The All New Opel GTC

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Opel GTC has made its debut. Both the exterior and interior of this elegance car is designed in sporty styling. Both the sculpted shape and tension on the exterior of Opel GTC are achieved by three bold lines. The designer’s intention of this way by limiting the line influence to maximize drama. The vivid exterior look is influenced by vivid red color. Such as the exterior the interior of this car is alive indeed by presence of combination between red and black colors on the seat. For more detail read the official information below.

Official Press Release:

Exterior Design

In profile, the designers have maximized drama by limiting the amount of lines: three strong lines create tension and provide a sculpted shape.

The Opel signature blade is introduced in the same direction as first seen in the Insignia – a fine, crisp line that sweeps upward from the rocker at the beginning of the front door.

A second line encapsulates the door handle and sweeps to the rear, emphasizing the vehicle’s dramatic stance by spreading the surfaces to a fine undercut and a broad shoulder.

The third line following the silhouette of the roof is finished in finely brushed aluminum accentuating the window graphic, which guides the eye to the sharply accented integrated spoiler. The shoulder section is the most dramatic area of the Opel GTC Paris.

The broadest point pulls down to a wide athletic “bulldog stance,” giving the car a very purposeful road presence.

The line from the C-pillar slides into the tail and curls around into the rear spoiler, which is ingeniously integrated into the continuing roof line.

The clean frontal styling features Opel’s typical centerline crease.

It is further accented by intense, very slim eagle-eye shaped headlamps acting as parenthesis between the refined chrome emblem bar and the dramatic low trapezoidal grill which hints at its sporty character.

Opel typical wing-shaped signature LED daytime running lights get a new twist with finely sculptured chrome jewels that are seen easily behind clear glass. The trapezoidal grille is recognizably Opel, but separate from the chrome bar and placed lower, for a race track feel.

The wide stance is accentuated in the rear, where the proportion of the vehicle is most imposing due to the powerful shoulder design. This is further enhanced with the LED taillights and one long stretched “wing” motif, which make the new Opel vehicles distinguishable at night.

The aerodynamics of the dynamic 21-inch wheels is optimized with carbon-fiber inserts which enclose the center caps.

Interior Design

Echoing the flowing, sculpted forms of the bodywork, the hallmarks of the GTC Paris interior are sweeping lines and shapes as well as the bold use of fabric.

The interior is driver-focused, with a positive/negative use of color:

Whereas the driver’s seat is red with black trim, all other components in the interior are outfitted in a charcoal black with red stitching.

The car’s inspiration, a quote from Richard Bach’s novel, Jonathon Livingstone Seagull is laser-etched in calligraphy script into the seat … “and the speed was pure beauty.”

Sporty, bucket front seats have been specially designed for the GTC Paris.

Their aggressively shaped contours and graphics perfectly compliment the overall dynamic spirit of the car are outlined in titanium and filled in with black netting, repeating a design cue seen on the carbon fiber inserts on the wheels.

The small black leather racing steering wheel features metal inserts.

On the dashboard, the interior continues Opel’s recurring “wing” and “blade” motifs. In this execution, the blade theme is expressed in details like the shape of the polished chrome door grab handles and the trim for gearshift molding.

The wing design cue is immediately evident in the warm, inviting wraparound instrument panel that embraces front seat occupants. It arcs across the cabin into the top of the door moldings.

The Opel design team used leather and micro-fibers for the seats, plush carpeting on the flooring, and a textured black instrument panel. These classic materials have a contemporary twist, not only in the choice of hues but also in the positive/negative stitching.

Technical Features

The GTC Paris is powered by a 290 hp 2.0 liter, twin-scroll turbo-charged four-cylinder engine with direct injection, Start/Stop technology and equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.

The chassis has a special design with an extra-wide stance for best possible performance and handling. In addition to the front limited slip differential, it has a compound crank with an Watt’s Link in the rear, and a new execution of the adaptive mechatronic FlexRide suspension. AutoMild.com

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Design Concept of Volvo Trucks

Here is a truck variant from Volvo. This Volvo Truck is a work of a designer Tapio Alakörkkö together with Patrik Palovaara. Both of them are alumnus from Umeå Institute of Design. This commercial truck variant is intended to provide a vehicle that will cover customer’s need in transportation services. This sustainable vehicle can move on extreme media such as terrain, hilly area and much more. For more detail about this Volvo Truck, below we present to you official presentation from the designer.

From the official Press Release:

Trucks are typical commercial vehicles. In light of this, one might expect truck buyers’ purchasing decisions to be based entirely on rational factors such as fuel consumption, payload, service costs and transport kilometres per euro. Well, think again. Truck design is more important that you may imagine.

At Volvo’s design studio, around 60 people work with product design for different Volvo companies – Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses, Volvo Construction Equipment and Volvo Penta. Patrik Palovaara specialises in truck design. His latest creation is Volvo Trucks’ new construction truck, the Volvo FMX.

“It’s true that truck design is largely about rational factors like aerodynamics and ergonomics,” he says.

“But there’s also an emotional dimension. The truck’s appearance is strongly linked to both its function and its identity and, by extension, to its brand.”

Details accentuate the truck’s characteristics

The Volvo FMX is an excellent example of this. Palovaara and his team based the truck’s design on its predecessor, the Volvo FM, but accentuated its robust, rugged characteristics by introducing external changes that clearly express certain qualities.

New functionality was also added in several key areas, including a completely new central towing device on the front with a stronger fastening point.

This resulted in a new front with a powerful lower section that clearly distinguishes the Volvo FMX from its predecessor.

“Volvo Trucks commissioned us to design a product that would appeal to construction customers,” says Palovaara. “The market’s response proves that we succeeded.”

