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Introduction by Dick Ruzzin |
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In 2002 the Geneva Motor Show continues its long standing tradition of showing an abundance of concept cars to the industry, the press and the public. In years past, many were driven by their designers through the Alps from Turin Italy to Geneva, and then put on display in the show!
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The North American International Auto Show and the Geneva Motor Show are the two most important international shows that occur on an annual basis. Similar in size, the comparison ends there, since the products and exhibits displayed are in sharp contrast.
Similar global design trends will be expressed by the automotive design community and the search for increased functionality is visible in both places, however the type of products shown for the most part are very different.
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Geneva displays a product mix and design ethic that is very European but clearly tilting toward the International, many American products are popular in Switzerland and are seen on the street throughout the country. It is important to remember that the main mission of this kind of event is to reflect the transportation needs of the local market, as supplied by international vehicle manufacturers.
Showing a collection that ranges from large cars to small hatchbacks, you dont see the great variety of large, high and cubic vehicles that were shown in Detroit for the North American market.
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The Geneva show is also known for its manageable size and elegant presentation. Located in a country that has the long standing image of political neutrality, it is not a surprise that the show is seen as a neutral venue. Switzerland does not have its own automotive manufacturing industry and as a result of that fact the Geneva Motor Show is a little more relaxed, when compared to Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo and Detroit.
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Concept cars give designers a chance to stretch and try some things that are out of the box. Do not take them lightly, they are expressions of the companies internal design culture that will be shown to the world. They also display a companies vitality and enthusiasm for the business as well as the skills of their designers, and a possible new product.
The concept cars displayed in Geneva are to be taken very seriously, they demonstrate to the world the different directions that designers from major manufacturers will be taking in the near future. This demonstration takes place in two different ways.
The first displays the choices made by designers and their product development partners relative to functionality, that is, the types of vehicles to be designed and their included features. What will be special about them, what will they do that other products do not?
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The second is about design, the aesthetic execution of the vehicles, what should they look like, how will they be done and what aesthetic choices should be made? Should the shapes and proportions follow current trends or should they break new ground? How important is it to break new ground, on this product?
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Defining the answers to these question only starts the difficult task faced by designers when they begin the design development process for a new product, whether it is a new production or concept car. The level of design skill in the global design industry is now very high and evenly distributed throughout the world, this only means that the work is becoming increasingly difficult to do because of the competition. Design advantage is very difficult to achieve. The resultant quality of design available on every car that you can buy is also effected, in a very positive way.
This is a continuing and evolving global design challenge, shared by all designers working in the automotive industry. If you step back and study the collection of new vehicles on display in Geneva, you will start to see the value that is displayed at the major international motor shows for designers in the industry and for the motoring public.
A great international and historical event, the Geneva Motor Show is sure to be a delightful and enjoyable collection of functional transportation design. To partake in a tradition for the visiting designers during the Geneva show press days, go to the old part of the city, to the Cafe de Paris for a steak and fries, the only main course on the menu.
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