Car
April 15, 2015
Jaguar XF | Shunji Yamanaka vs. Jaguar XF (1): First, Observe How a Car Stands
Vol. 3 Shunji Yamanaka vs. Jaguar XF
Chapter 1: A Car's Stance
Yamanaka, who once owned a 1972 Jaguar XJ12, reflects on what a new Jaguar, separated by three decades, evokes.
—You spent a long time observing the exterior. As someone with experience in automotive design, how do you look at a car?
Its stance.
Stance?
I see how it stands, using the tires as its feet. Where is its center of gravity? Is it crouching or poised to spring? From its stance, I gauge the car's character. It's a habit I developed when I was young. I used to meticulously copy the works of famous car designers, and I did a lot of that.
What can you discern from that?
Not only the approach to automotive design, but also the designer's individuality becomes clear. For example, Gandini, who created theLamborghini Countach, envisioned a running animal with both front and rear legs fully extended. Giugiaro, on the other hand, often had the weight on the rear legs, with the body stretched forward. His designs frequently conveyed a sense of coiled energy, ready to launch.
They were my idols. I had the chance to speak with Gandini at the 1990 Tokyo Motor Show, and I still remember how nervous I was.
So, what kind of stance does the Jaguar seem to have?
It feels as though everything is flowing backward from the four wheels. In a word, perhaps 'fluid'.
Even when the wedge shape became the global trend, Jaguar's designs were always unique. Unlike Gandini or Giugiaro, they had a supple, rear-biased design. I once owned one. A 1973 XJ12. A friend passed it on to me.
It cost 3.5 million yen over two years just to keep it running properly, but it was a divine car. It constantly lingered in the back of my mind when I was designing the Nissan Infiniti. That's why I was so looking forward to experiencing this modern Jaguar, over 30 years after the model I owned.
Including those expectations, how do you find the latest XF?
I can feel the Jaguar essence. Attempts to narrow the height of the side windows, creating a sense of a snug interior. The massive center console, too. The overall stance retains that rear-biased impression. And yet...
And yet?
No, well... I wonder if what I'm feeling is just nostalgia...