Amazing cars

Rinspeed XchangE

It's that time of year again as Swiss design company Rinspeed announces its annual Geneva concept car. This year's XchangE deals with the issues and opportunities presented by autonomous driving, which is rather more pertinent than some of its forebears – remember the pickup/hovercraft hybrid?!

The all-electric sedan is effectively a Tesla Model S with few external changes, however the project is focussed on how drivers and passengers can make the most of their time once autonomous technology becomes available, so the focus is on its all-new interior.

The seating was developed by a company that usually designs prosthetic limbs, offering an unprecedented level of adjustment. Occupants can recline or turn around to enjoy the on-board entertainment system. The intention is to create an ambience somewhere between a business jet and a yacht. This move away from traditional vehicle architecture is helped by the by-wire steering that allows the wheel to shift to the center of the car when not in use. Car-to-Car and Car-to-X communication is one of the keys to its autonomy.

The cabin features shades of blue and gray, while the materials were selected on the basis of their tactility – there's even a foot-warming 'pocket' for the passenger. Its roof features ‘Radiant' surface coating, which allows it to change colors thanks to 358 individually controlled LEDs.

And because this is a Rinspeed there are some truly outlandish elements – how about the world's most expensive watch winder fitted to the steering column inside a transparent globe and wound by the electric motor?

Renault Twingo III 

The third-generation Renault Twingo will make its official debut at the Geneva motor show next month, where it will be looking to recapture the hearts of those disillusioned by its predecessor.
For the first time, Renault's smallest model has five doors, yet more significantly its engine is now mounted at the rear, its platform shared with the next-generation Smart. As a result its nose is extremely short by modern standards (although it features a very definite transition from hood to windscreen unlike the monovolume original), while what appears to be an extremely generous amount of overall length has been given to the cabin – note how the front door shut pushes forward over the wheel. Its compact rear overhang adds to this sense.
If its proportions aren't so extrovertly rear-engined, the visual weight of the rear wheel arch – accentuated by the optional graphics packs – certainly hints at the power source.
The rear accentuates this with its lamps that push out into the arch flares and act as a cross-section to the body like the rear-engined R5 Turbo rally car's admittedly more overt box arches.
Its face is clearly firmly in-line with the brand's current strategy, with the large diamond feeding into a chrome (or colored) moustache, while the circular lamp inserts and auxiliary DRLs nod to the outgoing car.
No dimensions or interior details have yet been released.

Chevrolet Adra Concept

Chevrolet's new Adra concept is the first car to be designed by General Motors Technical Centre India (GMTC-I) in Bangalore exclusively for the emerging Indian market.
The compact SUV concept uses the usual Chevrolet global design language while taking into account the needs of younger Indian buyers, and will compete in the market with the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster.
Featuring a large grille and headlamps extending over the fenders, it has all the attributes of a traditional SUV – such as high ground clearance and a high seating stance. Inside, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a central infotainment screen help create a modern aesthetic.
Holden's Global Design Center in Melbourne, Australia, helped develop the Adra, as well as constructing and fabricating it.
Michael Simcoe, executive director GMIO design, said, "The concept clearly showcases GM India's impressive creative design talent and strong understanding of this emerging market."
"The end result is a show car that is sure to impress the Indian public and one that GM India should be incredibly proud of."

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé has been revealed ahead of its debut at this year's Geneva motor show.
The two-door coupé, which will replace the CL at the top of the carmaker's range, has details – such as the three-dimensional diamond radiator grille, angular headlamps and large air inlets – similar to the sedan. With a wheelbase of 2,945mm, the Coupé is 5,027mm long, with a width of 1,899mm and a height of 1,411mm.
Aesthetically, it's mostly similar to the concept version seen at last year's Frankfurt motor show and differentiates itself from the saloon. Like the CL, the doors are frameless and lack B-pillars.
Inside, it's been toned down slightly from the concept version, but is still distinctive. The door panels' wave pattern hasn't made the jump, while the power seat controls that were integrated into the door-mounted speaker are now separated.
The dashboard is divided into two distinct layers, made possible by moving the front passenger airbag to a new location. It features a two-part TFT screen, which incorporates the instruments, SatNav and infotainment functions. This can be controlled via the optional touchpad, with different finger gestures used to access the various functions.

Subaru Legacy (2015)

Subaru's 2015 Legacy has few of the design cues previewed by the concept seen at the Los Angeles auto show, although it echoes some themes.
The ‘nosecone' front end integrating the bumper and the hexagonal grille are retained, but its rear is much changed, with designers opting for conventional horizontal lamps instead of the concept's C-shaped lamps.
Compared with the outgoing model, visibility is improved because of a more raked windshield pulled forward by 2-inches at the base, along with high seating hip points, new front quarter windows, and door-mounted side mirrors.
Inside, a two-binnacle gauge cluster faces the driver, along with a center LCD information display, which is 3.5-inches on cars without the EyeSight driver-assist system and 5-inches on EyeSight cars. The new Legacy also features a new infotainment system with a 6.2-inch touchscreen. Premium and Limited trim iterations feature electro-luminescent gauges with blue ring illumination, while soft touch materials are used throughout.

