Hyundai HED-2 Genus concept

Designed at Hyundai's European design studios near Frankfurt, this is a crossover based on the Sonata platform combining the "the sporting dynamism of a coupe with the versatility of an estate car" says Senior Designer Thomas Sälzle when talking to Car Design News. The front grille is hexagonal shaped with a wide body-color bar running through the upper part, while the arched shoulderline and adjacent concave surface picks up themes explored on last year's HED-1 concept, also previewed in Geneva. “The aim was to make the body surfaces flow, like an elegant lady in a beautiful dress”, explains Sälzle.

The interior, by Eduardo Marchena, features simple and casual surfaces, where the main driver information is communicated via head-up display and remaining cabin controls are contained within a fold-down center console. The four aubergine leather seats include laser-perforated detailing and the rear pair are mounted on a sliding module that extends into the trunk. A tailgate 'perch seat' folds out from this module to allow users to sit on the tailgate sill, feet supported by a slide-out step from the rear bumper that also doubles as a bike rack.

Mitsubishi EZ concept

This is a kind of next step from the new 'i', developed by Mitsubishi's European studio. The monobox design comprises a simple yet well-resolved theme that also showcases the new MIEV electric drivetrain technology using in-wheel motors. The design is anchored by a lower half finished in matte silver, topped by a body finished in pearl white with a strong flip to it. The body color loops around the headlamps and taillamps at each corner and is punctuated by a graphic horizontal band of side window sandwiched between wrap-over screens at front and rear. Clever details include doors mirrors looped out from the A-pillar, blocks of nine LEDS in headlamps and taillamps and tire treads showing the tourist sites of Europe such as the Eiffel Tower, Tower Bridge etc.

Inside, seats fold forward to link up to the IP and create a complete ring around the interior, to allow two people to lounge and watch DVDs in the tailgate-mounted screen. Many designers commented favourably on this car, seeing it as a classical piece of European design that's full of really neat details.

Peugeot 207

The new 207 looks very much like a smaller 307 but with a much bolder and edgier front end and with the 3-door version having a more sweeping DLO than the 5-door. Because the entire front nose and grilles are contained within the bumper moulding, two distinct styles are offered: a 'Classic' version where the nose is defined by a transverse line linking across the headlamps and a 'Sporty' front bumper with a wider mouth, silver eggcrate grille and with the nose just dropping down into the mouth for a touch more aggression.

The interior of the car gives a very high quality impression. The upper part of the IP flows in a nice wave line across the cabin, extending out over the top of the door lining and with the slot below in front of the passenger making it appear to float. Three separate guages have ivory faces with chrome rings and the whole upper IP is finished in a silky linen texture grain. Silver technical-look inserts and technical flat-woven fabrics complete the look.

Peugeot are also showing a special 207 RCup wide track sports version of the new car.

Kia cee'd concept

Kia is one of the fastest growing brands in Europe and the c'eed is a concept car preview of a new production car that will compete in Europe's most popular class of car; the C-sector.

This slightly conservative but handsome design features high quality black Italian leather over the IP, door inners and seats. Interior designer Sandy Hartono explained to Car Design News that the seats, instruments and switches in the cabin feature a 'constructed wave' motif; a short feature line that kinks twice in a controlled way, which is used throughout the car as a uniting graphic theme. Polished aluminium air vents and an intriguing overhead console that runs back from the interior mirror just below the glass roof are two of the other impressive interior elements.

Although the bespoke features of this concept car will not be seen in the production version, the c'eed shows clearly that Kia will continue to be one of the fastest growing brands in Europe.

Honda Civic 3-door Type-R concept

Because the five door Civic was such a radical departure from the previous generation Civic and other European C-sector cars, the three door doesn't deliver quite as one might expect, being not very different. Sharing the same wheelbase and roof (unlike the preceding model where the three door car was 100mm shorter) the main difference between the two is the coupesque DLO and thicker C-pillar.

The Type-R Concept's fine mesh upper grille and coarser mesh lower grille, subtly different treatment of the reflective elements within the full width rear lamp strip, and its body colour lower section that runs front to rear via wheel arches and rocker will probably differentiate the production Type-R from the five door.

Related Stories:
Honda Civic 5dr - Frankfurt 2005
Honda Civic Concept - Geneva 2005

Bertone Suagnà concept

The Bertone stand at Geneva this year has all cars featured in orange color, including an original Lamborghini Muira S, a special Opel Zafira concept and the new Suagnà. Based on the Fiat Grande Punto, the Suagnà features a retractable hardtop developed by CTS, the German convertible specialist and claims to be the B-sector's first full four-seater. The exterior is notable for its strong graphic effects and lack of a conventional grille. The front and rear views both feature 'boomerang' light clusters, inscribed like scratches inside a metal band, while the side view is characterised by a slash in the bodyside, echoing the diving beltline above.

The profile changes radically with the roof raised, with a steep backlight that can be independently lowered behind the rear seats. The interior features a combination of chocolate colored leathers on the seats: a 'crumpled effect' for the side bolsters and woven leather and fabric in the center panels.

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