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BMW

BMW ART MAKERS: INSOLARE by artist Eva Nielsen and curator Marianne Derrien at Paris Photo 2023. BMW France is the official partner of the fair and presents this year’s winning project.

  • The BMW ART MAKERS program supports an artist-curator duo each year in creating an experimental visual arts project.
  • The winners of 2023, Eva Nielsen and Marianne Derrien, present their project INSOLARE.
  • Eva Nielsen was selected by Fiona Rogers, curator of the Elles x Paris Photo program, which promotes women photographers, launched by the French Ministry of Culture.
  • BMW France, a partner of Paris Photo and the VIP program for 21 years, provides the fair with a fleet of electric cars for transportation.
  • The BMW ART MAKERS program goes beyond by considering the impact of the territory on the exhibition, with an exploration of human activity’s impact on landscapes and a recyclable scenography, aligning with BMW Group’s environmental and circular strategy.

Paris. BMW Group has been a major supporter of culture for fifty years, contributing to the arts and knowledge dissemination through partnerships like the long-standing one with Paris Photo. BMW France supports the VIP program and provides a fleet of electric cars for transportation. The BMW ART MAKERS program supports an artistic project and exhibition curated by an artist-curator duo each year.

The INSOLARE exhibition presented by the BMW ART MAKERS winning duo.
The INSOLARE project is a collaboration between artist Eva Nielsen and curator Marianne Derrien specifically conceived for Rencontres d’Arles and Paris Photo, in which BMW is an official partner. Their poetic and scientific approach questions time and the changes in urban and Camargue landscapes. The project highlights the environmental changes leading to the disappearance of certain urban, industrial, and natural landscapes, constantly raising concerns about the human impact.

Eva Nielsen focuses on geographical and geological changes, a subject rarely explored by women artists. She took numerous photographs during her visits to the Camargue, which were then printed on curtains and transparent paper and re-photographed, superimposed on new samples from the Camargue. Through this process and the use of various materials and media such as photography, silkscreen, painting, veils, and fabrics, the images are overlaid and hybridized, creating a form of transfiguration. Nielsen sees her work as a topographer, bringing forth a “state of awareness” regarding the reality of a territory, its architecture, and environment. INSOLARE reflects the changing urban and industrial landscape of the Camargue.

Marianne Derrien, the winning curator, explains that in INSOLARE, Eva Nielsen explores climatic and geological phenomena that resurface as spectres of rural and industrial reality. Her road trip routes intersect with the territories leading to Arles, where the Camargue begins. The artist creates visual confusion, interweaving photography, silkscreen, and painting. Instead of official cartography, her subjective geography unfolds through the paths she takes. The accumulation of these solar and liquid landscapes forms a horizon of experience, where the feminine perspective connects the body and water. Nielsen and Derrien have designed a scenography that minimizes the project’s environmental impact.

Reusable and recyclable scenography
The scenography aims to address environmental and cultural heritage preservation. Aligned with BMW Group’s circular strategy, the exhibition aims to minimize the production and use of materials. Self-supporting metal structures have replaced traditional picture rails and are designed for reuse at the Paris Photo edition in November after Rencontres d’Arles.

“The BMW ART MAKERS program reflects BMW Group’s commitment to culture and society. From concept to exhibition, the INSOLARE project intertwines territory, ecology, and a feminine perspective, offering an original vision of the Camargue. The project’s reusable scenography echoes BMW Group’s environmental and circular strategy,” comments Maryse Bataillard, Head of Corporate Communications and CSR BMW Group France.

According to Florence Bourgeois, Director of Paris Photo, their 21-year partnership with BMW demonstrates strong support for artists. The BMW ART MAKERS sponsorship program provides remarkable support for creativity by showcasing an artist-curator duo each year. They are proud to feature the INSOLARE project by Eva Nielsen and Marianne Derrien at the 26th edition of Paris Photo, held at the Grand Palais Ephémère from November 9 to 12, 2023.

For more information, visit BMW (parisphoto.com).

Since 2022, BMW Group France has also been an official partner of the Cannes Film Festival and Paris + by Art Basel.

Stay updated and gain deeper insights into BMW Group’s global cultural engagement by following their Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.

VauxhallUk

VAUXHALL EXPERIMENTAL GIVES CLEAR VISION OF FUTURE OF THE BRAND

  • Progressive British: Vauxhall Experimental embodies three brand pillars
  • Bold and Pure: Next chapter of Vauxhall design philosophy with 4D Vauxhall Vizor
  • Painting with light: Electrochromic fabrics immerse occupants in atmospheric light

Vauxhall has unveiled its stunning new concept car, the Vauxhall Experimental, which provides a glimpse into the future of the brand. With a modern exterior design, this concept car showcases where Vauxhall is headed in the coming years.

