Compilation / Ma Xiaolei
Edited / Meng for
Design / Zhao Haoran
Design/ Financial Times by Jake Townsend.
In the future, cars will be electric. Under such a general trend, where should ultra-luxury cars with strict requirements on shape and power go? Can the brand design language that has been passed down for a hundred years still be preserved? In terms of design, should they go with the flow or be themselves?
Although the first pure electric vehicles of Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley, Lamborghini and McLaren will not wait until 2025 or even later, it can be seen from the promotional materials of the rolls-Royce Spectre and Maserati GranTurismo electric vehicles that the electric version basically maintains the brand's iconic appearance and continues the design language, which expresses a trend.
Porsche Taycan "foot garage"▼
The inherent properties of electric vehicles determine that automakers must make some design changes in the process of electrification. For example, the power battery needs to be placed under the chassis, which can cause the car to be positioned higher than the fuel version and also compress the legroom.
However, designers do not succumb to this.
In order to maintain the fashion and luxury of ultra-luxury brand products, they have come up with a series of ways to overcome this problem. For example, the Porsche Taycan adopts a "foot garage" design, hollowing out the rear floor without putting out the battery, so that the legroom becomes deeper, the passenger's feet can be comfortably placed, and the overall silhouette of the sports car can continue to maintain a low posture.
Car designer Marek Djordjevic said: "Designing a car is like writing a novel. "He was once the head of exterior design at Rolls-Royce and is now an independent designer, starting a company that bears his name.
"Every brand has its own story, and you tell that story through the car. Each car not only has to tell the story well, but also to move the plot forward. "Designing cars as 'futuristic' is the oldest, but many automakers are doing it." ”
Fiat 500 La Prima hatchback, from £30,835
The electric vehicle revolution should not just pursue differentiation through exaggerated appearances, but should adopt some of the design elements of the early automotive industry to achieve a return to basics. In this era, ultra-luxury does not necessarily have to be "Oversize", perhaps the electric vehicle revolution is to create an opportunity for luxury cars to return to their former appearance, size, lines, and shapes are more conservative.
Volvo C40 Recharge▼
Volvo C40 Recharge, starting at £44,800▼
Many manufacturers have done this while preserving the design features of the brand while electrifying.
Volvo has already released an all-electric model, which is initially successful. The same is true of Fiat, Audi and Ford, all of which maintain their own design characteristics when designing electric vehicles.
Both the Fiat 500 and mini electric vehicles are in line with the previous models, retaining a compact, affinity urban car positioning. OLIVER Heilmer, head of design at MINI, has described the brand's design features as "quietly conveying emotions."
The two distinguishing features of the MINI are the use of interior space and the proportion of the body, and electrification offers more possibilities for these two elements.
In addition, the all-electric MINI continues the design elements of the fuel model, such as the hexagonal grille and suspended roof, which have become part of the brand's electric vehicles.
MINI electric car▼
In the mid-to-late 1920s, the automotive industry ushered in the peak of production, giving birth to a number of ceiling models designed for cars: the Ferrari Dino, the Aston Martin Volante and db5 and the Porsche 911.
At that time, the focus of these auto giants was mainly on the sportiness of the vehicle, rather than luxury, the design inspiration was mainly derived from the racing car, the power-to-weight ratio was strictly controlled, and the shape was in line with aerodynamic principles.
The silhouette of the body mainly reflects practicality, and there is also some artistry hidden behind it. A glance through the archives of companies such as Pininfarina reveals that their engineers are also artists. The legendary Ferrari 375 America and Lancia 2000 coupe designed by Gianni Agnelli in 1955 are both inspirations for today's luxury car brands.
Porsche from the 356 to the 911, most models with rounded shapes and low bodywork, this revolutionary, highly aerodynamic "slip-on" shape was pioneered by designer Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, which defined the brand and continues to the current pure electric Taycan.
"What does not wear away with time is the real eternity, the ultimate victory." Ferry Porsche said of the automaker's approach to design. "
Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo, starting at £88,270▼
Ferrari's chief designer, Flavio Manzoni, also said that the real Ferrari can be recognized at a glance, even without the logo.
Ferrari design elements in models such as the F12 Berlinetta and 308 GTS may appear in some way on pure electric models that have not yet been revealed, which is bound to cause a sensation.
Cars are like moving sculptures. Good car design can reflect both artistry and science, while also stimulating people's emotions, attachment and enthusiasm.
Cars are moving toward electrification, proposing a series of new metrics that will inevitably cause a chain reaction in the design field, and these "reactions" will become new car design totems in the future.
Electrification is not a painful thing, on the contrary, electric vehicles may become a guiding light for the world, after all, in this world, ecology can also be defined by aesthetics.
This article was originally produced by Automotive Business Review
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