GMC Granite concept
Arguably the biggest surprise of the first NAIAS press day was GMC's Granite concept - a design that expands (or rather contracts) the truck/crossover brand's ‘professional grade' philosophy to a compact hatchback aimed at urban hipsters and early adopters. Conceived by Frank Saucedo's Advanced Design team in California and then built at GM's Design Center in Detroit (and in less than eight months), the Granite combines the basic proportions of the Nissan Cube and Scion xB with a military/industrial feel inspired by the current G-Star and Diesel fashion lines.
The resulting design is an undisputed success. The DRG is extremely aggressive, yet doesn't overwhelm the car as you might expect, positioning the huge GMC grille below a scalloped hood that bends up at each side to create a pronounced step down to the combined shoulder and headlamp surface. The distinctive interlocking slashes in the body sides also help break up the visual mass inherent to a tall, high-sided two-box design like this, and have been executed to perfection. The way they form a natural recess for the vertical vents behind the front wheels is a particular highlight, as are the wheels themselves, which inform some of the interior themes.
Those barn-style doors open up to reveal an equally imaginative and well-resolved interior. The four seats are visually connected by saddle-like yokes draped over the car's full-length center tunnel, and the liberal use of brown Nubuck leather reinforces the ‘Wild West meets New York loft apartment' interior theme. The implementation of seats that not only fold flat but hinge up vertically from the center line also allows a mountain bike to be carried with ease. Sadly, a last-minute decision to pull the concept's unveil forward from New York to Detroit meant the mechanism wasn't ready in time for its unveil.
A lot of thought has clearly gone into the design of the IP; analogue and mechanical elements have been used where appropriate, adding rugged functionality to the usual array of infotainment and connectivity tech.
Saucedo wouldn't be drawn on the car's future. But given that the Granite shares its wheelbase dimensions with the new Opel/Vauxhall Meriva minivan, not to mention its rear-hinged door design, we're cautiously optimistic about its chances of reaching production.
Source: http://www.cardesignnews.com/
0 comments:
Post a Comment