Product Deign

Geneva Motor Show PUBLISHED: 22 MAR 2019 BY: CRAIG THOMAS

2019

Geneva Motor Show 19:

Editor Picks

Geneva Motor Show 19:

Colour & Trim

Geneva Motor how 2019: Colour, Material & Trim

Outspoken colours, dynamic finishes and lifestyle-focused interiors make this
year’s Geneva Motor Show an exciting display of innovative design. Electrified
driving is shifting exterior requirements, offering creative freedom as well as
setting new challenges, while interiors adapt to suit different consumer attitudes.

ummar
Colour & Finish
Orange shades dominate the trade floor on cars of
all shapes and sizes, as well as in colour blocks and
graphic details. Blue in a variety of shades is a
popular option for both electric vehicles and regular
cars. Carbon fibre inspires innovative finishes, while
surface texture introduces dynamic and playful
effects.
Grilles, Wheels & Lights
The exterior design of cars is evolving as electric
vehicles (EVs) become the norm. In EVs, grilles have
an entirely decorative function, offering designers
new creative freedom; while improved aerodynamics
in wheels can increase efficiency. LED technology
continues to facilitate evocative lighting solutions.
Cameras & Chargers
Cameras have replaced wing mirrors on concept cars
for years. But since becoming available on a
commercial model for the first time – the recently
launched Audi E-tron – they’re quickly gaining
traction across the board. With so many EVs on
show, multiple manufacturers are branching out to
create vehicle chargers for both domestic and
commercial settings.
Interior Features, Screens & Steering Wheels
Car interiors are increasingly adapting to different
needs and lifestyles. Vegan materials will meet a
greater demand for sustainability, while spacious or
efficient interiors cater to leisurely travel or inner-city
commutes. Larger and multiple screens continue to
proliferate, while steering wheels are shrinking to
resemble aircraft controls.

At A Glance The Regional Focus of this Report – Global 

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 Relevant Industries Trend Duration

Architecture/Design
Now 2 yrs 5 yrs 10 yrs 20 yrs
Home/Interiors
Technology/Electronics Innovation Platforms

Transport

Colour
Very noticeably the dominant colour trend at the show, orange isn’t just seen on high-performance
models (which traditionally come in brighter colours), but also on popular mass models such as
the Renault Clio.

Orange colour blocks look playful on the Citroën Ami One and add sporty accents to German
manufacturer e.Go Mobile’s e.Go Life Sport and the Audi E-tron.

Renault Clio Citroën Ami One Lamborghini Hurricane

Bentley Bentayga Volkswagen T-Cross Mazda MX-5

e.Go Life Sport Audi E-tron Sportback

As seen at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, blue is the preferred shade for communicating purity for
electric vehicles (EVs), but is also a popular option for non-electric cars. A wide variety of tones
ranges from icy pales at Aston Martin and Chinese manufacturer Aiways, to inky blues at Porsche
and Volkswagen. Both Maserati and Seat-owned Cupra opt for a matt indigo, while Bugatti and
Italian manufacturer Pinifarina pair cool-blue metallics with bright pops of blue.

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 Aston Martin AM-RB Aiways

Audi E-tron Ferrari F8 Tributo Arcfox GT

Volkswagen T-roc Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Maserati Levante Cupra Formentor

Bugatti Divo Pinifarina Battista

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 Copper is applied to convey luxury in all-over applications as well as details. While used as an
accent colour at Cupra, Nissan and Italian brand Puritalia, e.Go chose to present its Lux concept
in the warm metallic shade.

Cupra Formentor Nissan IMQ

Puritalia Berlinetta e.Go Lux

Finish
Carbon fibre remains desirable, inspiring innovative finishes. Swedish sportscar builder
Koenigsegg reveals the material’s integral weave structure thanks to its new method of creating
‘naked’ carbon fibre. The graphite-lined pattern also embellishes surfaces at Italian maker Pagani
and Aston Martin.

The introduction of surface texture increases visual interest, as refined lines catch and refract the
light in different directions for dynamic effect.

Nissan uses three-dimensional ridges on the darkened lower sections of the IMQ’s exterior, while
South Korean brand Kia adorns the front air curtain and flanks of its Imagine concept with ripples.
Positioned at different angles and in different lengths, they create an impression of movement,
which is amplified by the car’s chrome-effect silver paint.

Fiat shows off its playful side with memory foam bumpers featuring a variety of relief patterns, as
well as panels with a speckled finish.

Koenigsegg Regera Nissan IMQ

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 Aston Martin Vanquish Pagani Huayra Roadster

Fiat Centoventi Kia Imagine

Grilles
With the proliferation of EVs on show – which have no front-mounted engines to cool – the
traditional grille’s days might be numbered. However, as they’ve become an important brand
differentiator, automotive designers are enjoying their newfound freedom to create expressive
shapes without restrictions around functionality.

This communicative trait is especially obvious in the friendly and accessible front of the Smart
Forease+, and the assertive and muscular grille design of the Aston Martin Lagonda.

Smart Forease+ Aston Martin Lagonda Audi E-tron

Nissan IMQ DR4 Aiways

Wheels

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 The need for more aerodynamic wheel designs will only increase as EVs seek marginal
improvements in efficiency.

Designers are using bright pops of colour on wheel hubs to add contrasting details to mainly white
or silver exteriors, and highlight creative applications of spokes.

