Niels van Roij sees a positive development
Akio Toyoda exclaimed a few years ago: “No More Boring Cars!” Then the Japanese made it their mission to build high-profile cars. The result, according to car designer Niels van Roij, is exceptionally characterful, but by no means aesthetically refined car designs. Is the bZ4X also drawn without anchoring?
Large parts of the automotive industry have lost their aesthetic calibration. Examples are the Alfa Romeo Tonale, Volkswagen ID7 and BMW i-Vision Dee.
You can determine from a personal point of view whether the designs are ‘beautiful’ or ‘ugly’, great for a summer barbecue. However, they do not link in any way with important automotive design parameters, the correct application of brand DNA and the design preconditions that actually make a car design successful.
Toyoda’s bold statement was followed by the unpleasant-looking Supra with its poor proportions due to the too short wheelbase and huge overhangs. Also afflicted with uncivilized graphics and forced surfacing: calibration was also hard to find here.
With the Aygo X and Prius, the design storm seems to have subsided and the Japanese are unmistakably heading in the right direction. The new generation of Toyotas is recognizable and controlled, a further aesthetic maturity. The Toyota bZ4X is also drawn with a DNA that is a further development of the existing Toyota design concepts and looks more confident and full-fledged.
Toyota Aygo X.
Toyota Corolla.
Toyota bZ4X.
The bZ4X profile is an interesting design statement – noticeably sportier and lower than the competition. Typical Toyota character and with a tasteful touch of Prius in the roofline.
Toyota has given the bZ4X nice surfacing solutions. With unique transitions between the different elements, such as the voluminous movement that starts on the bonnet, runs down under the A-pillar and flows into the doors.
The Japanese influences are crystal clear: the pronounced facial identity, for example, with high-mounted slim headlight units. They create a unique Down The Road Graphic with the ‘hammerhead’ front shape that is now characteristic of Toyota.
Wheel arch profiles with a recognizable outline in contrasting color are filled with large 20-inch wheels that are pushed considerably to the corners of the body.
The duo-tone paint scheme of the exterior has clearly been part of the design process from the start and, although less intriguing than on the Aygo X, is still an integral part of the design. The idea ensures a dynamic profile, because a visually lower roofline, and the emphasis on graphic expressions such as the DLO and surfacing forms.
At the back a newly interpreted Kamm-tail, beautifully integrated into the shape spectrum of the rear light, which effectively emphasizes the width of the body. The tailgate surfacing wraps over the side to next to the rear wheels. The black graphic units drawn towards the wheels under the taillights effectively hide the dividing seam of the bumper. Good find!
Toyota bZ4X drawn with talent
The progressive shape spectrum of the bZ4X is talentedly drawn, with beautiful proportions and good surfacing. The car is sufficiently futuristic to be able to move into the future and not polarizing and avant-garde enough to count on the resistance of the fourth-generation Prius. His manga and transformer-like guise is extremely Japanese and honest about his origins.
The focus on design and the right aesthetic calibration, for improved appeal and sales, has again been strongly executed by Toyota. Toyota’s unique selling point is no longer just legendary reliability. The competition has to keep an eye out.
.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl