Day: Feb 25, 2016

Cutting Corners the VW Way

Recently I ran a small article on the hard edges of public transport design. Sitting in a VW Touran I noticed that someone in Potsdam had been cutting corners too.

2010 VW Touran b-pillar curvature continuity failure
2010 VW Touran b-pillar curvature continuity failure

How did they do that? On this b-pillar trim I noticed that the main fillet had a pronounced shadow before it turned the corner (where the orange arrow is). Sure, it’s not a major part of the car interior and I am probably the first person who ever noticed it. What it does is lend this part at coarse and cold look, precisely akin to the hard edges of a Xerox photocopier from 1986 or that Alstom train interior I showed. Continue reading “Cutting Corners the VW Way”

Reflections On Chrome III

As I walked to the train station I saw this car parked up: the 2016 Kia Ceed.

2016 Kia Ceed. It might be the GT. Anoraks, can you help?
2016 Kia Ceed. It might be the GT. Anoraks, can you help?

Naturally I noticed the brightwork on the window-frame. Then I realised the colour had a daring, cheerful character. And finally, the geometry of the car is very, very good indeed. Judging by the richness of the interior, the owner went down the options list until the biro ran dry. This sort of car is the direct equivalent of a 1985 Ford Capri with the 3.0 litre engine, leather and electric windows. I really liked it. Continue reading “Reflections On Chrome III”