Posts by author
At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show IAA, Icona Solutions in partnership with their German business partner HIC Engineering will demonstrate the latest version of their perceived quality simulation
Continental presents a new LED light control unit which centrally governs the light functions in cars and trucks.
As LEDs cannot be fed with power from the on-board voltage supply
“Lighting reflects the soul of the car and underlines its character”.
Stefan Sielaff, 45, joined Audi AG in 1990, the year he obtained a master’s degree in vehicle design from the Royal College of Art in London. He first worked on interiors at Ingolstadt. After working at Sitges, Spain, on the development of the European Design Centree, he was back to Munich to become head of Interior Design at Audi. In 2003, he joined DaimlerChrysler as design director of the Interior Competence Center of DaimlerChrysler in Sindelfingen. He was back to Audi few years later to be now head of Design. Driving Vision News asked him a few questions.
Driving Vision News: It is difficult to characterise a brand. What words best define what you want an Audi car to be?
Stefan Sielaff: elegant, dynamic, high-class – Audi design is best defined with these core values. Our vision is based on these three words – this is how we want to create icons for tomorrow.
DVN: Perceived quality, design lines, and surface perfection are prime concerns for you. With respect to those aspects, how do front and rear lamps contribute and integrate?
S.S.: A human’s eyes are the mirror to his soul – this is a well-known saying. And it fits perfectly to our cars. Our lighting speaks the same language compared to the rest of the design; it reflects the soul of the car and underlines its character.
Part 2: “Xenon technology should reach a penetration level competing with halogen in mid sized cars worldwide.”
Following the 1st part of this interview published last week, DVN now brings you the 2nd part of the interview with Heinz Berghorn.
DVN: Xenon is now a mature technology. Do you still expect any technical evolution in the next 10 years which might increase the take rate?
H.B.: In Japan, the take rates are today already at a level of 40 %, so it can be done with different positioning of Xenon towards the market. We have the firm believe within Philips, that Xenon technology should reach a penetration level within midsized cars worldwide, directly competing with halogen. Xenon contains all benefits of actual market needs: Excellent light with more safety to consumers, energy saving and green, potential of savings within the application through elimination of washer systems and further integrations of electronics.
For auto parts suppliers in North America, the numbers are scary — and getting worse. Battered suppliers face growing losses. They expect a rise in bankruptcies this year even as auto production rebounds, and hold little hope for an uptick in profits before 2011.
French automaker Renault SA could become a source for American-market Saturn vehicles. The French automaker confirm they have been approached by Roger Penske, the pending owner of the Saturn brand and chairman of Penske Automotive Group, about a deal to supply vehicles and parts.
Ambitions of Geely, China’s biggest privately owned car firm, are breathtaking. The company are simultaneously developing six platforms and are committed to launching nine new cars in the next 18 months and up to 42 new models by 2015.
After a decade of trying, the brand collectors have become thoroughly disheartened.
– Ford spins off Jaguar, Land-Rover, Mazda, and Aston Martin, and try their best to offload Volvo.
Input your search keywords and press Enter.