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Different brands, different perspectives

When you picture an Opel/Vauxhall car, it is highly unlikely that “great interior design” springs to mind. On the other hand Saab’s conjure up all sorts of desirable images. So maybe teaming up the design teams has helped add a bit of finesse to Opel/Vauxhall’s future cabins, says Nargess Shahmanesh-Banks.

The Zafira 'democratic' interior is represents Opel/Vauxhall's identity
It's the little nuances such as the airplane handle that make the 9-3 SportCombi a Saab

The highlight on the General Motor’s stand at Geneva was no doubt the second-generation Zafira. The mini MPV is the bread and butter of Opel/Vauxhall and the redesigned model introduces some pretty daring design features that will hopefully see more daylight in future Opel/Vauxhall cars. Michael Pickstone, GM Europe’s design director for interiors is optimistic.

“There has been a real emphasis on interior quality, as well materials fit and finish which has been building up in the last three years. Now we have to introduce more dynamics into the interior,” he reveals. Pickstone should know a thing or two about the company since he’s been there since 1992.

“The Zafira has a certain warmth and harmony,” says the designer. Although some focus is placed on the driver, there is also an aspect of looking after the other passengers’ perspective inside the car. This, Pickstone believes is very much an Opel/Vauxhall trait. Whereas Saab’s cabin is purely driver focused, GME’s volume brand tries to share the space more democratically. “Opel has a very dominant centre consol area where it focuses on putting the display very high allowing everyone in the car to share that but with a new dynamic around the driver.”

“On the Zafira, I think, it is a very nice combination. It has a higher shift position and a lot of ergonomic changes to the previous vehicle. The interior has made a tremendous difference. It has a certain welcoming feeling about it and in this category it is the best in its class,” he says.

Pickstone believes that Opel/Vauxhall interiors are a mixture between a sense of precision and the feeling of warmth and welcoming. “This is something that we have been working a lot on,” he confesses. “We take steps every year to improve on quality. Obviously as we diverse into different types of cars, we develop different constraints and different cost constraints. But the objective is to make the customer feel like he has really got something,” he says. “We therefore over deliver and offer more in terms of material quality, finish and attention to detail.”

Pickstone’s job is to also manage the design of future Saab interiors. So far he hasn’t had the chance to try out some of his interpretations of the brand, but he is keen to get started. Where Opel/Vauxhall is familiar and welcoming, Saab has a very driver oriented interior space. “The whole instrument area is all mine,” it shouts. Pickstone explains: “With Saab design matters and there are a lot of very Swedish tunes. We are trying to understand what makes it Swedish. We are trying to see what these ingenious and entertaining functionality are.”

As with many designers, Pickstone is very excited by Saab’s heritage. “The first time I saw the 9-5 cup holder I remember thinking 'what is this stick for'. Then I pushed it, it came out, and presented itself to me. I thought it was so special. That cup holder has such significance as a creative object. It can entertain you, and seduce you,” he says.

To gain access to the additional storage space at the back of the new 9-3 SportCombi, also on display at Geneva, you have to use a handle that is based on an airplane. “The heritage of the Saab brand is the aircraft so instead of a little basic grip that other companies have done, Saab has create a real crafted aeroplane. The function is absolutely there,” says Pickstone. “It makes you smile because someone's really thought about it.

“I think there is something very pure about Saab,” says Pickstone. “You look around you and see that other premium carmakers are starting to get more detailed, more attacking. I think we have come to almost a new era of automotive design, which is a much more responsive. Everyone is getting more reactive.”