The new concepts for Audi Avant developed by students of SPD Master's in Car Design in collaboration with Audi made their debut on Tuesday 27th June at Scuola Politecnica di Design. The presentation was to Walter de' Silva, Design Director Audi Brand Group, actively involved in the project along with his staff: Gary Telaak for the externals and Ingo Von Bargen for the interior.
"Giving shape to the evolution of the world famous Audi concept, Avant" this was the task that Walter De' Silva assigned last October to SPD Master's students. The challenge was launched and twenty young designers from all over the world stepped up to take part: from the Netherlands to Israel, from Belarus to France and all emerging talents from Italy. Eleven different proposals were developed under the guidance of Marco Bonetto, the head of SPD Master's in Transportation Design. Ideas which project Avant in the near future, outlining the direction for development.
The students' interpretations range from new coupes with great space for luggage, luxurious limousines and convertibles with fluid lines inspired by boat design.
Three models in particular have attracted the attention of Audi and will be soon presented to the Design Center in Ingolstadt: an unyielding coupe with sophisticated graphics designed by Oleksiy Tsapliy, a thirty years old Ukrainian student; the luxurious landaulet of Dzmitry Samal, twentyfour years old from Belarus, divided into a zone exclusively for the driver and a cabin reserved for VIP travellers; and the sporty Avant coupe designed by Kamil Labanowicz, a twentyfive years old from Poland, perfectly adapted to the city but equally at ease during a weekend away.
The sports car is the theme focussed on the 2006-2007 Master in Transportation Design, for the third year running in collaboration with the group Audi Seat Lamborghini. Still concentrating on the Audi brand, the new students at SPD will face this challenge trying to find innovative interpretation the brand of the four rings which means elegance, lifestyle and of course, sportiness.
The Master's in Transportation Design begins in October 2006 and has a limited number of participants permitted. The selection is open to candidates with previous experience in car design with a strong motivation to face a challenging program which lasts until June 2007. The Master's aims at refining design skills and professional abilities including sketching, Alias and clay modelling. The teaching staff includes designers from Audi, Marco Bonetto, co-ordinator of the Department of Transportation, Roberto Giolito, Mario Favilla, Alessandro Maccolini and other professionals from automotive companies.
There are four scholarships offered by Audi, available for candidates who present the most interesting portfolio. For information and admission requests:
dioli @ scuoladesign.com
t +39 02 21597590
http://www.scuoladesign.com
AVANTGARDE
Dzmitry Samal, Belarus
Dzmitry Samal revives the old landaulet car which had seemingly disappeared. It was a very popular model in the Twenties and Thirties; Samal has transformed it into a contemporary supercar, a status symbol giving its occupants a sense of exclusivity, uniqueness and glamour.
Avantgarde is definitely a concept car to be put on display, dedicated to the happy few who choose a life of luxury, always in the spotlight. Surprisingly, its retro inspiration results in a modern and stylish design which wins you over at first glance.
The concept is developed on the A8 platform. Avantgarde combines two cars in one. The first is a fast, sporty convertible which offers the maximum pleasure in driving; the second is a "lounge car" which guarantees total relax and absolute privacy, fitted with all the equipment for a mobile office.
This proposal is actually made up of two separate zones: the first is reserved for the driver and features a sliding roof while the second is a private cabin dedicated to two VIP passengers with accessories and comforts beyond all imagination.
Lines, volumes and surfaces are essential and attractive at the same time. The entire body of the car follows a fluid "S" line, which underlines and at the same time integrates the two zones. This "S" converges at the waistline that raises up towards the back, emphasizing the privacy of the passenger zone.
The colour and trim study reveals a mature and sophisticated taste recalling the tradition of the model, in an updated version. For instance, both the floral pattern of the rims which harks back to Art Deco, and the combination of two colours for the bodywork, pay a clear homage to the history of this car.
AVANT VISIO
Oleksiy Tsapliy, Ukraine
According to its author, thirty two years old Ukranian Oleksiy Tsapliy, the inspiration for the Avant Visio comes from the will to respect the Audi brand character, yet pushing it into the future.
Tsapliy chooses to move inside this territory to create a brand new Avant concept, outlining a specific lifestyle: the vision for Avant in the next ten years. As a result, Visio is much more than a stylish sporty station wagon. It is an unyielding vehicle which intercepts the sophisticated taste of an audience of young and demanding urban professionals, responsive to design and performance.
The design starts from a research into proportions, a quest for a delicate blend of impact, emotion and sportiness. Compared to current models, Visio emphasizes the aggressive character of the coupe, though never threatening and always balanced by its natural elegance.
The clean-cut language adopted gives a strong, threedimensional effect to the entire body. The graphic identity of the car is also a key element in this project: sleek and racy lines are embedded, almost carved into the volumes. Though crossed by decisive signs, the surfaces maintain their purity and a sculptural quality which is the main feature of this proposal.
Again, it is the search for three-dimensionality that inspired even the details such as the rims that bring to mind the classical six spoke design while adding a stronger 3D effect to the wheels.
Styling is never split from functionality. For example, the characteristic cut of the side window, which ends with a narrow element curved toward the rear, emphasizes the coupe feeling of the Avant Visio while hiding the hinges of the tailgate.
CAR DESIGN
AUDI AVANT 2015
Gino D'Eramo (Italy)
Avant SAV
Sport Activity Vehicle
Alexander Kotlyarevsky (Ukraine)
S7
Avant Coupe
Hasan Kurt (Germany)
City Cruiser
A6 Avant
Kamil Labanowicz (Poland)
Avant Coupe
A6 Avant sports car
Roberto Redaelli (Italy)
CS Circular Safety
A6 Avant cabrio coupe
Dzmitry Samal (Belarus)
Avantgarde
A8 Avant landaulet
Christophe Soulami (France)
Avant GT
A6 Grand Tourer
Oleksiy Tsapliy (Ukraine)
Visio
A6 Avant station wagon
Giancarlo Veneto (Italy)
Morphos
A6 Avant Sport Elegance
Franco Violo (Italy)
Avant Aurea
A6 station wagon cabriolet
Jaap Weve (Holland)
La Scala
A8 luxury car