Notable features of the Vauxhall Experimental include cutting-edge aero-efficiency technologies, a spacious and illuminated interior with lightweight seats, and an advanced head-up display. The battery-electric crossover will make its world premiere at the IAA Mobility event in Munich in September 2023, where it will introduce Vauxhall’s vision for sustainable individual mobility to a new audience.

According to Vauxhall Managing Director James Taylor, “The Vauxhall Experimental provides a glimpse of upcoming models and technologies, the future design, and a new era for the brand. This concept car represents Vauxhall’s pioneering spirit.” Mark Adams, Vice President Design, adds, “Our new Vauxhall Experimental presents an extreme interpretation of our Bold and Pure design philosophy. It embodies our vision for the future, and many elements of its design will be visible in future production vehicles. The exterior design combines optimized aerodynamics with a stunning silhouette, while the interior offers an immersive and emotional user experience.”

The sleek silhouette of the Vauxhall Experimental stands out with its absence of chrome. Instead, the concept car features exterior lighting and bold contrasting graphics that add personality and sophistication to its already impressive proportions. The battery-electric crossover is based on a state-of-the-art Stellantis BEV platform and is equipped with electric all-wheel drive. The design showcases a bold and pure aesthetic with clean surfacing and sharp, muscular wheel-arch blisters that emphasize its confident stance. Traditional wing mirrors have been replaced with fully integrated 180-degree cameras on the C-pillars.

At the front, the illuminated Vauxhall Griffin sits proudly at the center of the signature Vauxhall Compass, which represents the guiding element of Vauxhall’s design philosophy. The elongated wing signature lighting on the horizontal axis and the illuminated center crease add further drama to the front of the vehicle. Similar lighting elements are repeated at the rear, with the distinctive compass signature braking light created using edge lighting technology and sophisticated glass transparency. The rear also features bold Vauxhall lettering instead of the Griffin logo. Surrounding the front compass is the next generation 4D Vauxhall Vizor, which includes advanced sight technologies such as sensors, lidar, radar, and camera systems.

The Vauxhall Experimental incorporates clever aero solutions and offers a spacious interior through its “space detox” approach. Aero-flaps at the front and rear, as well as a rear end diffuser, enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The tires, developed in cooperation with Goodyear, are made from recycled rubber and sit on 3-zone Ronal wheels with an active feature that increases aerodynamic efficiency. Inside the concept car, the steering wheel folds away seamlessly when not in use, thanks to the steer-by-wire system that eliminates mechanical steering components. Lightweight adaptive seats with 3D mesh-technology fabrics contribute to the liberation of space inside the vehicle.

The Vauxhall Experimental also offers the Pure Experience and Pure Pad, providing a pleasurable driving experience. The slim Tech Bridge replaces conventional screens and uses augmented projection technology supported by artificial intelligence and natural voice control. The floating, transparent Pure Pad allows drivers to configure controls according to their preferences, providing instant access to frequently used features.

In addition to embodying Vauxhall’s brand pillars of Detox, Progressive British, Green Technology, and Innovation, the Vauxhall Experimental takes a step further by expressing the brand’s emotional approach to sustainable mobility. Electrochromic fabrics create an atmospheric light within the vehicle, enhancing the well-being of occupants. These reactive fabrics also have functional attributes, such as displaying warnings when a vehicle enters the blind spot, providing additional safety for occupants and other road users.

The Vauxhall Experimental continues the tradition of concept cars, which started in 1966 with the XVR Concept. It showcases a clear vision for the brand’s future.

News

Radical EV sports coupe showcases Vauxhall’s future vision

The Vauxhall Experimental offers a glimpse into the future of Vauxhall, with its distinctive design and innovative features. Inside the vehicle, there is a noticeable departure from the current Vauxhall models. The cabin design is bold and exaggerated, giving us a clear idea of what Vauxhall’s future priorities will be. One striking feature is the replacement of all screens with holographic interfaces. Additionally, the head-up display projections stretch across the entire width of the windscreen, creating an immersive experience and transforming the interior.

Vauxhall Experimental concept dashboard

The control of critical functions is done through a panel of buttons on the centre console, while infotainment can be operated through gestures and voice commands.

Interestingly, the sat-nav system does not display arrows on the head-up display. Instead, it enters a mixed-reality mode where the driver is virtually guided by the Opel Manta GSe Elektromod, a reference to Vauxhall’s plan to revive the Manta name for a coupe-SUV in 2025.

The interior is adorned with white electrochromic fabric, which is a combination of textile fibers and thin LED strands. Any surface that uses this material, including the dashboard, seats, and door cards, can be illuminated in various colors, allowing for greater personalization. Vauxhall could potentially manufacture cars with a single interior color at the factory, leaving the choice of color up to the driver.

