Like boy bands within the Nineties, there’s one other new Chinese language automotive model aiming to interrupt out with its personal distinctive feel and appear. And that’s Lepas, a fashion-focused, luxurious model from the Chery group.
On account of launch in Australia later this yr with a variety of vivid family-friendly SUVs, beginning with the spacious L8 five-seat plug-in hybrid, Lepas is positioned above the mainstream Chery model however alongside its different spin-off marques, Omoda and Jaecoo, with a extra ‘elegant’ vibe.
Earlier than then, and to get the low-down on Lepas, we had an unique chat with its chief designer, Ivan Dulanovic, a graduate of one of the crucial prestigious automotive design faculties on the planet, who has helped create among the most fascinating machines on the planet.
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To begin with, what impressed you to turn out to be an automotive designer? Have you ever all the time liked vehicles?
Sure, I’ve all the time been taken with vehicles. Which is why I studied for a masters of transportation at Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan, Italy, which is a really outstanding college for automotive design.
Throughout my research, I had the pleasure to work very carefully with Lamborghini, Audi and Italdesign, which was essential in a while as a result of, after I graduated, I joined Italdesign below Filippo Perini who was the man behind the legendary Lamborghini Aventador and Huracan.
Throughout my time at Italdesign, I labored on the Nissan GT-R by Italdesign, and the very unique Zerouno, in addition to a few initiatives with Lamborghini, and a collaboration with Volkswagen on the Transporter.
So, I had the pleasure to study loads of methods in passionate Italian automobile design from him. And I believe that’s essential at the moment, as a result of we’re on this day and time the place eclecticism, I consider, is essential.
Later, and earlier than coming to China, I work with Hongqi on the H9 government automobile.
Now, what I wish to do is contain and blend the passionate tradition of Italy with the very environment friendly Chinese language approach to create a really emotional and profitable automobile.
As a designer, what do you begin with – a product transient or your personal sketches and concepts?
Considered one of my favorite slides that I all the time like to point out is the fast doodles that I used to remodel the stylised half right into a automobile.
As a designer, I all the time like to only take the pencil and sketch and attempt to determine it out, which may be very conventional within the European mind-set.
That’s how I discovered it from a lot of the Italian designers is simply let your creativeness go; Don’t fear about something, simply do a few tons of of sketches and see what comes out. That’s how we begin free kind.
How a lot understanding of engineering does a designer require, as you clearly should combine mechanical parts, laborious factors, and many others –or does that compromise come later within the course of?
I believe engineering is extraordinarily vital. Design can also be extraordinarily vital. And I consider that what is important is a superb collaboration between engineers and designers.
That’s one thing I’m all the time striving to attain between my colleagues and the engineers, as a result of on the finish of the highway what issues most is the standard of the automobile and the way it seems total. That’s the place it’s – the connection between these two groups.
So yeah, in brief, it’s essential for a designer to know the engineering of the automobile.
Whereas Lepas doesn’t but have a devoted electrical car, generally do EVs present extra freedom for designers?
Sure, we’ve got a brand new vitality platform which can permit extra freedom, and we’re engaged on that. So, within the close to future, I’m certain we may have good issues to point out to all of you.
When did you be a part of the Chery Group?
I joined two years in the past. Earlier than that, I used to be with Nice Wall and now I’m very glad to share all of the experiences and tales with Lepas – it’s been nice.
What has stunned you most concerning the Chinese language automotive trade because you’ve been there?
I’ve found how courageous they’re, how environment friendly it’s to create the automobile in such a brief period of time, and making it a profitable challenge.
You realize, having superb gross sales, good high quality and, most significantly, on the cheaper price, that’s all potential. I needed to return right here and to see it with my very own eyes. So, I’m very glad that I made this resolution.
We’re now seeing loads of evolution – relatively than imitation – within the design languages coming from China. Do you suppose that could be a signal of confidence?
Yeah, that is an fascinating subject. However to maintain it quick, I might say that, sure, now we’re seeing designs which can be daring and assured.
But in addition it’s a must to perceive that China – not like Italy, not like France, not like the UK – they don’t have 120 years of expertise within the automotive trade. So, they should create some sort of start line.
They should spend a while creating the pedigree, proper; one thing that France and Italy, they’ve this for a very long time.
