Toyota Urban Cruiser concept

The Urban Cruiser aims to build on Toyota's heritage in SUVs and suggests a possible additional model for the line-up in future below the current RAV4. Designed by Elvio d'Aprile at Toyota's ED2 studio in Nice, the design features a pronounced vee-shape to the front end with no grille and dropped fenders, giving a rather muted expression to the car, slightly at odds with its fresh and extrovert SUV aims. There's nice sculpting in the surfaces though, with a subtle play of convex and concave wheelarch feature lines that converge at the car's geometric center. There's a new rear end treatment too, with red taillamps and aluminium framing mounted underneath the rear quarter windows, Finally, the DLO shape echoes that of the Aygo, Corolla Verso and new RAV4 and the design is set off to good effect by the satin lime green finish.

“The interior consists of several surfaces treated as different, independent layers” according to designer Yi Yeong Jae and comprises thin looped elements including the seats, headrests and center console.

Related Stories:
Designer Interview: Wahei Hirai

Fiat Sedici / Suzuki SX4

This is a joint venture between Suzuki and Fiat, with production at Suzuki’s new Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary that already produces the Swift and Ignis models for Europe. Designed by ItalDesign, this compact 4x4 is more on-road highrider than a baby SUV such as the Toyota RAV4. Key features include a wraparound rear glass and a strong shoulderline that fades out where the side DLO kicks up under the front screen. The basic bodyshell is shared between the two marques, with the Fiat Sedici (sixteen, or 4x4!) having a slightly stronger look to it, thanks to the use of contrasting wheelarch and bodyside mouldings, silver roof rails and prominent skidplates front and rear.

The Suzuki has a much tamer front end treatment, with a VW-like upper grille and three conventional lower air intakes. Two versions are offered: the basic ‘Urban Line’ or the tougher, more SUV-like ‘Outdoor Line’, with wheelarch mouldings, skidplates and 16” wheels. The interior is common between the two, with differentiation limited to seat fabrics and steering wheels.

Dodge Hornet concept

There is something slightly ironic about the Hornet being shown in Geneva. After a dearth of forward looking, compact and modern American car design at Detroit, here is one of the big US brands showing just that; a very American but very innovative and appealing small car.

The chunky exterior has various Dodge cues such as the DLO and most notably the surface that rolls forwards from the shoulder down the front of the fender. The longer front than rear door emphasises the non-family focus of this car that, like the similarly sized Mini, would target young couples. Some of the most interesting elements are the concave side shoulder, spot lights in the door mirrors that also house three vertical strips of indicator repeater, clear lamp covers that extrude away from their base, super compact (post iDrive) HVAC controls and hexagonal patterned rubber matt backed seats and boot floor. Tom Tremont, Vice President of Product Design Chrysler Group, explained to Car Design News that the extrovert rear spoiler had been directly influenced by WRC rally cars.

We thought that this was one of the best concepts at the show - a funky alternative to the mainstream B-class hatch and one with a truly modern American aesthetic.

Ford S-Max

The S-MAX shares much in common with the new Galaxy but aims to have greater dynamic appeal and retain a closer connection with Ford of Europe's new 'Kinetic Design' ethos, as previewed on the SAV and Iosis concepts from last year. Positioned between the Mondeo and Galaxy, the S-MAX is 69mm lower and around 50mm shorter than the new Galaxy and is available with either 5 or 7 individual seats, depending on specification. To emphasise the sporty credentials, top versions will have the 2.5liter 220ps 5-cylinder Duratec engine from the Focus ST and an SAV concept-style option with orange nose and 20” wheels will be offered.

Ford is playing a bold game here, offering two MPV's, both with 7 seats, but each with a slightly different slant. It's a bit like the Range-Rover and Range-Rover Sport: same basic concept but a different emphasis to cover fragmenting customer tastes. It looks like Ford's stolen a march on others too: key rivals Opel and Renault have nothing similar – for now.

Design Development story coming soon...

Related Stories:
Design Review: Ford Iosis

Volvo S80

The original S80 was the first 'post square' Volvo that introduced most of the design elements used on all subsequent Volvos. The new car does little more than soften the edges of its predecessor and have a more rakish rear screen similar to the S60 and Peugeot 607. As a result it is a less distinctive, albeit an undeniably handsome, design.

Inside, the car features the thin centre stack first seen in the S40, but now available in an old fashioned gloss dark wood that sits uncomfortably with the modern hifi theme of this element – we couldn't imagine Bang and Olufsen offering this material choice. The rest of the cabin is similarly conservative with little evidence of the 'Scandanavian' design qualities much talked about by Volvo at its unveiling or that the VCC at Geneva 2003 so elegantly showcased. Ultimately the new S80 is a rather underwhelming evolution of the pioneering original S80.

Related Stories:
Design Review: Volvo VCC

Rolls-Royce 101 EX

The 101EX is effectively a fixed-head coupe version of the 100EX shown at Geneva two years ago, albeit clearly a few steps closer to production reality and with some new and innovative design elements.

The exterior shares much of the preceding concept's front - although the flying lady is now made from crystal-like clear acrylic and the polished aluminium windshield surround is made from several pieces, not machined from one massive billet of metal. A shallow rear window sits on a softly surfaced roof through which you can see the straight grained rose wood and red oak veneer in the rear parcel shelf and window surround.

The interior's most impressive feature was hard to see as Rolls Royce declined entry to their “experimental car”, but was a roof lining with 1600 light emitting diodes woven in to give a “starlight headlining”. Other neat features included the ashtray for rear seat passengers that telescopes back from the side door and wood lined under-floor box for sports equipment in the boot.

Related Stories:
Design Review: Rolls Royce 100EX

Page 2 of 5