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Customer LoginsParis Motor Show 2016: Renault, Mercedes, BMW look to the future with concepts as Nissan, Audi reveal next-generation models
The Paris Motor Show opened yesterday (29 September) with a flurry of reveals that made it to the event without being previewed or leaked beforehand, although some OEMs had hinted at their presence.
IHS Markit Perspective
- Significance: The Paris Motor Show opened with several reveals that had not been previewed or leaked beforehand.
- Implications: Key concepts were VW's I.D., Renault's Trezor, Mercedes' EQ Generation and BMW's Concept X2.
- Outlook: As many of the concepts on display show facets of the growth areas that these businesses will be exploring such as electrification, autonomy, connectivity and sharing, this does not undermine the more conventional launches on display which will fuel the OEMs as they more closer towards this point, and in many cases provide the stepping stones for this to be achieved.
The Paris Motor Show (France) opened yesterday (29 September) with a flurry of reveals that made it to the event without being previewed or leaked beforehand, although some OEMs had hinted at their presence. Some of these were production models, and others were concepts that underlined the message that the automotive landscape is homing further in on the trends of electrification, autonomy, connectivity and sharing.
Renault revealed the Trezor concept, a two-seat electrically powered sports car that is intended to highlight the forthcoming design direction of the brand, just at the DeZir concept did in 2010. The attractive, shapely, wide and rakish exterior is constructed from materials including carbon fibre, and has a clamshell front end that opens to allows entry to the interior. Other features of its design include honeycomb air intakes that have variable geometry to cool the two battery packs at the front and rear, as well as lighting at the rear which uses fibre optics. The powertrain is said to be derived from the company's experience in Formula E, with a motor that has 260kW and 380Nm of torque, and helps it to accelerate to 100km/h from a standstill in less than four seconds. While the two-seat interior features a dashboard made from wood, it also has a number of touch screen interfaces including two to replace conventional stalks. As well as offering the driver connectivity through their smart phone, it also offers autonomous driving via the automaker's Multi-Sense system, as well as neutral and sports models. When in autonomous mode, the vehicle indicates to those outside the car that it is in this setting through the exterior light signature and rear logos. At the same time, the steering wheel will extend in width to offer a panoramic view of the dashboard which can be used to watch films or conduct other activities. Renault says that it hopes to have this hands-off/eyes-off autonomous driving technology available beyond 2020.
Mercedes Generation EQ
Mercedes has also kept a concept that gives a significant indication to the future under wraps until the event. The Generation EQ concept highlights the automaker's new EQ brand that stands for "Electric Intelligence" and will encompass all the key aspects of electric mobility including products, services, technologies and innovations. The new products, of which 10 are expected to be launched by 2025, with the first – a sport utility vehicle (SUV)-type model - due in 2019, are expected to be based on a scalable platform developed specifically for battery-electric vehicles. According to the company, the Generation EQ combines the design characteristics of an SUV with those of a coupé and a shooting brake, with a new front end treatment. Great attention appears to have been paid to the aerodynamic properties with tiny body panel gaps, concealed windscreen wipers, and cameras instead of exterior mirrors. The interior is simple and functional, offering space for four occupants, with a large 24-inch, floating wide-screen display for the driver as well as touch-based controls, and separate screens for the rear passengers. The powertrain features electric motors on the front and rear axles which when combined achieve a total output of 300kW and 700Nm of torque, while the battery is stored under the floor and is said to give a range of up to 500km. Other technologies used in the car include driver assistance systems which lean heavily on Daimler's part-ownership of mapping company HERE to give the car precise road instructions and use real-time information. There is also greater interplay between sensors, known as "sensor fusion" by the automaker, supported by Car-to X technology and can exchange information with the infrastructure and other vehicles. This, the automaker says, takes a "further step on the road to autonomous driving."
More conventional but no less important, BMW has also used the show to unveil its Concept X2. This is intended to hint at another sporting crossover – this time in the compact class – in the same vein as the X4 and X6. With this in mind, the vehicle's proportions are relatively low slung for this type of vehicle, but with a stretched roofline unlike its larger siblings. In line with the type of customer it will be targeting, the vehicle on display also has a muscular look and 21-inch wheels with chunky tread. The front end also features large air intakes and a new interpretation of the traditional BMW kidney grille. Other classic brand features include the use of the Hofmeister kink and badges on the C-pillar.
BMW Concept X2
In terms of production models, Nissan has unveiled its new Micra at what is effectively is this vehicles domestic event, it being built just down the road at Renault's Flins plant. The fifth generation of the B-segment hatchback is a turnaround from the current model with Nissan highlighting the focus on style, dynamic performance and technology, as well as being longer and wider. In terms of looks, the vehicle shares many of the styling cues revealed in the Sway concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show (Switzerland) during March 2015. These include the brand's "V-motion" grille and boomerang-shaped rear lights. Efforts have also been made to improve aerodynamics through the use of concealed rear door handles and a rear spoiler. The interior features a lower driving position and greater adjustment for the seats and steering wheel, and a dashboard that is said to give the impression of greater space. Personalisation options are also heavily on the agenda with combined combinations of exterior and interior trim said to reach 125. In terms of powertrains, the company plans to make this model available with the choice of a 0.9-litre turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline (petrol) engine and a 1.5-litre diesel, both developing 90-hp.These will be joined by a naturally aspirated 73-hp 1.0-litre gasoline engine at a later date. From a vehicle dynamics perspective, this model will be available with Active Ride Control for improved ride comfort, and Active Trace Control to reduce understeer, both of which have filtered down from the Qashqai and X-Trail crossovers. There are also high levels of safety technology such as Lane Departure Prevention and Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition, as well as Intelligent Around View Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Warning. From a comfort perspective, a Bose sound system with built-in headrest speakers and a seven-inch colour monitor are also available. Sales will start in Europe from March 2017.