Interpretation, vision and form

A truck designer’s first challenge in a new project is to interpret the client’s requirements and preferences and the results of user studies, and then create his or her own personal vision of the new truck.

The designer may draw inspiration from countless sources, for example the animal kingdom, film, fashion or extreme sports.

During this phase, countless sketches are produced.

The designer can give free rein to his or her imagination and challenge traditional concepts of how a truck should look – while always remaining realistic.

“When making strategic sketches, I often work with three themes,” says Palovaara. “An extreme visionary theme, a basic theme and a theme that falls somewhere in between the two.”

From drawing to full-scale model

Patrik Palovaara

After this initial period of sketching, the team chooses a design theme to develop further. Now they start producing CAD models to verify factors such as ergonomics, aerodynamics and functionality for the new truck.

“Air resistance is of strategic importance because it is critical to fuel consumption,” explains Palovaara.

The team includes surface modellers and studio engineers who are responsible for regularly reviewing the design process with Volvo Trucks’ production technicians and ergonomics, aerodynamics and technical design experts.

A team of clay modellers at the design studio build a full-scale clay model of the new truck that allows everyone involved to follow the verifications made with the CAD model.

“Many people only fully realise what the new truck will look like when they see the fullscale model,” says Palovaara.

“The model provides a reference point for everybody, from Volvo’s CEO to tool makers and subcontractors. And many people have their say before the shape, colour and surface of the design are finalised.”

A creative competitive factor

So everybody has an opinion about design. But is it possible to define what makes a good truck design? And how important is the design from a larger perspective?

Tapio Alakörkkö

The Umeå Institute of Design at Umeå University has collaborated closely with Volvo Trucks for many years, and is one of the world’s leading study institutes in this field.

Tapio Alakörkkö, Department Head at the Umeå Institute of Design, comments: “Design is a creative discipline that improves a company’s competitiveness. In

Scandinavia, we have a tradition of creating functional designs. For us, a good truck design is about focusing on the driver and finding out how we can make his working day easier and develop his work routines – not least so that more women will choose to become truck drivers.”

Arousing the desire to buy

Even if a design is primarily functional, its success also depends on arousing consumers’ desire to have it. Purchasing decisions are not only made by the logical left brain.

“Good design is to do with the dreams a product evokes in people, what they hope to get out of it,” explains Alakörkkö. “Design is what makes people tick”, it’s that simple. “Another factor that drives development forward is the link between concrete product design and visionary concept design.

“Concept design is important in getting people’s brains to think outside the box,” says Alakörkkö.

“By discussing the design on the basis of a common vision, we can move the goal posts forward. Concept design also serves as a sounding board for our views – do we like this vision or not?”

At the forefront of development

Needless to say, designers who work for a leading truck manufacturer must always remain at the forefront of development. They keep abreast by reading the industrial press and attending trade fairs, but it takes more than this to know how trucks will develop by the year 2020.

“Trends in truck design are driven by technical development,” explains Palovaara. “New fuels, new materials and logistics solutions influence the commercial vehicles of the future.

He should know. In the design studio, concealed behind long curtains, are models of future Volvo trucks that few human eyes have seen – yet. Automild.com

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New Renault Megane

The images preview below is a performance and detail of Renault Magane which was presented at 2008 Paris Motor Show. This car variant has been sold on the market from November 2008. In the 2010 Renault Magane was produced in six different versions which were manufactured in Doui, France and Valenica, Spain. The text below is official information from the manufacturer:

Design

The new Mégane is a family hatchback of 4.30m in length with a dynamic stance, thanks

particularly to its short front and rear overhang, a 2.64m wheelbase, steeply-raked oofline and wide tracks.

The generous surface area and curvaceous forms of the body panels express sense of robustness and perceived quality. Seen from the side, the feature line extends the crease of the slightly prominent front wings rearward to emphasize the car’s broad, solid shoulders.

At the rear the two-part light clusters continue the feature line and facilitate access to the boot. The wide track dimensions (1.55m) ensure that the car sits squarely on the road, and this sense of stability is underlined by the steeply-raked rear screen and, indeed, by the entire rearend design.

New Renault Mégane’s proportions, the form of the beltline and the large door panels exude a feeling of protection. This blend of fluid lines coupled with the generous proportions of the bodywork also maximizes the visual effect produced by the light reflecting off the body, while the range of metallic paint finishes includes the all-new Ecume Blue.

Particular attention has been paid to reducing the cut lines between the different body panels (e.g. windscreen pillars, fuel filler flap) and the front and rear bumpers discreetly incorporate the parking proximity sensors. The roofline also benefits from specific treatment thanks to the use of laser brazing which eliminates the need for roof trimming.

Interior

The interior makes extensive use of fluid forms. The impression that the dashboard is suspended is reinforced by the taut horizontal lines that highlight the curve of the decorative trim. All the controls have been carefully positioned and fall easily to hand both close to the steering wheel and on the centre console, with a view to freeing up as much space as possible for an even roomier cabin.

The fully integrated dashboard cowl benefits from a finish which is soft to the touch and

resistant to daily use and the ageing effects of sunlight. The windscreen wipers are aesthetically concealed beneath the hood line, a choice which also favours acoustic and aerodynamic performance. The interior trim has been carefully thought through to produce a range of distinct ambiences depending on equipment level. Customers can choose between a light trim

that focused on travelling comfort or a darker ambience with a sportier feel.

Technical features

The range of engines for the new Mégane includes six dCi diesel units – 85, 90, 105, 110, 130 and 150 – and two gasoline engines – the 1.6 16V with 100/110hp and the 2.0 16V 140hp (180hp in the TCe variant). Depending on version, these engines can be mated

to five- or six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The range will also include biofuel-compatible engines (bioethanol and biodiesel).

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