Cadillac BLS concept

The BLS is the first Cadillac to be sold only in Europe and because the brand is far from established in any territory outside of America, the anticipated sales of the car are low enough to mean that it has to share a lot of its architecture with another car to make it economically viable. Given this limiting factor in its conception, the BLS is a very successful design as few people outside of car design will notice it’s so closely based on the Saab 9-3.

The front wheel drive and new pedestrian safety European legislation give the BLS a long tall nose that the new rear wheel drive Cadillacs don’t have, and the carry over deep DLO to body side ratio is greater than Cadillac designers would have wanted. But otherwise the exterior is well resolved and comfortably adopts the brand’s latest design signatures of crisp edges defining sheer surfaces, five point crosshatched grille, vertical rear lamps and other detail Cadillac signifiers.

Inside there is a similar level of differentiation from the 9-3 with only the steering wheel standing out as a carry-over too far. It’s not going to make much of an impact on the European premium D-sector, but the BLS will have a place as an interesting alternative to the obvious choices.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

The Bentley Continental GT has become such a common sight around London that it's hard not feel unexcited by this new four door sedan version as the styling theme is so familiar. Basically an extended version of the successful two-door car, the Flying Spur is VW Group's answer to the Maybach and Rolls Royce Phantom limousines and uses many components from the VW Phaeton/Audi A8 platform.

In fact, every panel except the hood and grille is new compared to the Continental. The razor crease from the front fender extends rearwards in a straight line to the taillamp and the windscreen is more upright than the sister car. Inside, the rear cabin is vast with masses of legroom for even the largest passengers.

It's a very tasteful and well-balanced design for such a large 5.5m car, with a degree of elegance that's so lacking in the rival limousines. Moreover, with the price set at a very reasonable £117,000, they can't really fail with this car. Expect London streets (and New York, Paris, LA…) to get much busier with Bentleys then.

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Bentley Continental GT - Paris 2002

Dodge Caliber concept

The Caliber is a very different design to the Neon it replaces; it is a tall estate meets hatchback meets SUV with the footprint of a long European C-sector car.

The exterior design identity fits with a European stereotype of American identity; conspicuously tough, masculine and slightly aggressive. This is evident in the severe flat and sharp edged surfaces along the flanks, overt SUV style wheel-arches and imposing down-road-graphic. The less boxy DLO along with the black ridges running along the sides of the roof gives this some relief and a slightly dynamic feel.

Although a show car preview of a production car, only the colours are likely to change for production which means that in 2006 when it goes on sale in Europe, buyers will have an interesting new alternative to conventional C-sector hatchbacks and estates – one heavily flavoured with American Pie.

Opel Zafira

The new Zafira doesn’t look like one of the highlights of the show; in fact it looks very similar to the previous generation Zafira which whilst a highlight of the 1997 Frankfurt show is now the oldest mini-MPV designs on sale in Europe.

Opel are launching this car at Geneva, but the design is only skin deep new as it shares most of the architecture with its predecessor – the exception being its pedestrian impact legislation driven longer front structure. Given the exceptionally limited scopes for change relative to its predecessor, the designers have successfully made the surfaces both outside and in less severe with slightly more volume and fluidity.

Otherwise the only notable design aspect is the optional, Webasto produced, ceiling mounted storage system flanked by four roof windows - useful if rather rudimentary in its execution.

Opel were a step ahead of the game in 1997 with the Zafira, not least because of its seven seats with the rearmost folding into the floor, but the competition have moved on a long way in the last eight years. And this new design is a step behind.

Lamborghini Concept S

There has to be a sense of drama with any Lamborghini and the new Concept S is certainly extravagent and exhibitionist. Based on the Gallardo V10 coupé, it features a new double speedster cabin layout, with twin wraparound screens. The cabin is divided into two distinct compartments, giving the car an aggressive and futuristic look with the central surface between the seats acting as an additional air inlet for the V10 mid-mounted engine. A retractable central rear view mirror also allows the driver to see what is happening behind the car, not that he'll need to worry much about others drivers catching up with him.

Created at the Centro Stile Lamborghini by Luc Donckerwolke, Head of Lamborghini Design, the Concept S is reminiscent of the 1987 ItalDesign Aztec concept by Giugiaro, which featured similar twin screens and a white-silver body colour. This new white pearl colour was worn by all the cars on the Lamborghini stand, enhancing the advanced, sci-fi look to the cars. In summary, the Concept S is a spectacular expression of the Lamborghini brand that will no doubt see production in a reduced form.

Ferrari F430 Spider

Essentially, the 430 Spider carries over componentry from the previous 360 Spider but introduces a clear engine cover as a new feature to allow the engine to be proudly displayed. As before, weight is only 70kg up on the coupe but the slightly edgier surfaces and larger air scoops on the rear fender give the new 430 Spider a less feminine look than the old model. Aerodynamics are considerably improved too, although the only visual difference is witnessed by the larger lip spoiler on the trunklid, as most of the improvements are concerned with airflow underneath the car.

It's not easy to package a folding roof with a mid-engined layout and it's easy to forget that the entry level Ferrari has to be designed to accept coupe and cabrio bodystyles from the outset. That Ferrari and Pininfarina have managed it so seamlessly is a credit to them.

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Ferrari F430 - Paris 2004
Design Review: Ferrari F430

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