Car
April 15, 2015
AUDI | Ryutaro Matsui vs. Audi R8 (1): The Gravity That Stops Young Men in Their Tracks
Vol.1 Tatsuya Matsui vs. Audi R8
Chapter 1: The Gravity That Stops Young Boys in Their Tracks
As a robot designer, Mr. Matsui discusses the existence and future of supercars. A certain encounter in Rome made him reflect on the power of design.
—The Audi R8 is advertised as a "supercar for everyday use."
How do you feel about Audi's seemingly contradictory proposal?
MatsuiSupercars naturally make my heart race, being from that generation. It builds anticipation. So, what constitutes a supercar? I once encountered a situation that made me ponder this.
In the parking lot of a Japanese restaurant I visited in Rome last year, a Lamborghini Gallardo was parked. A group of young soccer players arrived and stopped, beginning to discuss it amongst themselves.
'It's like a living creature.' 'It looks more powerful from the rear.' 'Wouldn't orange suit it?' The Gallardo had an allure that made those children forget about soccer.
Cars packed with such design appeal naturally draw people in.
—In the streets of Japan,
such a scene is rarely seen.
MatsuiIndeed. There are also differences in cultural climate. Last year, I served as a judge for the automotive category of the Good Design Award, and I recommended the Gallardo with great conviction. Among the Japanese cars lined up at the venue, it possessed an extraordinary presence.
However, it certainly caught the judges' eyes. Several of them actually sat in the driver's seat.
I believe that objects, too, possess an aura that irresistibly attracts people. This aura is not solely from the exterior but is the power of design fused with engineering.
—Does the Audi R8 exude
such a captivating aura?
MatsuiThe impression from the exterior is very Audi-like. I had the personal impression that highly capable individuals took considerable risks. Leveraging their past technological and racing experience, and presented with full confidence, its unique power befitting a supercar is woven from various details.
And as a whole, to be frank, I feel a meticulously calculated emotionality. The fact that even this can be derived through logic is a testament to Audi's completion, which respects tradition.
The numerous challenges faced in bringing a single design to product are evident throughout. The R8 must have been a significant gamble for Audi's design philosophy. I believe they performed truly admirable, sincere work.