The Experimental concept also hints at Vauxhall’s future goal of offering self-driving capabilities. When the computer takes control, the steering wheel folds into the dashboard. The concept’s smart-glass windows could also become opaque during self-driving mode, creating a more relaxed and lounge-like environment. However, the technology required for such features is still years away.

Motorsport

Opel Experimental Concept EV Unveiled, Featuring Foldable Steering Wheel

The Opel Experimental battery-powered crossover concept car has been revealed by Opel, the German brand under Stellantis. This concept car showcases the design and potential technological integration for future production vehicles.

The Experimental EV is built on the state-of-the-art Stellantis BEV platform, which is speculated to be the STLA platform. It will make its public debut at the IAA Mobility show in Munich in September.

With dimensions similar to the European C segment, the Experimental EV is expected to be smaller than the Tesla Model Y but close in size to the upcoming Opel Grandland all-electric crossover. The Experimental EV features an all-wheel drive and a steer-by-wire system that allows the steering wheel to be folded away when not in use.

“The Opel Experimental gives a glimpse of upcoming models and technologies, of future design, yes, of a new era and the future of the brand. This breathtaking concept vehicle points our way forward and once again shows Opel’s pioneering spirit,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl.

Opel highlights the absence of chrome in the Experimental EV’s design, which is replaced by lighting elements and bold graphics, emphasizing the crossover’s proportions. The front features an illuminated Opel Blitz and the brand’s signature compass, while sleek tail lights complement the futuristic appearance at the rear.

The Experimental EV includes air flaps at the front and rear, as well as a retractable rear diffuser to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. Additionally, the tires, developed in collaboration with Goodyear, are made from recycled rubber and sit on three-zone Ronal wheels with an aero design for improved efficiency.

Opel Experimental (2023)

Opel Experimental interior sketch

Opel Experimental (2023)

Opel Experimental rear

“Our new Opel Experimental shows a more technical and even more pointed interpretation of our bold and clear design philosophy. With it, our vision of the future takes shape. Many of its design elements and the underlying philosophy will be reflected in future production models. The body design combines the best aerodynamics with an unmistakable silhouette. And the interior conveys an intense, emotional user experience,” said Opel design chief Mark Adams.

The Experimental EV’s exterior design bears resemblance to the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE, another vehicle based on the STLA platform. However, the Opel Experimental is larger than the Lancia concept.

Inside the car, Opel emphasizes the spaciousness achieved in the cabin, comparable to a D-segment vehicle, thanks to the Space Detox concept. This concept includes lightweight seats, a retractable steering wheel, and the elimination of non-essential elements, providing an interior that feels roomier than its actual size.

Instead of traditional screens, the Experimental EV features an augmented reality projection system that displays information and entertainment above the dashboard. Traditional side mirrors have been replaced by fully integrated 180-degree cameras housed in the C-pillars.

Specific details about power, battery capacity, and range have not been disclosed since the Experimental EV is a concept car. However, these aspects will be crucial for the success of the future production vehicles based on the Opel Experimental when they enter the market.

VauxhallUk

FIRST GLIMPSE OF STUNNING NEW VAUXHALL EXPERIMENTAL

  • Forward looking: Vauxhall Experimental gives an insight into the future of the brand
  • Attention to detail: Flush body surfacing, aero-efficiency and resource-conserving

After revealing the name of its upcoming concept car as the Vauxhall Experimental just last week, the British brand has now offered a tantalizing preview of the design study by releasing first images of the vehicle. The photographs reveal the extreme precision and high attention to detail of the Vauxhall Experimental, which will show the future of the Vauxhall brand with its more technical and extreme interpretation of the Bold and Pure design philosophy.

“The Vauxhall Experimental marks the start of a new chapter for our brand. It was designed to provide a tangible vision of where the Vauxhall brand is heading. We will be revealing more details soon – so stay tuned,” said Mark Adams, Vice-President, Design, Vauxhall.

One of the most eye-catching features teased by the images is the further development of the Compass, the guiding element of Vauxhall’s design philosophy. The illuminated Vauxhall Griffin sits confidently at the center of the compass in a new iteration of the Vauxhall Vizor, the brand’s characteristic front fascia and technology hub. It is flanked by the elongated wing signature lighting on the horizontal axis while the illuminated center crease adds further drama. A distinctive red-light graphic on flush body surfacing, devoid of unnecessary shut lines, suggests the repetition of the compass at the rear of the Vauxhall Experimental.

Elsewhere, aerodynamic efficiency has long been a hallmark of Vauxhall passenger cars and the vane-like construction of the eye-catching wheels indicate that the Vauxhall Experimental will also share this attribute. The futuristic cues are continued on the interior with the profiled seat structure hinting at a sustainable, resource-conserving approach to the ergonomic seats that are typical for Vauxhall vehicles.

The Vauxhall Experimental will celebrate its world premiere at this year’s IAA Mobility in Munich (5 to 10 September 2023).

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