Official: Citroen DS High Rider Concept Interior

The French carmaker has released new images and details of the Citroen DS High Rider interior. Citroen released today the first images of the interior of DS High Rider concept presented in Geneva in March and expected to anticipate the future design guidelines of DS4 and also of the C4.

The interior door panels are trimmed with a graduated grey to gold shading that’s supposed to match the golden tone of the DS High Rider Concept car’s golden exterior paintwork. You can also spot a colour screen in the centre console and the ‘Hybrid’ badge just below the gear stick.

The concept’s interior offers a clear contrast, as its dark-shaded roof lining meets the vehicle’s large panoramic windscreen. The luxurious details are complemented by a set of bespoke badging: the dashboard features embossed DS initials, while the seats use chrome DS inserts.

On the instrument panel, seats and door panels the automaker uses full-grain leather, chrome detailing around the dials, steering wheel, air vents, gear knob and center console, plus various golden and grey accents.





Press Release

STEP INSIDE CITROËN'S DS HIGH RIDER

Citroën has revealed the interior of the DS High Rider concept - which was originally showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. In line with the car's distinctive exterior styling, DS High Rider's cockpit exudes strength, dynamism and refinement, with the utmost care and precision applied to even the smallest details. The ergonomic design of the controls, the quality of the carefully selected materials and the prestigious atmosphere on board convey status, elegance and the promise of luxurious comfort.

With a clear contrast between DS High Rider's large panoramic windscreen and its dark-shaded roof lining, the cabin is an exclusive environment with an emphasis on sporting luxury - also evidenced by the extensive application of leather and chrome detailing.

The instrument panel, seats and door panels are all finished in a quality, full-grain leather with clearly defined over-stitching and a ‘bracelet' design on the seats. The DS initials are also subtly embossed into the leatherwork of the dashboard.

Completing the dynamic ambience of the interior, chrome detailing is used around the dials, steering wheel, air vents, gear stick and the arch that connects the instrument panel to the console. Chrome ‘DS' inserts also feature, positioned just below the headrests on each of the front seats.

Mirroring the golden tone of the DS High Rider's bodywork, the interior door panels are trimmed with a graduated grey to gold shading that required the careful application of specific varnishes to achieve the gilded, metallic look.

DS High Rider's technology can be glimpsed in the controls mounted on the sculpted steering wheel, the colour screen in the centre console and the ‘Hybrid' badge just below the gear stick - which asserts the model's ecologically sensitive drivetrain.

Beijing _ 2010 BMW Concept Gran Coupe

BMW unveiled the Concept Gran Coupe today at the Beijing Auto Show, China. the all-new 2010 BMW Concept Gran Coupe has been revealed, finally confirming BMW’s intention to enter the burgeoning four-door coupe market.

The four-door includes a variety of distinct features like the vaulted hood with forward-facing lines, a longer wheelbase, coupe-style roofline and short front overhang. BMW describes the intent of the concept: “the BMW Concept Gran Coupé carries the essence of brand values and the genes of BMW design into the future.”

At 1.4-meters high, the car is 10-cm shorter in height than the 5er and 7er sedan. Current rumors suggest that the car is already approved for production and will be marketed as the BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe to rival the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, a car which BMW does not directly compete against at this time.

According to BMW sources, the car is headed for production in 2012 and will be built on the same platform that underpins the 5-Series, 7-Series and the 5-Series Gran Turismo. The production model will be offered with the same mix of 6- and 8-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines as those models.





Press Release

Elegance and dynamic performance at the first BMW Design Night in Beijing.

Munich. With an exclusive Design Night on the evening of the first press day at Auto China in Beijing (April 23rd to May 2nd 2010), BMW provides an in-depth insight into its design philosophy and development strategy. The program of the BMW Design Night is modular in structure and presents extensive background information on the premium automobile manufacturer's innovative design culture. In addition to highlighting the long versions of the BMW 5 Series developed specially for the Chinese market, the main focus is on an elegant 4-door vehicle with striking dynamic proportions: the BMW Concept Gran Coupé.

The concept study on display symbolises the outstanding design expertise of BMW. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé concentrates the fundamental values of the brand. Its body design authentically captures a sense of superior dynamic performance and high-quality elegance. The shaping style, which follows a coherent pattern down to the last detail, convincingly visualises BMW's philosophy as an automobile manufacturer. As with the Concept CS 2007, BMW once again sets new benchmarks in the design of 4-door coupes with a distinctive sporty character.

Based on a powerful tradition in this segment, the BMW Concept Gran Coupé carries the essence of brand values and the genes of BMW design into the future. The concept shows the classic features of all BMW coupes: the long wheelbase, the vaulted bonnet with forward-pointing lines, the set-back greenhouse, the flat silhouette, the coupe-style roof line and the short front overhang reflect the dynamic potential of the vehicle. The surface structures and the fact that the design quality is geared towards perfection illustrate the aspiration of the brand BMW to build 4-door high-performance coupes with the sportiest proportions and the most elegant design.

In the BMW Concept Gran Coupé, BMW presents the vision of a 4-door vehicle which combines the exclusivity of a Gran Turismo with the fascination of a high-performance sports car. The design of the concept study underscores the expertise of the brand BMW in the development of vehicles with a distinctive sporty character which offer space for more than two occupants. This reflects the particular quality of the BMW Group design philosophy, which consists in precisely and authentically translating the specific values of product substance into an aesthetically convincing shaping style. The design process is set through with a passion for aesthetic appeal and dynamic performance, precision and perfection. This is how the uncompromising premium aspiration of a BMW Group product, the unmistakable style of the brand BMW and the precisely defined character of each model are given concrete form.

