Aufregend war die IAA doch schon immer, weil es Neues gab. Unverändert doch auch die Rituale. Jeder zeigte sein Bestes im nicht zu kritisierenden Bestreben, das Beste für sich zu erreichen: Abnehmer für’s Produkt. Gut, die Dimensionen haben sich verschoben. Die Abnehmer pilgerten zum Berg Sinai, um aus den Wolken die Worte ihrer Götter zu vernehmen. Flashes beleuchteten das Schöner, Stärker und Schneller. Allerdings wurden die Wolken dunkler, die Blitze stärker und die Pilger zunehmend lautstark. Übersetzt: Die Abgaswolken wurden zum Problem, elektrische und alternative Antriebskonzepte ‚schlugen ein‘ und die öffentliche Meinung wechselte von bewundernder Gläubigkeit zu kritischer Lautstärke. Nicht einfach im Handling für die ‚Götter‘ der Mobilität. Die Dies Irae zeigen sich. Die ‚Götter‘ steigen aus den Wolken herunter und verkünden fast unisono, dass sie jetzt den Menschen in den Vordergrund stellen werden. Kann es sein, dass etwas anderes vorher Priorität hatte? Vom Glauben geht der Trend zu Glaubwürdigkeit und Vertrauen. Es wird nicht besser, wenn die Zürnenden in ihren Wolken die flugs hochgespielten Schuldfragen schützend vor sich hertragen und nach Schuldigen suchen. Die Geschichte ist im Prinzip sehr einfach: Change the Picture, not the Frame. Jene, die Mobilität brauchen, mögen oder mit Passion betrachten, werden sich orientieren und das Geeignete wählen. Die Sache wird sich nicht ändern, ob nun eine Messe in Frankfurt, Berlin oder Altötting stattfindet. Aufregend war es schon immer.
Auch für jene, die den Mobile-Units international in führenden Positionen Form gaben und geben. Einige von Ihnen, die zum engen Kreis dieses Magazins gezählt werden dürfen, haben in Frankfurt für Designers Digest nach formalen Spuren und neuen Trends gesucht. Zusammengefasst im folgenden Report.
IAA-„CHEN“
The bombastic gigantuan Auto Messe that scares all other companies due to its over-kill and breathtaking scale ( not to mention arrogance in approach from the major German car companies), is literally a shadow in size of what it was only 4 years ago.
So many major companies were missing that I think it is very clear that the whole „traditional“ approach car companies have to car shows is outdated. The IAA 2019 had complete halls full of vintage cars and leather jackets instead of the multi-national car companies that were there 4 years ago, giving it more the feeling of an old-timer bazaar in Sinsheim rather than the IAA! BMW shared its hall with Renault and Hyundai (among others) instead of the exclusive indoor test track they filled the complete hall with before. This is absolutely wonderful though… it is refreshing, fits the spirit of the times and is far more forgiving on the feet!!! It is so much easier to see the highlights.
Highlights:
Porsche Taycan: Very „Porsche-traditional“ looking. Good looking, well proportioned but not one single new solution on exterior design apart from the vertical front lamp extension… which looked strange. Strangely, the plastic parts on the exterior were almost „cheap looking“. Outperformed (speed and range) already by the „old“ Tesla S even though it has only just come on the market!
The Chinese have officially arrived: A multiple presence from Wey and others, including Hongqi (Chinese Rolls Royce from Giles Taylor). Ridiculous-looking mid engined sports car and bizarr front end on their (otherwise boring mega SUV). There was no large opening on the front (which is standard for China) but instead, a very large bizarre decorative surface of dubious appeal!
Honda E: Small city car production version of their previous iconic show car. Authentic to the original show car. Clean, simple „industrial design“ approach. Anti-automotive approach to design. Looks very good and one of the main highlights of the whole show.
Audi: All major models go in a more „technical“ look, especially details on the fronts. „AI Trail“ Science fiction off-road fantasy electric SUV concept car. „E-tron“ sports car very nice shows a more sophisticated but still technical looking design direction.
BMW: Manga cartoon approach to BMW 4 coupe concept. Very big design „gestures“ give the car a feel of a toy car.
Mercedes Vision EQS Concept: Two-tone „blob“ continues the Mercedes approach to soft concept cars. The biggest wheels I have ever seen on a car … makes the whole thing look unremarkable and with blue lights all over the car, gives it a „Las Vegas“ feel!
Hyundai 45 Concept: Very good looking concept that some people call „retro“ but actually looks futuristic. Very simple, clean surfaces with sharp, geometric details. The kind of car you would expect to have been designed in Europe but actually done by the Korean team to celebrate the 45 year history of the Colt-style of car that Hyundai started off with. Claimed that a production car will come out that looks the same…
Land Rover Defender: FINALLY it is here. Anticipated even more than the Mini rebirth. Some people are disappointed because it is too „style orientated“ and lacks the authentic functional look of the original. If seen as a „fashion“ car, it is a good Industrial design approach with an innovative from end in terms of surface and volumes break up. I think it will become THE new fashion car design icon… especially in West London!! 🙂
Seat Cupra: Visually set up almost as a stand alone brand, instead of just a model name, when you look at the way the stand was designed, great accessories and very consistent design approach. Copper corporate details everywhere. „elegant-technical“ design approach (especially to details) and great looking ETCC race car.
VW ID3: Rival to Honda E (at least in terms of size) but much cheaper looking. Heavy looking body of unremarkable design. Child’s toy approach to interior design (but it does show a very new look to interior design.
Mirrors are dead: Finally, we see production versions of rear view mirror cameras. After the long-awaited regulation change, companies are now producing cars with rear view mirror cameras giving us a revolutionary interior door design! It is not necessarily the big expensive cars that get them… The Honda E small city car has them… although at 30,000 Euro the „E“ can hardly be called cheap!
Fotos von IAA/VDA, BMW und Designers Digest