This was the only new concept at the British Motor Show from a volume manufacturer. The Open Study Model is a two-seat roadster with two vestigial rear jump seats designed in Honda's Offenbach studio in Germany, under the direction of Masaki Kobayashi and the justification of the launch here is based on two factors: first, that the UK has a continuing obsession with sports cars and second, it remains Honda's most significant market in Europe.
The overall aesthetic has an Italian quality to it, particularly the previous generation Alfa Spider, with its short lean-forward rump, long front overhang and strongly-diving line running forwards from above the rear wheel. Given that the model was built in Turin, maybe that's no surprise, although neither of the two designers involved - Dimitrios Darkoudis and Andreas Sittel - are themselves Italian. The form language used here is softer than the current Civic or the previous CR-Z concept (also on display here) and gives a possible indication of where Honda is heading next for its European models.
Probably the most novel aspect of the design is the protruding front and rear lamps. A new twist here is the way the added surface continues as part of a plinth on the body surface itself. Note also the way the beltline twists up around the A-pillar and continues into the hood cowl line and the 6-spoke wheels with an interesting new treatment where the spokes are ‘dragged' around the rim.
The interior builds on themes seen in the Civic with its floating IP surface, split graphically into three areas: a dark gray functional area surrounding the driver with metallic blue waves either side. "We didn't want to split the exterior and interior, they should morph together," explained Sittel. The two tiny rear bucket seats are split by a central spine that grows out of the center console and are finished in the same metallic blue and white leather as the front seats.
Seat chose the British Motor Show to debut the production design of the new Ibiza hatchback, previewed as the Bocanegra concept in Geneva earlier this year. The design is most significant for being based on the Volkswagen Group's next generation small car architecture, which will be shared with the forthcoming Polo. On first impressions, this seems to be far less advanced than the architecture of the Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and that shared between the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2, all of which have a more ‘one and a half' box profile, are less massive at the front and have more plan shape.
Offered as both a five-door and a high performance three-door variant, the design shows a development of the Seat corporate facial identity. The central grille has prominent vertical vanes and is flanked by headlamps that have a ‘hooded' look from the side feature line sweeping around over them, further accentuated by a band of LEDs on higher specification versions that give it a heavy ‘eye-brow' look.
The three-door version differs to the five-door at the rear more than other Volkswagen Group products in this class have done before - note how the side feature line wraps around the rear three quarter on the three-door above the rear light, but fades through the light on the five-door version. Also note the different rake of the rear window and lower roofline.
Inside, the IP is angled towards the driver and uses modern textures, which will counter the cheaper looking materials relative to its forthcoming Volkswagen and Audi-branded siblings. The compact and integrated design of the HVAC and ICE controls and the steering wheel design are other notable design elements of this otherwise orthodox interior.
Seat purports to be a sporty brand - its slogan is "auto emoción" - but this new Ibiza's old fashioned proportions hobble the brand's ambitions despite its emotive graphics and feature lines.
It might look like a classical powerful front engine GT and you'd be forgiven for thinking it's powered by a large and powerful multi-cylinder engine, but in fact, the Lightning is an electric car due to reach buyers in 18 months time. CDN spoke to principal designer Daniel Durrant who took us through the design - one of the most impressive aspects of which is that it started only nine months ago.
Overall, the exterior theme is classical sports GT with overtones of sixties coupes such as the Maserati Ghibli in its long, low proportions, gently raked rear and kicked up rear side window. Contemporary surfacing and detail design - such as the fading side feature line and circular rear lights connected by a single graphic element - help lift this design above other British low volume sports car designs.
The interior is impressive too, with its bespoke design details including a Jaguar XF style gear selector dial in the center console and ‘+' and ‘-' foot pedals which relate to the car's nano-safe, battery powered four in-wheel 120kW powertrain.
The Lightning GT is a handsome car and a well executed design, but with only a rear fog light sitting in place of an exhaust pipe, we think that it is also a missed opportunity. Sports cars are status symbols and electric cars are increasingly becoming status symbols. An electric sports car would then perhaps benefit from looking more like an electric sports car...
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