The debut of the Concept CS is interesting for several reasons. To announce such a significant concept at Shanghai signals how seriously BMW is taking the Chinese market. Perhaps it also shows how important it is for this brand to put a stake in the luxury four-door coupe market just before Porsche does. But, more than anything else, it's interesting because it is a move away from the unique spread of form language, from 1 to 7 Series to Z4, that has in less than ten years made BMW more renowned for advanced design than any other car brand.
At the front, the large kidney grille is flanked by Z8-style headlamps and low-set brake cooling air intakes for an aggressive sports car, not a sedan, look. The side has the most significant new design element of the C8: a strong crease that pushes up through the surface of the flanks, and then dips down rearwards and fades out to then pick up again and sweep into the rear fender.
Inside the CS has a layering theme, a rich palette of textural materials including an innovative woven aluminium 'fabric', and a traditional driver focus (note the manual gear shift).
The CS polarised opinion amongst the many designers we spoke to in Shanghai about the car. On one hand its appealingly fast proportions (8cm longer and wider, and 12cm lower than a standard 7 Series) and overt sporting conceptual design has an innate appeal that fits the brand and resonated with many. It is also full of details that many designers appreciated. But the other perspective we heard was that it was too busy, and, more fundamentally, that it was disappointingly traditional - for a BMW.
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Design Review: BMW Concept CS
Audi Cross Coupe concept
The Cross Coupe is a show car spoiler for the forthcoming Audi Q5 that will sit below the very successful large Q7 SUV. The production design will have a more upright rear, just as the similarly sized Volkswagen Tiguan will do relative to the Concept A that previewed it in Geneva last year. But Stefan Sielaf, head of Audi Design, told Car Design News in Shanghai that this coupe-like rear will reach production as a derivative of the Q5.
Beyond the dynamic crossover concept of the Cross Coupe - that Audi explored first with the Steppenwolf concept of Paris 2000 - its design is mostly a progression of themes that were introduced in the Roadjet concept at the 2006 Detroit show.
Some of the more notable exterior features include: a dark under-body that reaches up to incorporate perforated lower side air intakes and also kinks up along the rocker, frameless door glazing, a rear door shut that cuts into the wheel-arch, and a sharply angled rear fender cut line running forwards from the base of the tail lamps.
As well as having more exterior bright-work than is normal for an Audi show car, the interior features several specific elements that the Ingolstadt studio designed to appeal particularly to the Chinese market. These include an integrated ceramic tea cup between the front seats, MMI controls decorated with Chinese pattern, and the use of light colours and contrasting matt and shiny finishes. Felt floor material and a perforated IP applique that incorporates the air outlet vents are also interesting innovations.
Ultimately, the Cross Coupe didn't make a very big impact with the car designers we spoke to, but its typical high-quality Audi resolution combined with what will be a unique vehicle typology in the market, suggest that the Cross Coupe will translate into another successful production design.
Chery Shooting Sport concept
Penned by Roberto Piatti's new automotive design house, Torino Design, the Shooting Sport was the strongest domestic Chinese branded concept at Shanghai.
Based on a production C-sector platform, the Shooting Sport is a dynamic three-door hatchback design distinguished by a matt-grey plastic C-pillar housing the rear lights. Just below this C-pillar, a subtle body-side crease dips downward, echoing the way the front fender crease dips down and fades out near the base of the A-pillar.
These subtle but fresh and well-resolved surface designs are also evident in the hood; where the fender form is extended far across into the hood surface, and in the neat solution at the base of the tailgate. These cues are what most impresses with the Shooting Sport.
The white exterior colour extends to the interior and encircles gloss green panels within the doors and, less successfully, in the IP.
When asked about the approach his Italian-based company took for a Chinese car client, Piatti explained: "We don't want to make a Chinese car - the target is to make a car with the modern (international) design trends. This car could be sold in Europe or America. Design now is global."