The body design of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé expresses sporty flair in its ultimate form. The 4-door vehicle clearly signals the very highest level of dynamic performance with its extremely elegant, flat and coupe-like proportions. Stretching the entire length of the vehicle and therefore measuring almost 5 metres, flowing lines dominate the design, giving rise to outstanding aerodynamic levels, just as the low centre of gravity reflects an agile driving response.

The front section is defined by the BMW kidney grille characteristic of the brand - an icon of body design which is not just central but also a dominating element of front design. The kidney grille of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé has a flat appearance, with an asymmetrical side view which emphasises the close attention to detail. The central section with the kidney grille is formally separated from other BMW icons such as the headlights and air inlets. The clarity of the LED front lights highlights the vehicle's precision and premium aspirations. The air inlet runs back an extremely long way into the side section, making the front section appear particularly wide. All elements of the front section appear to merge to form a single, elegantly curved movement.

The sporty, flat silhouette provides an impressive body height of just under 1.40 metres. This makes the BMW Concept Gran Coupé up to 100 millimetres flatter than the BMW 5 Series or the BMW 7 Series Sedan. The roof line tapers off gently into the rear, thereby elongating the vehicle's proportions. The forward-tilted shark nose visually extends the bonnet and creates characteristic BMW proportions with its forward-pointing dynamism. This stretched character is also highlighted by the side lines, where there is a deliberate avoidance of the typical sill line. The flat proportions make the window graphics appear extremely narrow and dynamic at the same time. Another BMW design icon, the Hofmeister kink, is especially strikingly formed - additionally emphasising the exclusive character of the vehicle. The frameless doors give the BMW Concept Gran Coupé a modern character since the glass surfaces appear to merge seamlessly without being interrupted by columns.

At the rear, only design elements such as the lights and tailpipe trim appear to be visible at first sight. The entire rear section appears slimmer and lighter at the centre, though still exuding power and dynamic performance since the volume is reinforced towards the sides. The L-shaped light banks feature a slight, almost subtle curve and the entire design of the lines and surfaces highlights the vehicle's elegant overall appearance. The third brake light, positioned in the rear window, is also fitted with LED technology. It takes up the kink in the roof and illuminates the entire width of the rear window. The powerfully flared wheel arches above the rear axle highlight the particularly sporty character of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé.

Another highly sporty and also elegant feature is the rim concept in which the individual spokes extend deep into the centre of the rim towards the hub, giving the rim a striking three-dimensional quality. The spokes themselves are not solid but relief-milled, giving them a visual lightness.

The sculptural shaping style characteristic of the entire body design of the BMW Concept Gran Coupé permits a unique interaction between concave and convex surfaces. It also enables the light to be selectively reflected and channelled. Thus the exterior mirrors integrated in the window shaft appear very light, blending harmoniously into the side view since their shape assimilates the entire line styling. The BMW Concept Gran Coupé is a further development of the classic design of a notchback sedan in which the individual body sections merge harmoniously into a flat, elongated and at the same time dynamic overall image. The effect of this 4-door vehicle derives not just from specific highlights but from its overall appearance, which authentically reflects its character. The car's dynamic potential is embodied in its proportions and lines, signalling power but also elegance and forward thrust.

TechArt Panamera Entertainment Package

TechArt has unveiled several new interior options for the Porsche Panamera.

The TECHART Entertainment Kit W2 includes two 7-inch monitors seamlessly integrated into the design of the front seats. It is incorporated in the high-quality TECHART leather monitor console in the color of the vehicle’s interior and located at the front seat backrests. A 6 DVD Changer attends to media playback – discreetly hidden in the trunk of the car.

Another option is the roof mounted Entertainment Kit, available with a pivoting 10.2 inch monitor. The media console with DVD player and integrated USB host, framed in the leather or Alcantara, is integrated into the roof liner of the Panamera. Connection options for a memory stick or a hard disk drive are available. As well as playing all popular media formats, they also offer an infrared remote control and provide the passengers with stereo sound via wireless headphones.






Press Release

TECHART Entertainment & Comfort

The TECHART interior manufactory sets a benchmark in terms of individualization for the Porsche Panamera models. In addition to the existing range of interior options, a choice of further high-quality entertainment and comfort is immediately available. The use of the finest materials, the right instinct for aesthetics and the matchless technical precision of the finish formed the basis for two unique entertainment packages and rear fold-away tables, built into the front seats, which deliver significantly more fun during the journey for passengers in the rear of the four-seater.

The TECHART Entertainment Kit W2 includes two 7-inch monitors seamlessly integrated into the design of the front seats. It is incorporated in the high-quality TECHART leather monitor console in the color of the vehicle's interior and located at the front seat backrests. A 6 DVD Changer attends to media playback - discreetly hidden in the trunk of the car.

A further alternative is the TECHART roof mounted Entertainment Kit, available with a pivoting 10.2-inch monitor. The media console with DVD player and integrated USB host, framed in the finest leather or Alcantara, is entirely integrated into the roof liner of the Panamera. Connection options for a memory stick or a hard disk drive guarantee universal applications as a DVD player or as a presentation medium. As well as playing all popular media formats, they also offer the convenience of infrared remote control and provide the passengers with brilliant stereo sound via wireless headphones.

The high-quality TECHART rear fold-away tables, which harmoniously retract into the seat upholstery of the front seats, offer additional convenience. Thanks to a robust mechanism and high-quality materials, the tables function on the one hand as a mobile work station during travel and on the other as a relaxing area for longer trips with the Panamera.