Geneva offered a great variety of show cars this year, with everything from the very familial Renault Scenic to the powerful Bugatti Chiron and the innovative Opel Mokka, and niche vehicles like the Land Rover Cabriolet. Crossovers are really hotting up, with production intros from VW, Audi, Opel, Toyota, and a Subaru concept. And there were vehicles that would have seemed inconceivable just a few years ago—the Bentley Bentayga slated for U.S. sale this spring, and the Maserati Levante SUV appearing this week.
Many interesting new cars were presented, including Audi’s Q2, the Mercedes GLC Coupé, the Toyota C-HR, Seat’s Ateca, Peugeot 2008, and models from Kia, Subaru, Skoda, Jaguar, and more.
4 Takeaway points at the Geneva Auto Show
About lighting, with the general message about the shift to digital emphasised by the Mercedes E-Class, the four takeaway points DVN immediately retain from their visit are :
1. Decreasing headlamp height, especially on concept cars
2. DRL is a main function, now, no longer an ancillary add-on
3. Lighting to advertise technology content of the car as a whole
4. Strong visual signature by dint of rear light styling
As can be seen in this report, there’s new and exciting lighting on everything from small eco-cars to giant SUVs. The importance of lighting continues ramping up in advertising the overall technology and sophistication of a vehicle and its family ties and brand identity, and in projecting design themes to inspire emotional reactions.