2019 Frankfurt International Motorshow Archives

VISION EQS shows future large luxury electric saloon design

Even though the new Mercedes-Benz EQ brand is in its infancy and the first models are just making their appearance, the carmaker is already showing what’s ahead in mobility, progress and sustainable luxury. This is because Mercedes-Benz understands that two things are timeless: the need for transport and the desire for the very special. In a sustainable future too, customers will want a saloon that meets their wishes in terms of comfort, design and technology.

Future design for EQ models
The VISION EQS shows how future EQ models will be shaped. The generous spaciousness and new control concept of this showcar provide a physical preview of the intuitive and digital interior and Advanced MBUX of future luxury saloons. A clear, flowing design idiom makes the individual parts of the entire dashboard blend into an integrated interior sculpture.

The showcar already meets these aspirations today and provides an outlook on future large, electric luxury saloons. At the same time, it illustrates a vision of purpose-built electro-design. With the VISION EQS, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving. Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be desirable in the future.

With its innovative, stretched ‘one bow’ proportion, the VISION EQS takes the Progressive Luxury design philosophy of the EQ models into a new dimension. The flowing yet powerful sculptured effect of the exterior design gives the showcar its majestic appearance – luxurious generosity and aerodynamic elegance in ideal harmony.

The prominent, continuous ‘lightbelt’ structures the exterior in a new way. The resulting colour division at shoulder level creates the impression of a ‘black panel’ glass landscape floating on the silver vehicle body – a seamlessly connected vehicle surface from the striking EQ front grille to the rear.

Precision in detail
Technologically futuristic features include the DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, each with two holographic lens modules, integrated into the continuous 360-degree exterior lightbelt. These allow an almost unlimited number of light variations that provide an outlook on future light configurations for future models.

The brand logo also has new tasks: 229 illuminated, individual stars form the seamlessly integrated lightbelt at the rear, causing the brand’s trademark to shine out in a previously unknown way. Interaction between the vehicle and its environment is not just limited to the lights in the VISION EQS. The digital front grille, which realises a light matrix consisting of 188 individual LEDs as a world first, provides a new level in precise signalling. Once the black panel comes to life, the seemingly free-floating stars and pixels create a fascinating, three-dimensional effect.

Atmospheric generosity within
Inside, the VISION EQS takes its inspiration from the world of luxury yachts. The clear, flowing design idiom creates a new level of serenity – and with it the vision of modern luxury interpreted into the future. For the first time, the entire dashboard blends with the body of the front trim section to form an interior sculpture. With its deep and open spatial architecture, the cockpit of the VISION EQS envelops the occupants like the deck of a boat. The fully integrated, embracing overall sculpture consisting of the combined dashboard, centre console and armrests floats above the generous interior and, for the first time, gives an outlook on the interiors of future luxury saloons by the brand.

The choice of materials for the interior of the showcar also ensures a special ambience. Mercedes-Benz has systematically developed the use of sustainable materials further and uses both traditional and technologically advanced materials. High-quality DINAMICA microfibre in crystal white is used alongside native figured maple trim. This is made from recycled PET bottles.

Also used is artificial leather, with a finely structured surface similar to nappa leather. The material used for the roofliner comes from a special project: a high-quality textile was created by adding a quantity of recycled ‘ocean waste’ plastic, putting the use of sustainable materials on a wholly new level.

Advanced MBUX
The VISION EQS presents a large interior sculpture as a stage for the future: digital content can be experienced by immersion over the entire surface, creating an all-embracing atmosphere. The blending of materials and information illustrates a possible intuitive interaction in the future.

The organically emerging displays and projection surfaces provide display space, as does the intelligent CONNECTED LIGHT that surrounds the occupants. Haptic highlights such as the air vents integrated into the trim element like inlays, the sophisticated speaker covers in rose gold and the fragrance flask encased in a decorative holder like a jewel round off the trendsetting interior of the VISION EQS and show exquisite craftsmanship.

A fully-electric future
With electric motors at the front and rear axles and the battery integrated into the floor, the VISION EQS represents a very well-balanced vehicle concept. The basis for dynamic high-level performance and safety comes courtesy of the electric all-wheel drive with axle-variable torque distribution and a battery installed deep in the vehicle floor between the axles. Thanks to more than 350 kW of output and immediately available torque of around 760 Nm, the VISION EQS has a projected acceleration time from 0 – 100 km/h of under 4.5 seconds.

As a result of an intelligent operating strategy, the prototype can have a comfortable operating range of up to 700 kms. Assuming a charging performance of 350 kW, recharging the battery to 80% capacity should take less than 20 minutes.

