06. TRENDS
CDR Insight
CDR Insight Geneva 2012 Words Car Design Research Photography Olgun Kordal
T
he first of a new quarterly series of trend reports from the very capable and experienced heads at Car Design Research, CDR for people in the know, takes a look back at the prevailing and perhaps not so obvious trends that defined the Geneva Motor Show 2012. Naturally you can find out more about CDR at their website www.cardesignresearch.com but suffice it to say that it doesn’t get more experienced than them. Established in 2000 by Sam Livingstone to cater to an increasing need from the automotive industry for experienced ‘objective’ design assesment and managment CDR has steadily grown in influence and now can name Toyota, Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Nissan, Pininfarina, Yamaha and Hyundai amongst its clients. Focusing on Contextual, Strategic, and Evaluation Services CDR is always at the design heart of the industry and keeps it relevant by researching consumer behaviour and trends worldwide. The Geneva Motor Show just closed its doors on the 2012 show but looking back it was clear that one macro trend we’re witnessing is a return to some of the aesthetic values of the 1980s. The red ‘pinstripe’ was everywhere in the halls of the Palexpo, showcasing a desire among both mainstream and premium manufacturers to differentiate their sport models further from the more luxury-orientated models within the range. The European markets aim at a new type of fashionable, boxy car; perhaps best represented by the new Fiat Panda, this car type combines the best aesthetic elements of both an MPV and SUV and makes utility cool again.
Left Nissan Cube is the quintessential embodiment of the ‘squircle’. Right page Citroën C3 Picasso breaks from its predecessor’s hatchback feel and embraces the square within.