Car designs driven by lifestyle needs

By Alastair Doak

IF the automotive industry of the 1980s could be summed up in three words, then "high-tech innovation" would be those words.

Cars such as the Audi 100, with its wind-cheating and trend- setting wedge profile and flush glass and the Audi Quattro, with its permanent all-wheel drive system, are two technological benchmarks of that decade.

High-tech features also filtered down to mass-market models during the 1980s, including antilocking brakes, traction control and air bags.

This decade may only be six years old but it seems innovation through new vehicle concepts will be the stamp of the 1990s.

The first examples of this new way of automotive thinking are already on sale around the world.

Small four-wheel drive wagons such as Toyota's RAV4, the Honda CR-V and Renault's mini people mover, the Scenic, are concepts which, strange as it may sound, are aimed at serving buyers.

While the 1980s gave us high-tech features that made cars faster, safer and more frugal, the 1990s is expected to give us cars that offer more accommodation for both passengers and luggage.

These cars will complement our chosen lifestyles rather than limit them.

They will allow us to carry mountain bikes or surfboards and have seats that can fold flat to provide a bed. Even the spare wheel cover in the CR-V doubles as a picnic table.

To achieve this lifestyle-friendly role, these vehicles, which will come in various shapes and sizes, will combine at least some of the benefits offered by existing wagons, people movers, four- wheel drives and commercial vans.

Obviously these traditional vehicle concepts have been around for years but this new generation of 1990s models take the best features from these established design formulas and builds on them, molding them into a much more sophisticated package.

In the past, these traditional vehicle concepts were compromised by, for example, a lack of refinement, performance or style, which limited their mass-market appeal.

The new concepts, which will build on the technological lessons learned in the 1980s, will offer much higher levels of refinement, usable space, performance and style.

This will be combined with lower fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

The aim is to offer buyers a much larger choice of niche vehicles to better compliment their way of life.

Until now, buyers have been limited to buying a conventional sedan or hatchback, people mover or fuel-guzzling 4WD wagon.

However, these new models will not kill off the traditional sedan or 4WD wagon. Carmakers recognize that there will always be a strong market for these vehicles.

What the new concepts will do is blur the borders between market segments.

Toyota's RAV4 and the Honda CR-V are the first hybrids to combine the advantages of a 4WD -- good visibility, full-time four-wheel drive -- and station wagon practicality and ease of use.

Yet they don't have the ultra-low gears and a heavy transfer case which may not be able to handle serious off-road work.

They can still venture off-road, but because they are lighter and share more components with cars, they behave like cars on road. And that's where most of these vehicles spend most of the time.

The models have been runaway sales successes. The CR-V has exceeded Honda's sales targets in Japan and the RAV4 is also doing well in both Japan and the U.S., where the recreational market (RV)is already in full swing.

Virtually all carmakers are planning to offer similar vehicles. Ford is planning a Mondeo-based midsize model for about 1999 and perhaps a smaller Escort-based version in about 2001.

Even Land Rover has its baby 4WD under development and despite the company's history as a serious off-road company, the new vehicle, code named CB40, will not offer a transfer case and set of low ratios.

Instead, it is tipped to get a six-speed gearbox with one ultra-low gear for more adventurous off-road activities.

Subaru, which offers four-wheel drive in its range of passenger cars has already shown the Impreza-based Streega concept car, and that vehicle will be launched late in 1997 or early in 1998. Again its a direct competitor for the RAV4 and CR- V.

But Subaru is not hanging around waiting for Streega, it has already launched the Outback, a range-topping Liberty wagon.

The Outback has been a sales success in the U.S. It is unusual because it attempts this hybrid 4WD-car mix but unlike its competitors -- and they include vehicles such as the Nissan Terrano -- it is much more a car than a 4WD wagon.

Using a bigger 2500cc four-cylinder engine, the Outback's suspension has been raised to give more ground clearance, its suspension retuned for better off-road performance and its tires given a slightly chunkier tread.

To match these abilities, the Outback features a more macho front-end styling, including built-in driving lights.

The Renault Scenic, which is based on the company's small car, the Megane, is the first of the new generation of wagon/people mover hybrids.

Smaller than the standard people movers, such as Chrysler's Voyager or Renault's Espace, it offers more room for five people or the versatility to fold or remove the rear seat so it can swallow larger amounts of luggage or bicycles. This vehicle also has nine separate cubby holes and includes a power outlet in the luggage area to drive a fridge.

Like the RAV4 and CR-V, the Scenic is the first of this new concept in driving. Mazda is also about to join this arena. It will soon launch a production version of the BU-X, a Suzuki Esteem-sized, one-box similar in style to the Scenic.

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class also fits into this mini people mover segment.

These cars will not only appeal to car buyers in Western markets, where they are expected to become mainstream models, but they will also fit with the automotive industries push into emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and China.

Buyers in these markets are expected to demand a relatively low cost but very practical cars that will seat at least five people.