Car Design Event returned for its third year with the now familiar mix of design walkarounds, presentations and networking at the Munich Driver’s Club. Car Design News reports…
A scale model of a new Yugo, an ultra-rare BMW concept and a masterclass in affordable design via new brand Slate were the standouts from this year’s Car Design Event held at the Munich Driver’s Club. Now in its third year, the event, hosted by CDN regular Jens Meiners and co-founder Des Sellmeijer brought together designers, design students and journalists for three days of discussions about the current state of car design.
Each day kicked off with a series of presentations from the likes of General Motors, Vizcom and Siemens alongside some showcases from the world of education thanks to IED. This was followed by a design walkaround, which invited the guests to hear the designers explain the motivations and inspirations behind the cars. Car Design News presents the highlights:
Hyundai/Hochschule Munich student concept
Opening the tour was what student designer Dominik Anders described as the “Dynamic Monolith”. Real name Obsidian owing to its shiny black form. The project was a collaboration between Hyundai and Hochschule Munich, the project, a full-size model helped along by Munich-based design studio Apostrophe Design and Vizcom. It combined hard, sharp lines with rounded-off wheel arches that borrowed a little design language from sister brand Kia. The light signature, which channels the pixel cubes Minecraft aesthetic is pretty Hyundai.
Volkswagen ID.Every
“We wanted to stir memories of the Golf Mark 4 and Scirocco,” said Stefan Wallberg of the VW ID.Every. And the similarities with the former is undeniable. A concept that is “80 percent there” though not slated for release anytime soon, the Bauhaus-influenced Golf is a very clear inspiration. “It feels super stable and planted,” Wallberg continued. “But with a smiley-face.” The ID.Every features end-to-end symmetry with the signature on the front face repeating on the rear. More on that soon on CDN.
BMW Turbo X1 by Paul Bracq
Designed by Paul Bracq and built for the 1972 Munich Olympics, there were only ever 2 BMW Turbo X1s built. Fitting that this incredible concept took centre stage at the design walk round. Even better was the appearance via pre-recorded video of the man himself who left the audience with two absolute gems. The first pertained to his own sensibility “never baroque” and the second in which the 91-years-old designer explained that only time could determine whether a design could become a classic. On the evidence presented at CDE, Bracq has cleared that barrier handsomely.
Genesis X softop
Moritz Martin senior exterior designer, Advanced Design at Genesis was on hand to present the European debut of the Genesis X Gran Convertible Concept. An imposing presence in rich burgundy (inspired by Cabernet Sauvignon no less) with a deep blue interior, there is little to fault in the design intent. The crest grille, the most polarising design element to CDN’s eyes, seems to be shallowing out with each new iteration and no longer plunges to the bottom of the front mask. Props to the interior team for going bold with the colour and executing a precise yet craftsman-like quilted CMF.
Chevrolet Corvette E-ray chinlines
Chevy design boss Phil Zak was on hand to talk through the 8th generation Corvette. Zak pointed out how the mid-engine set up the proportions with whacking great fenders being the order of the day. Less obvious and more interesting was the parallels between this hybrid V8 supercar and the recent Corvette concept unveiled by General Motors Advanced Design studio in England. “The chine line works on the concept in the same way as it does here,” Zak explained. In a later panel discussion Zak, who set the brief for the Corvette concept for the new UK studio, said he was impressed with the work of his overseas counterparts. CDN hopes to see more fruitful cross-Atlantic collaborations.
Yugo comeback?
“Yugo into town, Yugo, Yugo shopping!” Children of the 1970s will remember the long defunct Yugo brand fondly, chiefly because they never had to drive one. And now it is back. There isn’t much to say at the moment – CEO Alexander Gilich of the relaunched Yugo Autobilet said he hoped to have a drivable prototype by 2027. For now, there is only a scale model, a charming rendering of Serbian designer Darko Marčeta’s sketches. From this evidence it looks promising, particular in an industry that has failed in recent times to deliver affordable transport. There are reasons for this of course, but could a revamped Yugo offer an answer? Watch this space.
Slate
Cost is rightly highlighted as a challenge for the less well-off, which is why there has been no shortage of buzz around start-up brand Slate, which aims to bring affordable transport to the masses via a customisable pick-up and SUV that you can wrap yourself. Slate credits its no-frills design to the highly-regarded Tisha Johson and her team who not only saw the gaping hole in the market but has aimed to fill it. For Johnson, the project owes its origins to her student thesis that imagined the customer who was struggling to make ends meet while meeting the demands of family life. “Over my career, I found myself getting further and further away from that person.” Johnson, who was instrumental in taking Volvo upmarket, has returned to a car designer’s first principles and more power to her and the Slate team.
Special mention: UE Studios
Hats off to UE Studios, which dangled a generic car model from a crane outside the entrance, replicating the studio’s show stopping work for the opera Don Giovanni. That’s showbusiness, folks, Jürgen Uedelhoven style.
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