Automotive News Europe - December 2017 - Talk from the Top Supplement - 27

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE

TALK FROM THE TOP

New beginning
How Renault's design boss is preparing for autonomous, connected future

enault is about to begin a new model
cycle, one that will require design
chief Laurens van den Acker to seamlessly integrate a growing variety of new
sensors, screens and other technology
that will be commonplace as vehicles become more autonomous, connected and
electric. Van den Acker, whose five-year
revamp of Renault's design pushed the
French brand to No. 2 in European sales
last year from No. 4 in 2012, will leverage
the latest computer tools, such as virtual
reality, to bring future Renaults to life. He
shared his plans with Automotive News
Europe Correspondent Peter Sigal.
You described the Trezor concept
car, unveiled last fall, as pointing
toward a future styling direction.
What aspects of that will we be
able to see?
It points to a future that will be more
electric, more autonomous, more connected, and it's a first shot at answering these questions. It confirms that we
are putting more emotion into our cars,
something we have done in the first generation through great proportions and
very sensual shapes.
How far out are you looking?
I'm not sure how useful it is to look ahead
more than 10 years. A few years ago, no
one was talking about autonomous cars,
and they have been sprung upon us in a
very short time, which shows that new
technologies are coming at us faster
than we can predict.
What new tools are you using?
What you are seeing in the design studios is more virtual reality systems used
for anything from exteriors to interiors.
We are experimenting with VR for marketing clinics, for product reviews, even
communicating with our design studios. Digital tools are becoming even
more important.
What can we expect with the next
cycle of Renault cars?
The generation of vehicles that started
with the Clio in 2012 has been relatively
successful in terms of design. We're
seeing that design has become the No.

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1 reason for purchase. We can build
on the success of the first generation
but adapt it to the new needs of a fastchanging world. We have established a
strong frontal identity for our models.
Now we need to add a new layer of technological advances.
What future design trends do you see?
The biggest innovations will happen in
the interior. With more screens in use,
you will see lighting becoming much
more important. One thing we are going to struggle with is, if you don't drive
any more, what do you do in your car?
Do you read, do you work, do you play,
and if so, do you want a little bit more
space, do you want to cross your legs,
do you want to move, do you want to
turn around? We will have to find new
ways to integrate the new technology
that will be placed around the car.
What are some of the challenges?
Currently, the thinking is that we need to
add somewhere between 25 and 30 sensors and cameras to make a car completely aware of its environment. How on
earth do we integrate this in a way that
is appetizing? Do you show off the technology to show everybody that
you have it, or do you hide it?
Meet the
There might be some need to
indicate that a car is driving in
design boss
autonomous mode, so how do
❚ N
AME: Laurens van
you signal that to the drivers
den
Acker
around you?
❚ T
ITLE: Renault Group
How do you design for interSenior
Vice President
national markets?
Corporate Design
It's important to have a strong
❚ AGE: 52
point of view as a brand, because people want to buy you
❚ M
AIN CHALLENGE:
for a reason, but you need
Duplicating the
to respect the customers in
success of his first
their specific regions. France
Renault model cycle.
is a country that seduces people, so our cars need to be
but you're not buying a compromise.
seductive and warm because
we are a Latin brand. You also see the We put a seven-inch touchscreen in
French aspect in a love for innovation. the Kwid because in emerging markets
In the international market, you see it buyers want to belong to the rest of
in the Kwid [small crossover] -- it's an the world. They have the same aspiraextremely affordable car for us, but not tions as you and I, they just don't have
for people in India. It's aspirational, the same purchasing power. ANE

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