Pininfarina Nido concept

The Nido is a study by Pininfarina that focuses on the issue of occupant and pedestrian safety in a small car. It introduces a new idea of an energy dissipating honeycomb section sandwiched between a rigid passenger cell and a strong monocoque exterior body, where the passenger cell slides forward and progressively crushes the deformable section in the event of a major frontal impact. This is a solution to the problem of engineering a bodyshell soft enough to deform in a collision yet strong enough to resist passenger cell intrusion in a collision with a larger vehicle, a more common problem as SUVs proliferate.

As well a unique functional design concept, the aesthetic design of Nido is probably the most distinctive and advanced at the show and an impressive realisation of several emergent automotive design themes previously only evident in the best student design work. SL

Chevrolet S3X concept

The S3X is being shown as a preview to a forthcoming Korean-built SUV from GM Daewoo, based on the North American-market Saturn Vue.

Despite its compact size, the S3X concept has room for three rows of seats - and thus seven passengers - due to its long wheelbase of around 2.70 metres. The styling is an amalgam of many current design themes including a rising swage line, dropping side DLO, small side fender vent behind the front wheel, a strong hood line from grille to A-pillar and a glass panorama roof.

The headlamps feature an array of 14 tiny LED lamps, giving a serious stare to the front face, not unlike a BMW X3, while the liberal use of grey on the lower body panels gives it the prerequisite tough look required of an SUV.

Dimensions: length 4,639mm, width 1848mm, height 1722mm. NH

Mercedes A-Class

The A-class makes its show debut at Paris even though it is has been on sale in mainland Europe now for two weeks. Whilst maintaining the original A-class’s distinct monospace profile and unusual DLO / C-pillar theme, in the flesh the new car is much more muscular and squat - a result of a substantial 230mm increase in length, better wheel to body relationship, pronounced shoulders and particularly dynamic form language. The interior is the opposite, being far less emotional than its predecessor, but as a result more closely aligned with larger Mercedes car interiors. SL

 See the A-Class Design Development story

Related Stories: Mercedes A Class - First Sight

Suzuki Swift

Closely following the design theme introduced with the Concept-S shown at Paris two years ago and the S2 show a year ago in Frankfurt, the Swift will be available in spring 2005 as a three or five door hatchback, and is the first Swift designed specifically to compete in Europe.

Vertically orientated headlamps, large lower air intake apertures, powerful wheel arches, strong body side and a shallow wrap around DLO give the car an appealingly distinct and slightly masculine design identity, not dissimilar to the Citroen C2 whose dimensions the Swift is also close to. This is complemented by a clean and modern interior compromised only by an overtly glossy soft plastic upper instrument panel. One of the most surprisingly impressive new production cars of the show! SL

Peugeot 1007

Previewed by the Sesame concept car at Paris two years ago, the 1007 makes its debut at this year’s show as the first double 'O' Peugeot (to denote a niche role outside of the single 'O' mainstream models), and the first European production car with twin (electric) sliding doors. Based on the platform of the forthcoming 107 (and also the Citroën C2), the 1007 is ideally suited to short urban journeys with its high driving position and ease of ingress/egress with large doors that can open fully, even when parked close to other cars.

The functional orientation of this design clearly results in the 1007’s unusual - perhaps ungainly - proportions which underscore the narrow appeal of this innovative niche product. SL

Full Design Review coming soon...

Related Stories:
Peugeot 1007 - First Sight
Peugeot Sesame concept - Paris Motor Show 2002

Peugeot 907 concept

Over the last decade Renault has produced concept cars that have been the fertile ground for its designers to explore possible future directions, and then capitalized on this with exceptionally successful production designs informed by preceding concept cars. Citroën is another large French car brand that is increasingly using concept cars to help it determine what looks like a successful production car design strategy. But Peugeot, the other major French car brand, consistently produces concept cars that bear little relevance to any future Peugeot design direction, and the new 907 continues this tradition. The 907 is a large front-engine sports car proportionally and thematically similar to the 1960s Ferrari 275GTB, with a mix of current Peugeot production car design cues overlaid. As well as being pointless, it's tasteless. SL

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