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Flowers Inspire Cabin Design of Renault Fluence Concept CoupeRenault designers went to the florist and returned with dozens of exotic plants, including orchids and cacti, before they created the cabin of the Fluence concept coupe.
"We cut them up and looked at them under microscopes," explained Patrick le Quement, Renault senior vice president of corporate design. "We looked at time-lapse photography of plants and watched them slowly transform themselves. They were the inspiration."
The front seats of the Fluence unfurl like a flower. When you open the door, the seat bolsters and side unfold. When you close the door, they fold up, gently hugging the body. The center console is shaped like a leaf, and the instrument panel is supposed to look like two leaves pressed together. The effect is that of a serene and inviting cabin.
The unusual source of inspiration at Renault is part of a trend of ever-increasing attention to the interiors of cars and trucks. The emphasis on interiors was a major design theme at the 2004 Paris International Auto Show two months ago.
"Interiors are changing because the whole notion of what is premium has changed," said Adrian van Hooydonk, director of the BMW brand design studio. "It used to be simple. Add wood and chrome and you are done. But now wood is everywhere, even in SUVs and $20,000 cars. What remains is craftsmanship. That’s premium.
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10/11/2004 | Viewed 6,668 time(s)
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