The mobility of the future – trend report automobile design 2009

The electrification of the automobile 
For several years, the automobile industry has been searching for alternative fuels to petrol and diesel as well as environmentally friendly technologies. This area appears to hold great opportunities for the future, because politicians and economies worldwide want to free themselves from their dependency on oil, and the demand for environmentally friendly and economical vehicles is constantly growing. Mobility in India and China is growing at a rapid pace; electric vehicles are to gain a market share of 15 percent in the long run and have been developed mostly for city traffic. The Tata Nano, which recently went on sale in India, thus marks a new era in automobile manufacturing. The task of automobile designers is now to combine technology as well as ecological and economical factors in a successful design. With the “iChange”, Rinspeed introduces an electric vehicle that can adapt to a wide range of conditions thanks to its electronically adjustable rear end. In the shape of a futuristic sports car there is only room for the driver – this is all about fun. However, the rear can be expanded offering space for another two passengers behind the driver, thus turning it into a kind of three-seater sports van.

The new dimensions of mobility
Parallel to western societies, where the difference between rich and poor continuously grows, the formats in the automotive industry have also become more polarised. Since the 1980s, vehicles have constantly got bigger. A noticeable counter trend to this was initiated by the Smart: cars have increasingly become smaller in response to the constantly growing spatial problems in the metropolises around the world. In the face of increasing individual transport and the growing environmental consciousness higher demands have been placed on city cars. They have to be flexible, small and spacious at the same time, have a range of luxury features and provide maximum safety as well as have minimal fuel consumption rates. Intelligent design offers a solution to these requirements. Rear seats can be folded down; instruments feature an asymmetrical concept so that the passenger behind the driver has ample leg room, while panorama glass roofs provide a sense of spaciousness. High-quality materials are now also used in the interior of small cars giving the vehicles a valuable feel.

Van coupés – the new formats
Many manufacturers have continued their strategy to gain attention and increase sales with crossover models. Great flexibility and the combination of the different genres’ many advantages in one vehicle are their sales argument. While in past years hybrids between SUVs and coupés were in line with the trend, now it is van coupés. The sleek lines and low windows of the coupé, for instance, are merging with the steep front end of the van. With regards to design, however, these combinations can also backfire and completely counteract the van category.
 
Innovations in the interior
In times of insecurity and economic disorientation, conventional design standards no longer apply. Materials and surfaces have to adapt to the new conditions. Therefore, interiors currently feature many innovations. Conventional technologies result in fascinating and unusual surfaces. The choice of materials has great impact on the design process, which is characterised by environmentally conscious thinking and acting. Designers increasingly recognise the functional and aesthetic potentials of different materials; formal inspiration also comes from other areas such as the sport and fashion industries. This also becomes apparent in the use of woods, which are otherwise more likely to be used in the field of yacht building. Precious materials are increasingly used in small cars and communicate a new value.

White and dark silver
White remains the trend colour in the automotive sector. Silver as a colour for the exterior has become darker, tending towards nuances of stone grey.

Sculptural light design
Headlights are used as a central element of front and rear end design and give the vehicles their individual expression. They are increasingly extending to the sides, thus becoming more and more three-dimensional. With modern LED technology, real light sculptures can be created for the rear light and headlight design; this is an option used creatively by many automobile designers. The new lights continue the wedge shape of the automobiles and thus become a formal element of this line.

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