Concept cars arrive, concept cars die, two Korean firms define their visions and more in a grab-bag of auto news this week.
AN OLD FEATURE IN A NEW NISSAN: The Zaroot concept that Nissan will show off at the Geneva Motor Show in March is the French-controlled Japanese firm's idea of what ''sporty'' sport-utility vehicles could look like in the future, which includes one of the oldest concept tricks of all time -- gullwing doors.
According to Nissan, the Zaroot ''combines traditional SUV values -- and a serious off-road ability -- with futuristic, sporty styling that marks it out as something different.''
While retaining the traditional design cues of an SUV, the Zaroot's appearance is meant to be ''squared-off, solid and tough looking. It implies strength and security -- yet combines these familiar themes with something a little different - a pair of gullwing doors.''
The doors dominate Zaroot's profile, Nissan says quite correctly, as they extend from the A-pillar to the rear of the passenger compartment, effectively where the C-pillar would be in a conventional vehicle. There is no B-pillar.
Doors like this have been around for about half a century in a Mercedes roadster and the short-lived Delorean, and are designer favorites in concept cars, but the real-world issues surrounding their use has kept them on the drawing board and off the streets. Still, they do look cool when you're trying to get some media attention.
Anyway, if the doors define the character of Zaroot, Nissan says, then the ''arch graphic'' roof line continues a design theme that has featured on virtually all recent Nissan design concepts. ''Together they bring increased sporting prowess to an area of the market which hitherto has been seen as little more than utilitarian.''
Front and rear styling also adds a futuristic twist to a conventional shape. Zaroot's bluff nose ensures minimum front overhangs and incorporates Nissan's now familiar double strut grille, though the unusual vertical headlamp cluster brings an almost technical feel to Zaroot's 'face'.
HYUNDAI AND KIA GO SEPARATE MARKETING WAYS: The Korean headquarters of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has decided what the brand images for its two marketing chains will be, but provided no details on how that will affect the products we'll see in the future.
''Drive your way'' is supposed to communicate Hyundai's ''refined and confident'' brand attributes, while the ''The Power to Surprise'' is aimed at embodying the ''exciting and enabling'' values of the Kia brand.
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman, Mong-koo Chung, says, ''These new brand identities have been established to ensure complete differentiation between Hyundai and Kia, as well as from our global competitors. We are confident that these new identities will result in significant synergies, thereby creating additional market share for each brand, since each company targets very different customers with different lifestyles.''
This effort is supposed to help Hyundai and Kia ''integrate their respective brand strategies into all facets of their business including product development, design, marketing, sales, and after sales service.''
The long-term objectives of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group are to ''elevate its brand value to the level of the world's elite auto manufacturers, while joining the ranks of the world's top 30 global brands and the top five automotive brands in terms of brand value.''
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According to Nissan, the Zaroot ''combines traditional SUV values -- and a serious off-road ability -- with futuristic, sporty styling that marks it out as something different.''
While retaining the traditional design cues of an SUV, the Zaroot's appearance is meant to be ''squared-off, solid and tough looking. It implies strength and security -- yet combines these familiar themes with something a little different - a pair of gullwing doors.''
 |
Doors like this have been around for about half a century in a Mercedes roadster and the short-lived Delorean, and are designer favorites in concept cars, but the real-world issues surrounding their use has kept them on the drawing board and off the streets. Still, they do look cool when you're trying to get some media attention.
 |
Front and rear styling also adds a futuristic twist to a conventional shape. Zaroot's bluff nose ensures minimum front overhangs and incorporates Nissan's now familiar double strut grille, though the unusual vertical headlamp cluster brings an almost technical feel to Zaroot's 'face'.
HYUNDAI AND KIA GO SEPARATE MARKETING WAYS: The Korean headquarters of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has decided what the brand images for its two marketing chains will be, but provided no details on how that will affect the products we'll see in the future.
''Drive your way'' is supposed to communicate Hyundai's ''refined and confident'' brand attributes, while the ''The Power to Surprise'' is aimed at embodying the ''exciting and enabling'' values of the Kia brand.
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman, Mong-koo Chung, says, ''These new brand identities have been established to ensure complete differentiation between Hyundai and Kia, as well as from our global competitors. We are confident that these new identities will result in significant synergies, thereby creating additional market share for each brand, since each company targets very different customers with different lifestyles.''
This effort is supposed to help Hyundai and Kia ''integrate their respective brand strategies into all facets of their business including product development, design, marketing, sales, and after sales service.''
The long-term objectives of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group are to ''elevate its brand value to the level of the world's elite auto manufacturers, while joining the ranks of the world's top 30 global brands and the top five automotive brands in terms of brand value.''