Avatars and Driving

The Shanghai International Motor Show 2019 was held from April 16th to 25th. This year marked the 18th iteration of the biennial show. While it differs from the Geneva show, held the previous month and now in its 89th year, it's clear that the Shanghai show is still relatively young.

As for myself, this marks my ninth year covering China, yet I had never had the opportunity to enter the press center before. Visiting for the first time, I noticed the youth of the journalists present. In recent years, European shows have been marked by an aging press corps, reflecting a decline in automotive journalism. This was a stark contrast, reinforcing the impression of a show in an emerging automotive market.

Let's talk about concept cars. The participation of Turin design houses, including Pininfarina, Giorgetto & Fabrizio Giugiaro's GFG Style, and Icona, suggests continued expectations for their Chinese manufacturer clients. Pininfarina, in particular, showcased new creations from its Turin and Shanghai studios in collaboration with different local manufacturers.

Notably, Renault opened its sixth global design studio in Shanghai just before the show. While this is a relatively late entry compared to German and American brands, it indicates that the exploration of design for this massive market is ongoing.

For Chinese manufacturers' concept cars, 'CASE' (Connectivity, Autonomous driving, Sharing, Electrification) has become the de facto standard.

First, C (Connectivity). FAW's premium brand 'Bestune' presented the 'E2 Concept,' which features an avatar appearing inside the car, like a lover or family member, to assist with 'connections' to the outside world. This proposal is similar to what Nissan presented at CES in Las Vegas in January 2019, and their bold and swift approach is truly commendable.

A (Autonomous driving) is assumed for almost all concept cars.

Several mobility concepts aimed at S (Sharing) were also on display. Dongfeng's 'Sharing Van,' as its name suggests, initially resembles Toyota's 'e-Palette' concept from CES 2018, which is a slight disappointment. However, given the strong government backing for initiatives like the large-scale autonomous driving city planned in Hebei Province, it's entirely possible that China could soon surpass Japanese research in this area.

Exploring the Post-SUV Era

The Shanghai show, along with Beijing, has consistently set the automotive trends for China.

For instance, 2013 saw European brands introduce long-wheelbase models exclusive to the Chinese market; 2015 was the year of the SUV boom; and at the previous show in 2017, premium brands from local manufacturers emerged like mushrooms after rain.

What's the next trend?

'People are already getting tired of SUVs,' says Huang Yongcheng, the current head of exterior design at Qoros, a premium brand under Chery Automobile. He presented the 'Mile II' shooting brake concept this year. Huang previously worked at Pininfarina.

'When viewed from a three-quarter front angle, the high shoulder line makes it look like a sedan. However, as you move to the side, it transforms into a coupe shape, and finally, when you look at the rear, you realize it's a shooting brake,' he explained passionately to me. The exquisite transition is a clearly more advanced design than similar body styles of the past. We'll have to wait and see how much of this can be replicated in a production car.

Foreshadowing in the Grille

Unsurprisingly, E (Electrification) is also a given. Almost all concept cars were EVs. In relation to electrification, let me add another design observation.

EVs from German brands, from production models like the Mercedes-Benz EQ to concept cars like the Volkswagen 'ID. ROOMZZ' unveiled this year, feature a grille-like garnish on the front.

Even though a radiator grille is unnecessary.

In fact, even for internal combustion engine vehicles, the need for large front openings for cooling efficiency diminished by the 1980s. The continuation of grille-like panels is due to the long-held perception among people in advanced automotive nations that the size and prominence of the grille were indicators of a luxury car. Some luxury cars, like the first-generation Infiniti 'Q45,' boldly challenged this by going grille-less, but few were successful. That model itself was later fitted with a grille.

In contrast, the latest concept cars from independent Chinese brands, such as the Roewe 'Vision I' from SAIC, show a liberation from the 'grille's curse.' This represents a different, and also young, design sensibility, distinct from Western automotive history. In terms of car design culture, China's automotive industry is beginning to show the potential to become a game changer.

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