Carfreax

FRANKFURT PART FIVE

These are my final five cents for this years Frankfurt show, part five. An Escher-esque perspective on the status quo, the end is the beginning. We enter the fair at the south side and stumble into the BMW show. The first impressions of the day, we are excited and glare at the displayed products. The Bavarian brand puts us into to the automotive loop, visitors at a circus full of energy rather than consumers of metal dreams. Is Frankfurt all about metal or is it the story telling, the car culture, what it's all about these days?

Next to the all new One series the guys from Munich have enough stories to tell. Conceptually it is all about dotting the i, and yes I dig these fairy tales. Two cars, two book ends. Siblings with their own character, but connected by a strong formal formula. One is soft and fluent, the other more industrial and pragmatic or functional.  Respect goes out to the underlaying blueprint that must have been the starting point of this adventure, design inside out, a throughout vision of what might be the future. And yes, I really like that I3 steering column for its smart and optical light weight appearance.

Free form butterfly glass doors anyone? We will have to see and wait what will reach the market. In a  far corner of our first hall we see a clean stand of BMW Individual. Clean lights and lots of reference from the world of design. Eames here, B&O there. Window dressing or philosophy? First lesson in Frankfurt; it is all about context!

-Matt.

FRANKFURT PART FOUR

Surf's up dude! In the German media landscape the brand from Wolfburg has drawn a lot of attention during the weeks ahead of the Frankfurt show. A new small car for the folks, compact, efficient  and affordable, the real new beetle? A bold move back to the roots. Many thought  the name would change from Up to Lupo, following the strategic sneaky peaky hocus pocus way the new Sc-Iroc-co made it to the market. This time the friendly, almost Pixar-esque name will stay, Up! Plus one so far. And yet, at introduction time Volkswagen displays a wide array of possibilities. Love the tucked down GTI version. The urban Nils car is a welcoming side kick, very producty, nimble and white.

Surf's up and some unforeseen guests join the waves. Greenpeace bashes the party. We never before have seen political statements unfold during an auto show, this year it all comes together at the VW stand. The dark force enters the stage for the big pay back. Is this easy money? The peeps from V dub take it this chin in cheek positive, knowing that they have redrawn the big picture .....of a small car.

- Matt.

FRANKFURT PART THREE

The end of a short day in Frankfurt. Final show down at the heart of the compound. If the IAAF would be Wimbledon, we just entered the center court for the finals.

The Audi pavilion, an impressive endless loop of temporary architecture. Moebius would have been proud of this inviting inside out pleasure dome.  A roller coaster ride packed in a black and white skin. Peek holes everywhere. Cars drive by, stop for a moment and then continue their loop on this full scale Carrera Bahn.

Inside the temperature rises. A slightly tight place for an exhibition. We wonder how cramped this room might feel during the normal days. Audi has brought three concepts to Frankfurt, the Urban twins and the A2. It is always good to meet up with colleagues who have put months of intense work into these objects, the love for detailing finally pays off. I manage to get a close look on the interior of the A2. It has a minimal approach, but there is a lot of subtlety and finesse to discover. 

- Matt.

FRANKFURT PART TWO

Visit France. One of my high lights is the Citroen Tubik, most for its overall appearance. A reinterpretation of the ancient HY bus. Look beyond some of its too retro elements and you will find clever solutions in surfacing and detailing. Floating a pillars, slivery silver sculptural surfacing and Star Wars like logos, underlaid with felt. And once again we witness the major trend for this year: mega city, urban, multi city. Looking back in history for tomorrows answers.

Peugoet HX1, another French attempt to redefine luxury. A concept full of ideas, inside and out. This is a scaled up version of the last years compact Geneva study. The spooning seats, the intersecting volumes of the exterior, we have seen it before. Nevertheless a very resolved design in high resolution. A mono box volume brought alive. Outside full of aerodynamic features, inside an oasis of color and trim,  sculpted in an almost minimal HR Giger style. La France, douze points, France, twelve points.

- Matt.

FRANKFURT PART ONE

Frankfurt once again. My third show this year. After Geneva and Shanghai the big home run in Germany. One wonders if you really have to travel all the way up to F-Furt for the real deal. We have been teased and pleased way ahead with tantalizing pictures, slide shows and print media. It turns out to be a very long day, most of the hours go down in the book as traveling time. To cut it short: a first step at the show around lunch time, 360 minutes left and counting.

Too little time for a 360 look around. Let's cope with it and walk the floors, sniffing up the ambiance. We came with the whole team, but soon we are scattered around the halls. I end up with two colleagues with a different view on cars. Sharing views, teaming up with others, jumping from one car into the other. Macro micro. 

My personal highlight? The eclectic mix of impressions. A spectrum between urban and super sport. Normally one needs an aspirin after a long day at the Frankfurt fair, check marking the "to see list". We have a good alternative. Let's throw it away and go for a spontaneous beer! Carfreax Bavaria meets CFX NL, shortly after joined by our guy from CFX China. This is what it is all about!

More to come soon.

- Matt.