The VISION EQS also makes a clear statement for the continuation of driver-controlled vehicles. To this end, the showcar demonstrates the bandwidth of the platform with its clear focus on the driver. Mercedes-Benz will also be in a position to fulfil the desire for individual mobility and thrilling handling characteristics in the future. At the same time the Vision EQS showcar supports the driver with highly-automated driving at Level 3, eg on longer motorway journeys. Thanks to the modular sensor systems, the level of autonomy can be extended up to fully-automated driving in the future.

Mercedes EQC and EQV — *First two models of the all-electric EQ brand – the EQC SUV and EQV MPV*

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BMW Concept 4 with huge kidneys previews next 4-Series coupe

*The kidney grille appeared on a BMW, the 303, for the first time in 1933.*

Back in earlier years, rookie motoring journalists writing about BMW would have constantly been reminded of the two design elements of the company’s cars – the kidney grille and the blue and white roundel. It was standard text to mention them when describing a new BMW. Those who know BMW’s history know that the roundel was inspired by a propeller as the company had been making aero engines before it ventured into making cars.

The kidney grille wasn’t on BMW’s first cars, appearing only or the first time on the 303 in the 1930s. Thereafter, it would become a permanent part of the BMW ‘face’, re-interpreted by the designers again and again in the decades that followed. For production models, the proportions of the kidney grille were appropriate to the car’s size and inserted between the bonnet edge and top of the bumper.

For concept cars where the designers had more latitude to experiment, various more sophisticated interpretations were presented. Some were quite appealing, high-tech and elegant while those in recent years seem to border on the ‘bizarre’ with their outsize proportions which take the grille beyond the confines of the front end. On such occasions, as with the Concept 4 on display in Frankfurt this week, the massive kidney grille comes to the forefront of commentaries.

New face of the 4-Series range
Grabbing the attention at the heart of the front end is the vertical kidney grille. The distinctive grille, remarkable air intakes and prominently sculpted surfaces provide an immediate advert for the car’s performance and its engaging character as a driver’s car.

“The kidney grille has always been a signature feature of BMW cars,” stressed Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design. “The BMW Concept 4 presents a confident and classy take on this iconic feature. At the same time, the BMW Concept 4 offers a look ahead to the expressive face of the 4-Series range.” The vertically oriented grille fits seamlessly into both the proportions of the front end and BMW’s illustrious past. Indeed, its form and design reference legendary classics such as the BMW 328 or the BMW 3.0 CSi and therefore shine the spotlight on the BMW brand’s long and successful history as a maker of fine coupes.

The kidney grille is also home to some elaborate details. The grating itself contains horizontal trim elements with a faceted cut which create a neat contrast against the sporty design of the front end and lend depth and exclusivity to the grille. Look closer and another highlight is revealed: the intricate grating within the kidneys and air intakes, which is made up of an array of small ‘number 4s’ joined together.

The slim and focused twin headlights are slightly angled and team up with the kidney grille to lend the front end a modern look with a strong identity. The striking LED light elements have no glass cover; instead they are worked into the body like three-dimensional sculptures. This allows them to bring an even greater sense of modernity and technical sophistication to the front end. The sharply contoured bonnet extends the lines of the front end through powerful volumes and edging of precision. The bold surfacing frames the kidney grille like a gemstone.

Aesthetic essence of a modern BMW coupe
The Concept 4 displays BMW’s signature proportions at their most modern form yet. The stretched bonnet, long wheelbase, flowing roofline and short overhangs create a modern, elegant and dynamic coupe outline and send energy coursing through the low-slung body even while it’s standing still.

Within the silhouette, the ultra-pure surfaces of the concept car form a powerful main body. The interplay of tautly chiselled volumes and a small number of extremely precise contours create a rare sense of emotion and dynamism. The expressive exterior paint tone Forbidden Red accentuates the car’s surfaces particularly vividly; those in the light at any one time project a rich, glossy red, while shade creates an almost black effect and a striking contrast. The interaction of contours and volumes therefore exude a dramatic sense of radiance and depth.

The athletic body incorporates a slender glasshouse with a narrow window aperture, which further emphasises the dynamism of the side. The long, sweeping roofline flows smoothly into the bootlid, giving the rear end a high-class and sporty aesthetic. The bulging rear wheel arches lend visual expression to the power coursing through the rear wheels and accentuate the muscular shoulders higher up.

Sophisticated details
Look more closely and further classy details are revealed. The minimalist, two-section exterior mirrors emerge harmoniously out of the weather strips. The lower section in polished aluminium extends the weather strip in a flowing movement and becomes a mirror surface, while the aerodynamically optimised rear section is in body colour and rounds off the design of the mirrors in dynamic fashion. On the inside of the mirrors is an apparently floating BMW logo, which only comes to light on more detailed inspection.

The light-alloy wheels of the Concept 4 are equally rich in detail. The 21-inch items represent a heavily ‘dished’ take on the sporty 5-spoke design, drawing the eye into their centre-points. The fronts of the intricate spokes have a high-polished finish, while the set-back surfaces are finely ground to create a slightly darker effect and give the rim design a sophisticated contrast.