Citroën C4 Cactus (2015)

Citroën has revealed the production version of its Cactus concept and to the delight of many it hasn't changed too much from what we saw in Frankfurt.
The ‘Airbumps' – shock-absorbent buttons – are retained, as is the floating roof, split front lamps and plastic cladding. Measuring in at 4,160mm long, 1,730mm wide and 1,480mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,600mm, higher-end models will feature a full-length glass roof.
Inside, a sofa-like bench seat features alongside metallic accents, gloss black trim and leather straps that act as door handles. A seven-inch touchscreen has replaced traditional controls, while the conventional instrument cluster is replaced by a digital screen.
The Cactus is a template for all the carmaker's ‘C-line' – or standard – models in the future.
Car Design News was at its launch last night in Paris and spoke to its designers, so keep an eye out for an in-depth First Sight feature coming soon.

Datsun redi-GO Concept

Following the trend of compact crossover concept debuts at this year's Delhi auto show, Datsun has unveiled its redi-Go Concept, which combines hatchback practicality with an SUV stance.
The five-door concept, which builds on the carmaker's current design language while hinting at a future direction, previews a potential small crossover specifically for the Indian market. Measuring in at 2,350mm long with high ground clearance, it's designed to offer plenty of space.
Shiro Nakamura, senior vice-president and chief creative officer, said: "Although Datsun redi-Go Concept is just that – a concept – it shows clearly the way we are thinking. It's an ambitious styling exploration but, being a Datsun, it is a logical design, too".
It features Datsun's signature ‘D-cut grille' together with short overhangs, integrated front and rear bumpers and large wheelarches, while twin character lines run the length of the car. Striking headlamps contain thin daytime running lights and LED fog lights strips are fully integrated in the front bumper.
The roof is patterned with a tessellated formation, designed to create the impression that the windscreen extends over the cabin, and finishes in an extended spoiler, while also previewing personalization options.
"We wanted a modern and characteristic design that, at the same time, appeared long-lasting and substantial. We feel we have managed to combine these apparent contradictions in the concept," said Koji Nagano, executive design director, who leads the entire Datsun design project.

Renault Kwid Concept

Renault has unveiled its KWID Concept at the Delhi auto show.
The five-seater compact car, which is targeted at young customers from emerging markets, was designed with input from Renault Design India under the ‘Explore' portion of Renault's lifecycle-based design philosophy. Designers from the carmaker's global studios collaborated in the design, which has been developed specifically for Indian drivers.
Axel Breun (Technocentre Design) was the overall project manager, while François Grenier (Technocentre Design, France) designed the interior based on drawings by Mishu Batra (Renault Design India). Anton Shamenkov (Technocentre Design, France) designed the exterior based on original drawings by Jean Semeriva (Studio Design Brazil). The colors and materials of the vehicle were worked on by Neha Lad and developed by Chie Yanagisawa (both of Technocentre Design).
The KWID concept's most notable feature is its Flying Companion, with potential uses including scouting traffic and detecting road conditions. This takes off from the rotating rear section of the roof and can be manually controlled via the tablet integrated into the dashboard, or in automatic mode using a pre-programmed flying sequence and GPS location.
Its interior is inspired by a bird's nest, while the seats hang over a solid, white base. Three passengers sit in the front, just behind the driver, who sits in a central position. This arrangement means it can be driven in both left- and right-hand markets. Two more seats are found in the back, and passengers benefit from air conditioning operated via controls on the back of the driver's seat.

Honda Vision XS-1 Concept

The Honda Vision XS-1 concept has been unveiled at the 2014 Delhi auto show.
A seven-seater compact crossover, it features the large horizontal grille – dubbed the ‘Solid Wing Face' – that's a feature of Honda's ‘Exciting H Design' philosophy, and is based upon the carmaker's original M/M (man maximum, machine minimum) concept.
The Honda Vision XS-1 was designed to represent Honda's creativity in designing compact vehicles, for which the market is growing globally.
Its exterior carries a sporty aesthetic, with an accentuated shoulder line and crease line on the sides and a long sloping roofline. The two doors slide to open providing access to the front and the rear seats, which is made easier by the lack of a B-pillar.
It's been designed to maximize interior space and the seating layout is 2+3+3, while the last two rows can be folded down. The interior is minimalist and features a centrally mounted integrated touchscreen. More durable but modern plastics can be seen on the dash and lower down on the centre console