2010 Formula One Launches – F1 Livery Design Comparison
January 25th, 2010
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There is only a month before the Formula 1 begins the 2010 season. As the teams begin their launches lets have a go at comparing the designs of both the car and its skin!
Mercedes GP MGP W01
Although McLaren may have a silver/satin chrome car, Mercedes have opted for a white silver - this would make sense drawing from the 'Silver arrows' but also its former Brawn GP car. See some ideas from the Red Bull car of 2009?
Ferrari F10
Ferrari are the first team to release images of their 2010 car. Comparing to the cars in the last couple of years, there is an increasing amount of white on the car. This trend can also be seen on their uniforms over the past few years. I'm not sure why they revisiting their white and red theme of 2002-2005, but perhaps it has something to do with Schumacher? Note the ridges over the nose of the car, similar to the RedBull of 2009.
McLaren MP4-25
Although the colors and livery on the mp425 are very similar to the car of 2009, there are major changes to the form of the body. Most obvious is the anvil tail that has featured in some cars throughout the past couple of years. Other changes include the exhaust area that is turned out more to the side and a simplified rear wing.
Sauber C29
We almost lost Sauber. Featuring a white body with masses of black, this could just be a preliminary color scheme. Gone is the flat nose of the 2009 Sauber, that seems more traditional. Like the McLaren, the Sauber has a anvil fin engine cover. Lets hope they will also get soem sponsors on there too.
Renault R30
With a color scheme that resembles what they did for the 30th anniversary tribute, this bold car only carries a few sponsors from last year. Sporting the anvil fin, this supports the trend that only Ferrari and Mercedes have done without. Looks like a tiger...grr!
Williams FW32
Although with a similar color scheme to last years car, there is a notable lack of sponsors. In form, second trend that has developed are the ridges along its nose, albeit very subtle in the example of the Williams.
Torro Rosso STR5
Parting ways from the design support of its big brother, Red Bull Racing, this will be Torro Rosso's first attempt at its own chassis. This car, with predominantly Red Bull sponsors, surprisingly has intricate design solutions. The rear end plates and rear wing is the most unique.
Virgin Racing VR-01
The first of the 'new'teams to launch their car, Virgin F1 have been promoting their method of digital and virtual car design. Generally speaking this car seems pretty simple with a clean form that could be said lacks refinement and detail of the more established cars. It will be good to see a new set of colors on the track featuring graphical ornate flourishes on them...colors are a bit prodrive anyone?
2010 Maruti Suzuki R3 MPV Concept Twittique – A quick design review
January 6th, 2010
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Suzuki – through one of their research and development divisions in India, have come up with a compact MPV concept thought to be in preparation for the Delhi motor show, called the R3.
Rightly so, there is a trend in trying to make potentially dull cars (like vans and MPVs) to be dynamically styled. In Suzuki’s attempt there are many lines along the body side that emphasize this directional movement. The most interesting is the in the belt line of the car that uses light catching on the rear to contrast heavily with the dark shadow just behind the front wheel arch. Interesting DLO frame treatments that are sympathetic to the lower half of the doors create that conceptual interest that I would love to see in production.
Dramatic lines bring movement to the design
Themes of glass (represented in black) are strongly reinforced with the large opening on the rear backlight and are all connected with the sides and front with the sky lights on the roof. This results in a ‘light’ appearance on a car that could otherwise be heavy due to large areas of color.
A secondary theme that is perhaps more cohesive in the interior is the satin finished metal work. Hints that appear on the front, and streak though the body side are fed through the console with a vein-like functionality.
Clever use of satin chrome and black help reduce the visual weight of this type of car
Deliberate techniques of visual mass reduction make this a successful concept with clever uses of non-color (inside as black surfaces, and outside as glass). As a result this compact MPV, the R3, is far from static and heavy looking. I hope they put this one into production!
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