The Concept X6 is a production design in all but the smallest detail and lack of interior: it is a new type of crossover that marries SUV and coupe typologies in equal proportion. Based on the platform of the X5, the X6 differs in being a little lower and having a far more coupe-like DLO and general profile with a fastback tailgate and a shorter rear deck than the 6 Series or 3 Series coupe.
Elements of the recent Concept CS shown in Shanghai are evident in the bone line running above the broad concave side surface, the integrated exhaust outlets pushed to the sides, and the way that the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid (running a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain) had surfaces inset within the front bumpers wrapping around into brake cooling air inlets. Other interesting design details include headlamps that push into the hood surface, blades that run into the front driving lights, a new type of door mirror design incorporating LED running lights, and a TT inspired rear window shape.
The rear lights seem to have missed the potential to connect the strong side feature with the horizontal aspects of the rear, and the kink at the base of the DLO adjacent to the mirror also seems odd. Otherwise the X6 is a handsome car that holds few surprises and balances its dynamic and robust genes well. And, despite coupe-SUV crossover concepts having appeared from many brands for nearly a decade, when the X6 launches, BMW will be first to the market with this type of car.
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The Flextreme follows the GTC concept shown at Geneva in showing the direction that GM Europe are looking to take for forthcoming production Opel designs. This car is essentially a mono-space estate designed under Anthony Lo working now under newly incumbent design director Mark Adams.
The exterior has the same feature lines first seen in the GTC, and develops the vertical orientated "boomerang" front lamp graphic. With this concept being a diesel-electric hybrid, the design team wanted to reduce the size of the grille aperture (which is also glazed over) and thus the unusual lamp graphics play a more important part of the overall DRG. At the rear the central roof panel extends to split the glazing in two, which then relates to this pushed-to the-sides orientated front graphic.
At the base of the rear, two Segway Human transporters are integrated which can lower down, and as Anthony told us; there are several other things that could usefully be stored in this area instead.
The interior impressed us more than the exterior though. The cool greys and silvers, the fine technical textures and hexagonal shapes, the wing like IP with a full width air vent in place of the usual applique, the sweeping door panels, and the Citroenesque single spoke steering wheel offer an appealing alternative to the busy directions taken by many other European mainstream brands. Son-of Aero X acrylic instrumentation perhaps shows how some cross pollination between Opel and Saab brand design DNA is inevitable now that they share the same studio and design team, and arguably the concept appeared to have lacked the density of design value of concepts such as the Citroen C-Cactus.
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Opel GTC concept - Geneva 2007
This is a concept car that previews the direction for a future small city car from Volkswagen that would compete in Europe with cars such as Toyota's iQ and the Fiat 500 in the emerging sub-3.5 meter car class.
The rear mounted engine, like the Mitsubishi i and Smart ForTwo, allows for a very short front overhang and a long cabin area, which along with the two-box profile define the core theme of the car. Simple surfacing and subtle detailing dominate the exterior design; witness the floating bumper incorporating number plate set within a mesh grille area at the front and rear, the glazed tailgate that sits over lights and logo, the body colored hood over the single projector lens headlamps within simple lamp cans, and the round door mirrors.
Inside the purist direction continues: super thin seats (which feature elements that inflate to adjust the support they provide), buttons mounted on part of the steering wheel rim that fold inward (not on the spokes or boss), a slim floating IP flanked by square-holed air vents, and a simple door panel reminiscent of the Renault Twingo concept shown last year in Paris. Is this a signal that Volkswagen is considering a return to the more "Germanic" form language that they have eschewed in recent production designs?
Car Design News spoke with the four main designers of the Up! at the show, Tomasz Bachorski, Christian Lesmana, Nils Poschwatta and Mathias Nill. They talked of how they designed the car in a way that would translate more easily into a production design than for most concepts, by using near production materials for example. As Tomasz said: "The next big job will be to keep it like it is for production!".
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Renault Twingo concept -Paris 2006
