Tom Gale is the former chief of design and product development at DaimlerChrysler. He is credited with turning the Detroit auto show into a concept-car mecca (his 1993 Thunderbolt, ’95 Atlantic, and ’97 Phaeton were all showstoppers) and is the man behind such groundbreaking vehicles as the Viper, LH, Prowler, and 300. Here he opines on the NSX and R8.
“Both cars demonstrate amazing packaging and mechanicals that would make any designers’ task exciting given such great proportions to work with. And even though the packages are similar, the design philosophies and the vehicle gestures are different enough to result in significantly different statements.
The 2017 Acura NSX
“The NSX shows exciting proportion in all views, with an aggressive forward gesture in side view that is enabled by the linework, especially the A line extending from the quarter peak through the door and front wheel to the front fascia. Then there are three more character lines below, for the scoop and the sill area. Another device is added aft of the front wheel in the upper fender. Normally I would applaud such an overt connection to the upper character line, but I can’t help but wonder if the result would have been just as pleasing if the door area had the hard crease softened to minimize the harshness while still maintaining the surface highlight.”
2017 Acura NSX: Front and Rear Views
“The front and rear views are pleasing, but have numerous textures and elements in the grille and air inlet areas. The rear view is exemplary with clear function, lamp graphics that signal the brand, and consistent texture and highlights.”
2017 Acura NSX: Flying Buttress Air Scoop Area
“The “flying buttress” air scoop area is well-executed but perhaps a little stiff and begs comparison to the Ford GT concept where the feature is integrated in the design to become a major part of the overall theme.”
2017 Acura NSX: The Bottom Line
“The design is exciting and well-executed, seemingly inspired by certain Italian model surface character. Just a trifle busy to my eye, but hard to mess up with such a great package.”
The 2017 Audi R8
“The R8 is definitely an Audi, and its family resemblance is unmistakable and consistent with other products in the line. Surface character demonstrates the same loving and massaging that we have seen on all recent Audi models.
Surfaces are full and softly handled, and the linework is beautifully rendered in conjunction with surface, especially when viewed in quartering views, and you can see the consistent shapes and lines of the fender and quarter peaks. The simple body-side character lines leading to the side scoop are a big improvement when compared to the somewhat arbitrary “patch” of the previous model.
“It is interesting that the R8 shares its platform with the Huracán and sets such a different tone. The R8 seems heavier in side view due to the roofline touchdown relative to rear wheel placement and perhaps the handling of the rear end being gestured lower, especially compared to others of the type. Having said all that, the R8 is successful because it doesn’t follow the herd.”
2017 Audi R8: Front End Graphics
“The front end graphics, especially the grille surround, seem a bit inconsistent with the radii not having the same character and radii of the rear end graphics for lamps and openings.”
2017 Audi R8: Surface and Design Execution
“The greatest contrast between the R8 and the NSX is the robust surface and design execution of the Audi, whereas the NSX has a lighter, sharper, and somewhat busy character. Both cars are great examples of the breed of new sports cars.”
2017 Audi R8: Profile
“The side view graphics of the scoop and quarter window DLO extension work better in some colors than others and seem an arbitrary contrast with the purity of the rest of the vehicle. But I suppose that was the intent, and that is perhaps reason enough.”
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire