The exterior and interior design of the vehicle offers more intellectual comfort. The innovative ‘Airbumps’ – inspired by POC helmets and rubberized soles of running shoes — offer a pragmatic solution to prevent dents and dings all of our cars have experienced, but they are not without style. The integrated technology features air encased in a capsule and comes in four different colors: black, gray, dune or chocolate.
“Technology, we all know very well. It’s in our pockets. The first thing we do is cover it. That is the same thing we’ve done with the Airbumps, which serve to protect from everyday aggression,” project manager Mark Lloyd said at the new car’s unveiling. “It’s a true innovation. We encapsulate air behind a soft skin and create a personality, the graphic identity of the car.”
This graphic identity is further accentuated by the new car’s lighting signature, which separates the main headlamps from the DRLs at the top, and the floating C-pillar element at the rear.
The overall feel is one of simplicity, with pure and smooth forms, devoid of aggression. The design, free of creases and break lines save for those that define graphical elements on the voluminous surfacing, makes for a unique and modern silhouette.
Inside, the chosen forms and materials in the three interior environments express a feeling of comfort aimed at maximizing well-being on board.
Key design features such as the digital cluster and three-button gearshift revolve around simplicity of use. They are separate rather than integrated elements, and there are only 12 buttons in total inside the cabin. A 7-inch tablet interface at the center of the IP is charged with displaying all necessary functions.
“It’s simply arranged,” Lloyd says. “We had to rethink the architecture, moving the airbag for the passenger to the roof, and the passenger and driver are reunited on a sofa as in the home.”
Details and finishers are also simple in their aesthetic and materials, a feeling emphasized by leather pull straps on the doors that have been inspired by high-end travel bags. It’s a synthesis between the needs of today’s customer and the technology available.
“The key to the car, at the heart of the development, is less complexity and more simplicity in usage and style. This is what guided us in the exterior and interior design,” Lloyd said. “With this approach we’ve made a pure design with a strong identity.”
