The new Kia Optima making its debut in New York is undoubtedly the star of the show. Pushing Kia's new design initiatives forward, the new sedan is a clear departure from the previous generation, continuing the design language first seen on the Soul and since evolved into the recently revealed Sportage. But while the Sportage's exterior was designed in Kia's California design studio and the interior was created in the automaker's European studio, the reverse is true for the Optima.
Longer, lower, wider and with a longer wheelbase than the model it will soon replace, the exterior design of the new car is a lesson in cautious elegance. At the front, an amplified version of the Korean automaker's defining grille - larger than on any other model in the Kia range - is outlined in chrome and features a piano black surround, an element repeated in the lower corners of the bumper around the foglamps and the fender vent. Pronounced hood creases running from between the headlamps and grille integrate neatly with the A-pillar, as on the Sportage.
The clean, elegant design is arguably best appreciated in profile, where a subtle shoulder and clearly defined lightcatcher are separated by a feature line that cuts between both doors, breaking up the volume. The dynamic DLO kicks up at the rear and features a chrome strip running along the top that cuts through the C-pillar to highlight the edge of the backlight. At the rear, the feature line again reappears to break up the surface expanse of the trunklid, while the taillamps bleed over onto the rear fender.
The interior is more driver-oriented than current Kia models, with a center console angled toward the driver and airvents framing subtle chrome detailing around the gauges. And from the driver's seat, the levels of perceived quality are indeed high. The Optima is yet another successful design from Kia.
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The second-generation QX, part of the 70 percent new lineup Nissan's luxury division will have in the US this summer, has been ‘designed to offer a true five-star travel experience,' according to Infiniti. While that may well be true, the design did little to stir up desire amongst showgoers at the New York Auto Show's first press day.
Eschewing the previous Armada platform in favor of the Patrol platform, the already gargantuan SUV is now even larger than the outgoing model, measuring 5291mm long, 2029mm wide and 1920mm tall (36mm longer and 28mm wider but 96mm shorter). The new SUV is also more aerodynamic than its predecessor, achieving a 0.37Cd thanks to a new underbody spoiler at the front, a rear liftgate spoiler and redesigned mirrors.
Created at Nissan's Atsugi Design Center in Japan, the new design is meant to bring the SUV in line with other Infiniti models, unlike the outgoing Armada-based model. "You can see much more of a clear consistency with the M, FX and EX," Nissan Head of Design, Shiro Nakamura, told CDN.
But while the headlamps and sculpted bodyside aim to convey a sense of elegance paired with the rugged qualities of an off-roader, the design appears to have been caught in a state of flux. The massive, imposing grille and the three pseudo air inlets on the fender are tacky and out of place. Though more characterful than its predecessor, it doesn't convey the "powerful yet elegant" theme successfully.
Spaciousness and quality were emphasized in the design of the interior, which is a huge step up in terms of luxury and amenities. A tiered dashboard with a wood insert adds depth while wood also reappears on the steering wheel. But while the interior takes the QX forward, it can't make up for a confused exterior identity. According to Infiniti, the new SUV was 'conceived to attract and hold viewers' attention.' Unfortunately it will be doing so for the wrong reasons.
Mercedes has redesigned the slow selling R-Class for the 2011 model year. With an entirely new front end and a revised taillamp and rear bumper design, the R-Class has since gained a more SUV-like design identity, moving away from its former ‘crossover' roots that sought to blend the qualities of an SUV with those of a conventional wagon.
"The predecessor was a very nice, typical crossover concept," said Hans-Dieter Futschik, Design Director at Mercedes' Sindelfingen design studio. "But while a crossover means that different characteristics were applied to one car we had to make clear that this is one character..."
Essentially a 'heavy facelift', the R-Class is entirely new from the A-pillar forwards, with a new hood, fenders, bumpers, headlamps and grille. But Futschik disagrees with that assessment.
"I think it is more than a facelift because it changes the character of the car," he told CDN. "It has more of an SUV character, it is a space concept, a four-wheel-drive car, but we needed to give it more of a clear character. That was our intention."
While the new design retains the basic dimensions, DLO shape and side panel design of its forebear, the front has more of an arrow shape, bringing it in line with other SUVs in the Mercedes range. "It now has some similarities to the GL-Class, M-Class and GLK-Class," Futschik said.
Imparting a new design identity was not an easy task, Futschik admits: "What we had to ensure was there was not a break in the design; the new parts had to fit in with the existing design so you can't tell them apart - this is something you have to create."
The interior, meanwhile, features only minor changes - such as the door panel that comes up to meet and fit with the dashboard - and the introduction of new materials, colors and fabric.
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