Elsewhere, Audi has introduced its second generation Q5 SUV. The vehicle shares some its design features with the latest generation of Q7 SUV, and despite growing in size versus the first generation with a length of 4.66m, width of 1.89m, height of 1.66m and wheelbase of 2.82m, the unladen weight has fallen by up to 90kg in some variants. Interior space for five people has also grown, while luggage space is as high as 610 litres with the rear seats up, growing to 1,550 litres with the seats down. The dashboard utilises the automakers virtual cockpit design with a 12.3-inch screen for instruments and an 8.3-inch screen controlled by the MMI terminal in the centre console. A head-up display system is optional. Powertrain options available are four diesel engines with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder available in 150-hp, 163-hp and 190-hp ratings, while a 3.0-litre V-6 achieves 286-hp, as well as a gasoline turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine developing 252-hp. Transmission options are dependent on engine specification but include six-speed manual, seven speed dual clutch or eight-speed automatic, while both front-wheel- and four-wheel drive are also both available. This model is also now available with air springs which can offer two settings of comfort or dynamic control, as well as five height level settings. As well as a new electromechanical power steering, dynamic steering option is also available. A large range of safety, connectivity and comfort equipment will also be offered on this model.
Outlook and implicationsAlthough the Volkswagen (VW) brand's reveal of the I.D. concept has heavily dominated the news cycle of the event, the announcements made by OEMs subsequently should not be overlooked. Indeed, many of the concepts on display show facets of the growth areas that these businesses will be exploring. Indeed, this will go hand in hand with some general reshaping of their businesses to reflect this. During the past 48 hours VW, PSA and Daimler have all announced they will be establishing brands or sub-brands under which new mobility options will be bundled under. Indeed, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche revealed that the strategic orientation of Mercedes-Benz Cars for the future will be brought together under "CASE", which stands for the four pillars on to which the company will be built: Connected, Autonomous, Shared & Service and Electric Drive. To underline its determination in this area, this will be a new, standalone legal entity aimed at achieving progress effectively at a greater speed. Even so, while automakers are presenting a utopian view of how people will move, but also new ways to make a vehicle even more integral to one's lifestyle, as we have seen with the move towards electrification, the uptake of such services may be something that takes time to win customers over.
In the shorter term, there have also been plenty of upgrades announced in terms of existing battery electric vehicles. A range of 300km appears to be the magic number to be surpassed with the BMW i3 and VW e-Golf both now set to hit this mark, while Renault's Zoe will now be offered with a battery that will enable it to travel 400km before recharging. However, by far the leader at the event is Opel with its Ampera-e - the European-badged sibling of the Chevrolet Bolt - that the automaker says will reach 500km on the New European Drive Cycle (NEDC) test and estimates will achieve 380km on the tougher Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) cycle. The question now is whether this step up will mean that more customers will make the switch than already have done. Nevertheless, IHS Automotive anticipates that the share of registrations for vehicles with some degree of electrification in the EU will continue to grow. However, the tipping point for growth is expected to be around 2019-20 as automakers launch more vehicles to meet the stricter fleet emissions regulations due to come into force in 2021. Even so, we still expect EVs to make up a fraction of the market by the end of our forecast, with demand for hybrids also growing strongly.
In terms of the production models that have been revealed, the new Audi Q5 and Nissan Micra will reach out to vastly different customers but are no less important to their respective OEMs. The new Q5 will leave Audi's Ingolstadt (Germany) headquarters to be produced in a new San Jose Chiapa (Mexico) plant that opens today (30 September), alongside existing manufacturing locations in Changchun (China) and Shendra (India). IHS Automotive anticipates that global sales of this new-generation vehicle will peak in 2018 at almost 275,000 units, which would be a slightly stronger performance than the first generation's peak. Of this total, around 46% will be sold in Greater China, 23% sold in North America and 22% in EU+EFTA. As for the Micra - to be known as March in some global markets - it will again be built at sites at Resende (Brazil), Guangzhou (China), Oragadam (India), Agualiscalientes (Mexico) and San Yi (Taiwan), alongside production at Flins. We anticipate that peak sales of the Micra/March will stand at 233,000 units by 2020, although registrations in EU+EFTA will peak at around 100,000 units during 2018. Other key markets for this model will be North America, South America, India and China later in its life.
About this article
The above article is from IHS Automotive Same-Day Analysis of automotive news, events and trends, and is a deliverable of the World Markets Automotive Service. The service averages thirty stories per day and also provides competitor and country intelligence. Get a free trial.