Eye-catching, dynamic rear end
The rear sits low over the road, as befits a sporty car. The character line transitions from the flanks into the rear end in a broad, horizontal sweep and visually reduces the coupe’s height off the ground even further. Picking up where the front end left off, generously sized and clear surfaces with only a small number of lines are the dominant theme.

Purism runs through every element of the rear end and creates a prominent tail graphic. The sporty glasshouse is indented into the powerful body, allowing it to chisel broad and athletic shoulders into the Concept 4’s design. The vertical air outlets frame the lower section of the rear and emphasise the car’s broad stance. The LED rear lights consist of a single fibreoptic element, which lends the familiar BMW L shape a cutting-edge ‘heartbeat’ graphic and dispenses with a glass cover. Their contours underscore the sportingly horizontal focus of the rear end and accentuate its brawny stance on the road.

The striking diffuser integrated into the muscular rear apron sets the seal on the car’s rear-end design. Its vertical fins break up the clean surfaces of the car’s tail to send a statement of fine sporting pedigree, while the High-gloss Black paint finish with metallic particles lend it additional visual impact. The pair of exhaust tailpipes highlight a new and dynamic free-form, a detail of the Concept 4’s design that expresses what this car is all about: the modern essence of a coupe with a huge dose of aesthetic appeal.

The Concept 4 looks ready to be added to the assembly line as the next 4-Series Coupe, though how much those huge kidneys are downsized remains to be seen.

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All-new Land Rover Defender makes global debut in Frankfurt

When you have been selling a vehicle that is engineered to be as durable and reliable as possible to be driven anywhere on the planet, it’s probably unnecessary to change it frequently. Especially for many of the customers who buy it, the fundamental design and construction remains good enough for their needs. But there still comes a point in time when the original design is just ‘too old’ and the world has changed too much, so it’s time to retire. That’s probably what happened with Land Rover’s Defender, which was produced for 67 years up till 2016 (although the Defender name only came into prominence in 1990).

Over 67 years, the vehicle evolved and met changing demands while remaining true to its ‘Best4x4ByFar’ promise. Armed forces loved it and so did adventurers, wealthy farmers and celebrities. Like the Mini, it was the sort of vehicle that was acceptable at every strata of society, though in different forms.

Now, 3 years after the last Defender was given its farewell at the Solihull factory, where the vehicles have always been built, Land Rover has revealed an all-new successor at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new 4×4 made its first appearance by descending an extreme 42-degree incline at the show – a feat broadcasted live to a global audience of eager fans.

The unstoppable New Defender is the most capable and durable Land Rover vehicle ever made, it is claimed, and its debut in Frankfurt marked the end of its first adventure, to the Valley of the Castles in the Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan – one of the most land-locked places on earth.

An icon reimagined
A distinctive silhouette makes the new Defender instantly recognizable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles. Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer at Land Rover and ‘Guardian of Land Rover DNA’ said: “The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age. Its unique personality is accentuated by its distinctive silhouette and optimum proportions, which make it both highly desirable and seriously capable – a visually compelling 4×4 that wears its design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.”

“The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age.”

Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land Rover

The range will have 5 variants – Defender, S, SE, HSE, First Edition and top-of-the-range Defender X. Depending on market, customers will be able to personalize their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover vehicle, with 4 Accessory Packs. The Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban packs each give the Defender a distinct character to help owners to make the most of their world. Exclusive First Edition models featuring unique specification will be available throughout the first year of production.

The New Defender completes the Land Rover dynasty and will be available in 90 and 110 bodystyles, with up to 6 seats in the 90 and the option of 5, 6 or 5+2 seating in the 110.

Switch to monocoque construction
Departing from past construction, Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure the brand has ever produced. Three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, it has been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedures and provides the perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil-sprung suspension while supporting the latest electrified powertrains.

Although hybrids will grow in importance, Land Rover will continue to offer a choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines in markets where conventional internal combustion engines continue to be needed. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will join the range next year providing the prospect of EV-only progress.

Permanent 4×4 will still be standard, of course, with a twin-speed automatic gearbox. The Defender is also the first Land Rover to feature Configurable Terrain Response, which allows drivers to fine-tune a range of settings to suit the conditions more precisely than ever before. A new Wade program optimizes the vehicle for fording – giving customers even more confidence when tackling flooded roads and tracks with a world-class maximum wading depth of up to 900 mm.

21^st century technologies
Inside, the highly functional cabin design is marked out by exposed structural elements and 21st century technologies, including the state-of-the-art new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The next-generation touchscreen is more intuitive and user-friendly, requiring fewer inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses. In addition, Software-Over-The-Air technology, with 14 individual modules capable of receiving remote updates, ensures Defender customers always benefit from the latest software, wherever they are in the world.