So, that is only a pure course of. And as we’re affected person, and as we create extra initiatives, it will see China create its personal DNA, which is simply getting stronger yr by yr.
If you happen to have a look at porcelain as a product of China. Nicely, I believe it is a essential side of the tradition, due to its pure philosophy and the pure vitality. So, we attempt to use porcelain as a reference, as a result of all people recognises porcelain as an opulent product in every single place around the globe, nevertheless it originates from China.
So, that is a method for us to take inspiration from one other, like Western cultures, but in addition utilizing porcelain and mixing all this information.
That’s why I discussed the eclecticism earlier than. I believe that’s a great way for the fashionable design to strategy.
China positively has loads of design heritage that can be utilized on this manner.
Extra particularly on Lepas, the model that you just’re in command of design for, what makes it distinct from the remainder of the group?
The Lepas model was created with the pursuit of magnificence, and its key phrases are Drive Your Class. Or, in different phrases, as we wish to say it, to Grace Life with Brilliance.
So, our core viewers is the group of individuals with a way of magnificence, fashion and trend.
To realize this, we consider that nature is solely the perfect designer on the planet. So, we discover the character of magnificence, pursuing elegant varieties and design vehicles that fulfill customers’ aesthetic wants.
After which within the course of of making this magnificence, we use exact creative methods to construct a harmonious unity of artwork and emotion.
And at last, we consider each creation must also have a spirit. And we’re treating the design of an vehicle as making a religious life and giving it finally the life-like vitality.
All these values, when mixed, carry us to the purest inspiration for the Lepas model, which is the leopard, the proper embodiment of energy in nature.
And so, we discover the character of this excellent animal, and within the technique of pursuing the unity of artwork and emotion, we kind the design id of Lepas, which demonstrates flexibility, magnificence and glamour.
How vital is having a vibrant color palette in defining Lepas?
That’s a great query, as a result of Chery has loads of manufacturers, and we all the time attempt to give them separate identities.
Sooner or later, this shall be lots simpler as a result of now we’ve got methods on how to try this.
With Lepas, for instance, coming from my very own notion, the Lepas is the elegant, easy man – very elegant and charming – the place Tiggo is extra muscular and extra edgy, extra sturdy. After which there’s additionally Jaecoo, which is extra perpendicular, extra sober.
This shall be much more evident to you subsequent yr, or the approaching yr. So, we’re engaged on creating the very visible distinction between all these manufacturers.
Historically for European manufacturers, magnificence means muted tones like silvers and blacks. Do you suppose being vibrant will make a distinction for Lepas?
It’s difficult, as a result of as designers we’ve got visions, however we additionally have to current our concepts, and they should resonate with the individuals in Europe, with the individuals in Indonesia, with the individuals in Center East.
So we all the time have to have some sort of aspect that’s going to guarantee success. So in relation to the perhaps idea vehicles, we’ll all the time attempt to introduce some new supplies. However we additionally must be cautious to not detach ourselves from the extra standard prospects that need to see nonetheless the chrome and the shiny black and all that.
Inside design appears to be a important aspect of the Lepas philosophy. You talked about porcelain as being an inspiration. Are you exploring any new applied sciences, supplies or concepts like porcelain to make Lepas extra distinctive?
Sure, we’re all the time seeking to enhance each inside and exterior design, and I might very warmly invite you to return to our April and October occasions the place we’ll present our new initiatives, the place you’re welcome to see and look the place we’re heading at.
In order that’s the place we’ll declare what’s new and what we’re doing behind the scenes.
It’s an extended course of, however but in China it’s a lot quicker than in different nations. So yeah, there’ll be extra variations, extra superior variations of the Lepas, and particularly the supplies and all that, coming quickly.
In the meanwhile, the Lepas mannequin lineup is solely SUVs. Are you seeking to increase that with extra conventional physique kinds?
Sure, we do, and I actually wish to invite you to future occasions the place we’ve got issues in retailer able to be introduced.
I wouldn’t wish to disclose any of those at this second as I wish to have you ever anticipate the second the place we current the automobile with none preconceptions.
As a designer, I all the time consider that we shouldn’t give any easter eggs out and simply current the automobile in its lovely state.
