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The first-generation Kangoo redefined the car-derived van/multi-van market in Europe ten years ago. It was the first in the sector to have been conceived from the ground up and not simply as a boxy van rear attached to the front of an existing small car design. Since then the sector has developed, notably with the addition of the more lifestyle-orientated Skoda Roomster.
The new second-generation Kangoo announced at Frankfurt this week essentially continues the theme of the original with a friendly design identity and great functionality. Although the van version was not on display at Frankfurt - unlike the Roomster - the Kangoo will be available as a commercial van as well as a passenger car, which underpins its more functionalist approach.
The exterior maintains a similar benign face to its predecessor, which combine very large radius corners on the side windows, door shuts, and silhouette to give an even more rotund and child-like aesthetic than the original. After the poor sales for the similarly soft-formed Modus, this seems an odd direction to choose - we suspect that many, mostly male, van drivers in Europe will not feel comfortable driving a car that looks like it drove off the Teletubbies set...
The functional design of the Kangoo is hard to fault though. At the rear, the parcel shelf can be slid flush with the rear seat backs when tall loads require or it can be placed at one of two different levels in the trunk. The rear seats fold forward in a single action that cantilevers the seat squab into the footwell and there are post-Megane levels of interior stowage. Front and rear passengers benefit from optional roof storage and the roof bars cleverly unclick at one end and swing across the roof to form a full roof rack.
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This is the first model of Peugeot's new '08' generation that will compete in Europe's largest car sector against the Golf and Focus. The 308 shares the same tall cabin architecture that first appeared on the successful 307, and blends it with all the current Peugeot design cues that we've become accustomed to, most obviously from the smaller 207. In photos, it seemed there was little in the design that was fresh, almost like a 207 that's been enlarged to 110 percent. However, up close, the differences become more obvious: a crisp diving shoulder line, a sharper side window graphic and the slight wriggle in the rear door shutline are the main cues to distinguish it from the 207.
The front end is a progression of the sporty 207 face but here the driving lamps are moved outboard as vertical elements like the larger 407 and also the 907RC concept. It's a bit over-designed: the wide eyes, the big mouth with black 'gumshield' bumper insert, the extra nose and lots of glitz will all combine to intimidate you as it looms into your rear view mirror.
The interior continues Peugeot's quest for class-leading quality, with some nice touches such as the instruments inspired by chronometers, a parcel shelf with integrated storage locker and air vents for passengers in the rear. The big panorama sunroof option also helps create a bright, airy feeling to the cabin.
Launched as a five-door only, it will be interesting to see if Peugeot will build a three-door model in the future or whether the 308 RC Z concept heralds a more unique bodystyle for the forthcoming sporty derivatives, which made up a significant proportion of the 307's sales.
Design Development story coming soon...
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Mazda had made four generations of 626 upper medium sedan/hatchback/estate by the time the company announced the first-generation 6 in 2002. That car was the first of a new generation of Mazdas with the 2, 3 and RX8 following in quick succession. More significantly, it was a critically and commercially successful design. Now, with the second-generation 6 following closely after the announcement of the Mazda 2 at Geneva this year, we are seeing the next wave of mainstream Mazdas.
Based on the architecture of the Mondeo, the 6 is significantly more substantial than its predecessor. Relative to the Ford, the Mazda is lither and its detailing is less busy. The exterior has a similar front fender treatment to that first seen on the 2, which is the main defining feature of the car. Otherwise the design is quite orthodox, well-resolved and contemporary, but lacking strong distinction. And with the new Mondeo having a far more dynamic design identity than previously, the new 6 perhaps also needs more "zoom, zoom"...
Another issue is how Mazda appears to be a generation behind in perceived quality. This can be seen in the location of the side indicator repeater in the fenders and not the door mirrors, and it is even more apparent in the interior. There, the overall theme of the new car develops that established by its predecessor, but the execution lacks the cohesion and material quality of its competitors in the European upper medium sedan class. The round air vents and upper center console black plastic is brittle to the touch and the door handle applique (which is different to the applique on the IP) and lower IP material looks and feels cheap. We expect an early facelift.
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