks of my job. They’re the Hollywood A-listers of the car business; guys and girls who are some of the coolest – and most talented – people on the planet. Any time spent with them, even in my smartest attire, makes my own sense of style seem deeply inadequate.
Lockdown has provided an added opportunity to chat to designers – and not to feel quite so inferior, although even their more relaxed clobber outshines mine.
And lockdown, it seems, has given them valuable thinking time – time for them to be at their most creative. Never mind a supposed baby boom in nine months’ time, I’m hoping we’ll see a raft of radical concept cars heading our way later this year.
Jaguar’s design director, Julian Thomson, told me that he thought there would be a new mindfulness among car buyers, with electrification playing a larger part.
“I think this could mean that people are much more reflective about life; they want healthier, more wholesome lives with greater meaning,” he said.
Thomson believes that could have an effect on the design and materials used inside cars, too. “People will be more concerned about personal spaces and their health in their cars; the air quality,” he told me. “Those little capsules will be more of an escapist unit, so I think material is going to be very, very important.”
Two of my favourite concepts recently have come from SangYup Lee, head of the Hyundai design centre, with the 45 and Prophecy. These are two very different styles – reaffirming Lee’s desire to avoid ‘Russian doll’ designs for Hyundai models. Instead he says the family look comes from a greater focus on clever lighting tech as on the Prophecy (above).
We’re about to enter a golden age of design where detail matters more – inside and out. Technology will allow designers to do that, meaning even more beautiful cars.
Check out the latest new cars due in 2020 below..
The Aston Martin Vantage has lost its roof and none of its potency in Roadster guise.
BMW’s first all-electric SUV is the iX3 and it promises 273 miles of range from a 282bhp motor.
Mercedes claims its new electric luxury passenger van can cover 250 miles on a single charge. And, with a rapid-charging function, the EQV can reach 62 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
Toyota will be expecting much praise for this inspired hot hatch developed by the team responsible for the manufacturer’s World Rally Championship cars. With a three-door body, a bespoke suspension set-up, clever four-wheel-drive system and a 257bhp 1.6-l
Mercedes’ most luxurious SUV uses a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 and 48-volt hybrid system, with lots of customisation options
The S-Class luxury limo will be available with a familiar exterior design, but lots of new on-board tech - including a Tesla-style screen on the centre console.
Yes, there’s still the famous ash-wood frame, but the Plus Four is built on a new bonded-aluminium platform and is powered by a BMW-sourced, 255bhp four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Like night follows day, the new BMW 3 Series will be followed by a searing hot M3 version. We’re expecting 510bhp from the twin-turbo straight-six.
With new hybrid engine tech and a host of safety features, the tardis-like Honda Jazz just got a bit smarter.
Rugged 4x4 looks, matched with the latest EV technology, Jeep will be hoping for big things from its all-wheel drive Renegade PHEV
Continue reading...
Lockdown has provided an added opportunity to chat to designers – and not to feel quite so inferior, although even their more relaxed clobber outshines mine.
And lockdown, it seems, has given them valuable thinking time – time for them to be at their most creative. Never mind a supposed baby boom in nine months’ time, I’m hoping we’ll see a raft of radical concept cars heading our way later this year.
Jaguar’s design director, Julian Thomson, told me that he thought there would be a new mindfulness among car buyers, with electrification playing a larger part.
“I think this could mean that people are much more reflective about life; they want healthier, more wholesome lives with greater meaning,” he said.
Thomson believes that could have an effect on the design and materials used inside cars, too. “People will be more concerned about personal spaces and their health in their cars; the air quality,” he told me. “Those little capsules will be more of an escapist unit, so I think material is going to be very, very important.”
Two of my favourite concepts recently have come from SangYup Lee, head of the Hyundai design centre, with the 45 and Prophecy. These are two very different styles – reaffirming Lee’s desire to avoid ‘Russian doll’ designs for Hyundai models. Instead he says the family look comes from a greater focus on clever lighting tech as on the Prophecy (above).
We’re about to enter a golden age of design where detail matters more – inside and out. Technology will allow designers to do that, meaning even more beautiful cars.
Check out the latest new cars due in 2020 below..
The Aston Martin Vantage has lost its roof and none of its potency in Roadster guise.
BMW’s first all-electric SUV is the iX3 and it promises 273 miles of range from a 282bhp motor.
Mercedes claims its new electric luxury passenger van can cover 250 miles on a single charge. And, with a rapid-charging function, the EQV can reach 62 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
Toyota will be expecting much praise for this inspired hot hatch developed by the team responsible for the manufacturer’s World Rally Championship cars. With a three-door body, a bespoke suspension set-up, clever four-wheel-drive system and a 257bhp 1.6-l
Mercedes’ most luxurious SUV uses a turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 and 48-volt hybrid system, with lots of customisation options
The S-Class luxury limo will be available with a familiar exterior design, but lots of new on-board tech - including a Tesla-style screen on the centre console.
Yes, there’s still the famous ash-wood frame, but the Plus Four is built on a new bonded-aluminium platform and is powered by a BMW-sourced, 255bhp four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Like night follows day, the new BMW 3 Series will be followed by a searing hot M3 version. We’re expecting 510bhp from the twin-turbo straight-six.
With new hybrid engine tech and a host of safety features, the tardis-like Honda Jazz just got a bit smarter.
Rugged 4x4 looks, matched with the latest EV technology, Jeep will be hoping for big things from its all-wheel drive Renegade PHEV
Continue reading...