“We’ve embraced the Defender’s stunning capability and minimalistic, functional interior to reinvent the icon for the 21st century. The New Defender gives us the licence to do things differently, to push the boundaries and do the unthinkable, without ever losing the character and authenticity of the original. From the start, we had an absolute obsession with functionality beneath the skin, from choosing the right materials through to state of the art connectivity. The result is not only the most capable Land Rover ever made, but also a truly comfortable, modern vehicle that people will love to drive,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.

Depending on specifications, the New Defender will have prices starting from around £40,000 (about RM206,000) when sales start in the fourth quarter of this year. While Land Rovers were once assembled in Malaysia, sufficient numbers are needed to justify the investment for local assembly and it is unlikely that the numbers will be right. So, as with the rest of the Land Rover range, the vehicles will have to be imported from the UK in CBU form, which means higher duties imposed.

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Volkswagen unveils a new logo and brand design for new era

A brand logo is a very important element in a company’s identity, more so if the company has global coverage. While the first design may sometimes be rushed when the company is founded, more thought usually goes into the design and what it means as the years go by. In the car industry, brand logos have evolved constantly but, in most cases, the original image is retained. The change usually comes during a new era in the business environment or in the company’s direction.

At the 2019 IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Germany this week, the Volkswagen brand unveils its new logo and a new brand design. This world premiere marks the start of a new era for Volkswagen, accompanied by the presentation of the full-electric ID.3 at the same time. Volkswagen’s future is electric, fully connected and has a neutral carbon balance.

The first Volkswagen logo (left) which was used in the 1930s, and the new one (right) which will appear from this month.

*In between, the logo evolved a number of times but the ‘VW’ remained a clear element.*

More modern and more authentic
With its new brand design, VW has created a uniform global 360° brand experience which is ‘more modern and more authentic’. The new Volkswagen logo with its flat two-dimensional design is clearer and has been reduced to its essential elements. The brand design and the logo aim for high flexibility and are intended for digital applications. It will apply to Volkswagen Passenger Cars and also Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

“The new brand design marks the start of the new era for Volkswagen,” said Jurgen Stackmann, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales. “By formulating new content and with new products, the brand is undergoing a fundamental transformation towards a future with a neutral emission balance for everyone. Now is the right time to make the new attitude of our brand visible to the outside world.”

One of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns
The realignment of Volkswagen’s brand design is said to be one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns, with the changeover to the new design due to be completed by mid-2020. The strategic foundations for the new brand design were not done by external agencies but by a joint team of Volkswagen Design and Marketing. The design was implemented with the full integration of all departments of the company in the record time of 9 months using a powerhouse concept developed by Volkswagen especially for this purpose. A total of 19 internal teams and 17 external agencies were involved in the project.

Volkswagen’s Chief Designer Klaus Bischoff played a key role in the development of the new corporate identity. “In the new brand design, we have created an authentic communications platform for the emotional presentation of e-mobility. We are showing the Volkswagen of the future under the motto of “digital first” and “no filter”.

The symbol and trademark will be the new logo which is more modern, clearer and simpler. The logo is reduced to its essential elements and presented with a new design that is flat and two-dimensional. It will allow more flexible use and will be outstandingly recognizable in digital media. To date, the logo has been blue and white. A new blue tone is now being added, allowing additional colour variants. As the digital application with simple, user-friendly interfaces has become extremely important, the logo will be positioned flexibly with the new ‘moving frame’ in the future.

Focus on people in visual language
The new visual language of the brand will be very different from that presented by Volkswagen to date – it will be bolder and more colourful. The focus will be on people. Volkswagen will no longer concentrate on perfectionism in vehicle photography. In future, the main objective will be to present realistic situations that customers can identify with.

As in the case of the vehicle, light will also play a key role in communications. Light is the new chromium. In future, the logo will be illuminated, on the vehicle, at the brand locations and at the dealerships.

Instead of a brand claim, Volkswagen will have a sound logo for the first time. This will make also make the Volkswagen brand distinctive in acoustic terms, both in the vehicle and in communications. For several decades, Volkswagen has used a male voice to present its vehicles and for advertising purposes. The brand is now to become female. For almost all markets, a woman with a warm, pleasant and confident voice will speak for Volkswagen.

By mid-2020, around 70,000 logos at Volkswagen outlets and facilities worldwide will be changed to the new one (left).

70,000 logos to be changed worldwide
The international roll-out of the new brand design starts at the motorshow with outlets and facilities in Europe being the first to change during September, followed by China in October. North and South American markets will follow from the beginning of 2020 along with all other markets. The exercise is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. In total, about 70,000 logos in 171 markets in 154 countries will be replaced. In general, the cost to dealers will be kept as low as possible. In architectural terms, there will be no change to the interior of the dealerships.

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