Sao Paulo Auto Show 2012

The 2012 Sao Paulo auto show saw a range of new concept and production vehicles make their debut in a market that has been gaining in importance. The testament to that fact was the unveiling of vehicles produced specifically for the South American market and in many cases designed by local studios.

Nissan
The Nissan Etrem, for example, was the collaborative effort of designers at Nissan Design America in San Diego, California and Nissan’s own Brazilian design studio. Have a look at our previous post to watch a video on the collaborative design process.

Ford Troller
The Troller TR-X concept was another locally designed vehicle, created in Ford’s Brazilian design studio under the direction of João Marcos Ramos. Purchased by Ford in 2007, Troller used to build kit cars based on the Jeep Wrangler, so it’s no surprise that the TR-X concept references the iconic Jeep, albeit with its own identity. The four door Ford Fiesta sedan also made an appearance.

Chery
The Chery TX concept was the Chinese automaker’s take on a sportier crossover. Designed by a team led by James Hope, this is the first vehicle to bear the former GM designer’s mark. The compact crossover offers a high riding position paired with a sweeping roofline and deeply channeled bodyside surfacing.

Volkswagen
Volkswagen also chose the Sao Paulo show to present the Taigun concept, a compact SUV with a simple, refined exterior aesthetic (with hidden rear door handles) and a clean yet characterful interior largely devoid of buttons. The Tiagun also incorporated an interesting technological element by way of a Samsung smartphone in the instrument panel and digital readouts on the air vents.

Chevrolet
Given the number of crossover concepts on show, it’s clear that the South American market still has a penchant for trucks. GM’s Chevrolet division catered to that need with the reveal of the new the TrailBlazer and S10 but also showed the Onix — a B-segment hatchback designed to take on the market-leading Volkswagen Gol.