Polestar 2 Seat el-Born Nissan IMQ Skoda Vision iV

Kia E-soul Aston Martin Lagonda Audi E-tron Sportback Seat Minimó

Volkswagen ID Buggy Bugatti Divo Mercedes-Benz EQV Smart Forease+

Lights
By incorporating LEDs into their badges, manufacturers including Skoda, Fiat, Kia and Arcfox
take advantage of the striking aesthetic quality of this technology to make their brand names stand
out on car exteriors.

Light bars across vehicle rears are an effective use of LED technology, but legislation will have to
change to allow similar use on the front. The framing of the rear of the new Kia Soul EV
accomplishes a particularly streamlined look.

We’re continuing to see more creative interpretations of headlights and rear lights on cars at every
market level, demonstrating how LED technology has trickled down to entry-level brands.

Skoda Vision iV Arcfox ECF Kia Imagine

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 Fiat Centoventi Fiat Centoventi

Kia e-Soul Seat el-Born Audi E-tron

Citroën Ami One Volkswagon ID Buggy Volkswagen T-Cross

Cupra Formentor Volkswagen ID Buggy Skoda Vision iV

Cameras
We’ve seen cameras replacing wing mirrors on concept cars for a number of years, but the
recently launched Audi E-tron has made that a reality for vehicles that consumers can now buy.

This means the side-view cameras on display at the Geneva Motor Show are more likely than ever
to convert to production versions of the Aston Martin Vanquish, Audi E-tron Sportback and Skoda
Vision iV – all of which will go on sale in the next few years.

Skoda Vision iV Audi E-tron Sportback Aston Martin Vanquish

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 Chargers
With so many EVs on show, different players within the automotive industry are turning their
attention to the chargers that will keep them powered.

Mercedes-Benz now offers a sleek and on-brand wall-mounted charger for the home, while
Volkswagen Group’s mobile charging station works on the same principle as a power bank –
meaning it’s flexible in its set up, and independent of power supply.

The range of chargers displayed by Swiss energy supplier Energy 360 demonstrates how
different environments require different chargers, showing solutions for the home and semi-public
premises as well as petrol stations.

Mercedes-Benz Volkswagen Energie 360

Interior Features & Trim

In future, the sustainability of materials used in car interiors will have to reflect the renewable
character of the car’s powertrain.

Audi’s Q4 E-tron hints at the direction manufacturers may have to take. All materials used inside
the car are developed without animal products and with an emphasis on recycled and synthetic
materials. For example, the carpet is made from Econyl yarn, a fibre produced from nylon waste
including reclaimed fishing nets.

Spacious concept cars boast just four individual seats to highlight a focus on luxury travel. The
cabins’ airy atmospheres are further enhanced by floating centre consoles, as seen in Italian
company Italdesign’s Davinci, the Kia Imagine, Nissan’s IMQ and Aston Martin’s Lagonda.

Audi E-tron Kia Imagine

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 Italidesign DaVinci Kia Imagine

Nissan IMQ Aston Martin Lagonda

In more compact, urban-focused formats, upholstery is kept minimal to avoid bulk. Fiat
experiments with 3D-knitted seat covers, while Citroën incorporates a perforated design. Brightly
coloured seatbelts offer a point of interest in otherwise muted and pared-back interiors.

The Fiat Centoventi offers the flexibility to optimise designs according to individual needs.
Consumers can determine the function of the passenger seat, which can be replaced by different
units including a child’s seat, a swivelling desk, or a docking station for a pet carrier.

Aston Martin Valkyrie Citroën Ami One

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 Fiat Centoventi

Screens
Tablet technology increasingly informs dashboard displays. The next-generation Renault Clio,
which is very much a mainstream model, has an extremely prominent, portrait-oriented screen.

The Sibylla concept by Italian manufacturer GFG shows where cars could ultimately be heading,
with screens arrayed across the entire width of the dashboard. Kia takes a more irreverent
approach, in response to the ongoing competition between automakers to see which can produce
the car with the biggest screen. Its Imagine concept features a display of 21 individual high-
resolution screens that curve along the dashboard.

GFG’s Kangaroo demonstrates how a display in front of the driver could be used to create a 360°
understanding of a vehicle’s surroundings by transmitting images from cameras placed at different
angles around the car.

Renault Clio Smart Forease+

GFG Sibylla GFG Kangaroo

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 Steering Wheels
Sporty steering wheels with flattened bottom sections have become increasingly popular in recent
years and proliferated at this year’s show.

Future-focused concept cars highlight the trend of steering wheels becoming less wheel-like, and
more akin to aircraft controls.

Seat Formentor Seat Minimó Audi E-tron Skoda Vision iV

Aston Martin AM-RB 003 Kia Imagine Nissan IMQ Aston Martin Lagonda

Future Inight
Examine Vegan Alternatives
The sustainability credentials of EVs will be key in
new car sales and will also have to be mirrored in
their interiors. As vegan lifestyles proliferate, more
consumers will seek cruelty-free options – which
means brands should be looking to replace leather
upholstery with animal-free alternatives. See Vegan-
Friendly Materials for more.
Drive Differentiation
Relaxed travel and efficient commutes each come
with different requirements for seating arrangements
and spaciousness. Cars are increasingly being
positioned to cater to one or the other, making it
more important than ever for brands to understand
their consumer’s lifestyle – and then make bold
design decisions to answer to these needs.

Topic
Art & Design | Automotive & Transport | Cities | Consumer Electronics | Craft | Digital Worlds |
Luxury Perspectives | Science & Technology | Sustainable Futures | UI/UX

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