SHOW REPORTS

Overview    Part One     Part Two     Part Three     Part Four     Part Five

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Ford.
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Ford Visos

Chris Hamilton, Exterior Design Manager, on Visos:

From the outset of the project we wanted to create a vehicle that incorporated clean, elegant lines and dramatic proportions that conveyed its purpose and character. Using ‘Active Surfacing’, we were able to hide the aerodynamic aids normally associated with high performance cars and only call on them when required. This retains the purity of Visos’ purposeful exterior shape without compromising its performance potential.

When the driver selects Sport mode it initiates a series of changes to the exterior, the interior and to the performance characteristics of the car. Externally, this results in the deployment of the front splitter, the rear diffuser and the rear spoiler. In Comfort mode the vehicle does not necessarily require the same aerodynamic assistance and so these devices are retracted into the body.

Paul Campbell, Interior Designer, on Visos:

The inside of Visos is full to the brim with technology and innovation. My favourite part, though, is the sculpted instrument pod, mounted on the steering wheel.  It consists of a large analogue circular dial flanked by two customisable LCD panels. This is another design element that demonstrates the dual personality with displays that can be either performance-orientated or luxury-inclined.
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 Volvo
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New Volvo S40

The new Volvo S40 replaces the current S40, which was launched in Europe in 1995. It is the newest addition to Volvo's S-range, which also includes the larger Volvo S60 and S80 models.

From the outside, the new S40 is unmistakably a Volvo, a modern evolution of the extraordinary design language that began with the S80 luxury sedan.

The interior is a revolution, with an ultra-slim center console -- the first of its kind in the automotive world -- creating an aura of exclusivity, simplicity and space.

In the new Volvo S40, Volvo Cars continues its groundbreaking use of high- tensile steel. In the new front structure, four different grades of steel are used in an intelligent interplay to provide maximum safety for the car's occupants. "Naturally, our goal is that the new Volvo S40 should be the safest car in its class," says Volvo Cars President & CEO Hans-Olov Olsson.

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Land Rover
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Land Rover Freelander

The 2004 Freelander remains the king of off-roading among compact 4x4s. Its full-time four-wheel drive and a host of high-tech electronic systems, such as Hill Descent Control and Electronic Traction Control, allow the Freelander to wade through water, climb and descend slippery slopes, and give superb driver control when the going gets tough.
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Jaguar
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Jaguar R-D6 Concept

"Every day we make decisions. We choose the rational – following our head – or the emotional – following our heart. The real trick, though, is to balance the two and so get the best of both worlds. This is something that Jaguar understands in a way that few other car companies do.

“With R-D6 we set out to create a concept car which would build on the R-Coupe and further develop Jaguar’s new design direction. We also wanted to showcase the latest technology in lightweight vehicle structures and our potent new bi-turbo, common-rail V6 diesel.”

Mike Wright Managing Director, Jaguar Cars

Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum, and Chief Designer, Advanced Design, Julian Thomson, marshalled the efforts of a small team of groundbreaking designers who seized the opportunity to realise their ideas for the future of the Jaguar marque well before they appear in production form.
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Aston Martin
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Aston Martin DB9

The future of Aston Martin is epitomised by the all-new DB9, a 2+2 seater sports car that sets new
standards in its class due to its astonishing combination of agility, V12 power, smoothness, beautiful design and hand craftsmanship.

Using a radical new aluminium-bonded body frame, the DB9 is one of the most sophisticated and technically advanced sports cars in the world. It is powered by the latest version of Aston Martin's 6.0-litre V12, producing 450bhp and a top speed of 186mph. It is the first car to be hand-made at Aston Martin's new state-of-the-art facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, where all future Aston Martin models will be developed and built.

Sales of the model will start in Spring 2004, replacing the DB7, the most successful Aston Martin in history.
 

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