Cars that inspire – classics & premieres: Meeting of the design giants

Motor shows have found it particularly difficult to hold their own in public opinion in recent years. Even the IAA (since 2022 at home in Munich) now exhibits more bicycles than cars. But in Munich, another automotive format now wants to make a name for itself and establish itself: The “Car Design Event”, which was held for the first time recently, brought together a number of top-class car designers – and a large number of desirable cars and studies.

Head of Audi design Marc Lichte brought the Grandsphere Concept (hands-on) to the Drivers & Business Club in Munich’s MotorWorld, Head of Volkswagen design Andreas Mindt brought the VW ID2.all (not hands-on – it has no interior), Marcus Holzinger the E-Legend EL1, which is reminiscent of the legendary Audi Sport Quattro and will cost seven figures. Luc Donckerwolke – who can be described as a design icon himself – presented European premieres in his capacity as creative director of Hyundai’s premium offshoot Genesis before: the trilogy of Genesis X Convertible, X Concept and X Speedium Coupé, which is actually a Shooting Brake, as well as the GV80 Coupé Concept. In passing, he announced that the convertible would go into series production. And there’s more: The Austrian launch of the brand is now fixed and is scheduled to take place next year. The future of car design was discussed, which will also include design using artificial intelligence. All the experts present (including Professor Othmar Wickenheiser from the Faculty of Design at Munich University of Applied Sciences with some of his students) agreed that “AI” cannot replace design devised by human creativity, but can make some things easier and open up new perspectives. And even the work on clay models is still upheld because the restrictions in the design process are too great only on the screen, according to Hyundai design. Alpina boss Andreas Bovensiepen spanned the spectrum from modern to classic cars farthest from everyone present: He drove every single classic that was on display for test drives. He only left his BMW Alpina Z1 to the others. Instead, he was on the road in a 1950s Beetle, an Audi V8 D1 racing car brought by the supplier ZF, in the Lancia Beta Coupe Rallye Auto that Sporting Cars built in Erlangen, in the VW Golf IV R 32 or in the McLaren Artura . Not only he would have liked to have driven the first Honda NSX and the Honda S800, but they only enriched the exhibition with their presence. Ultimately, the first Car Design Event turned out to be a family reunion without any competition: designers and other representatives of various big brands, too Journalists met and exchanged ideas without any competition being felt. The enthusiasm for the automobile united more than the hunt for circulation, hits and sales figures could separate. In May 2024 again in Munich, later also internationally.
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