China media in-depth dialogue with Tesla designers! Mars pickup truck used to refer to fighter planes.

Author? |? Jeanne

Editor? |? Han Xiao

When it comes to the automotive industry, Tesla is definitely an unavoidable topic.

In the three mainstream markets of China, the United States and Europe, Tesla's models are not only the champion of electric vehicle sales, but also threaten some luxury brand fuel models with the same price.

Behind the success, there are not only the world's leading electric drive system and automatic driving function, but also Tesla's unique appearance and interior design.

Models? When the S came out, the large central control panel of 15.6 inches laid the basic style of smart cars. Models? X's electric eagle wing door can still cause onlookers in the street; Models? 3 minimalist style redefines the interior of the car; ? Cybertruck electric pickup truck let many people see it directly …

For Tesla's design, some people scoff, thinking that it does not conform to the traditional car aesthetics, is too simple or alternative. But many people think that Tesla's design is synonymous with technology, electricity, future and intelligence.

Domestic media and Flantz? Feng? Holzer Hausen Telecommunication.

So what does Tesla think of the design problem? Models? X's eagle wing door, model? What are the considerations behind the minimalist interior and the subversive appearance of Cybertruck? How will self-driving cars affect car design?

A few days ago, Che Dongxi was invited to Beijing Tesla Wangjing Center to meet with Tesla's chief designer Franz in the form of video conference. Feng? Holzer Hausen exchanged ideas and found the answers to these questions.

1. Has autonomous driving changed the car design? Car machine is the core of interior decoration.

Models? 3 The instrument panel, air outlet knob and almost all central control buttons are cancelled, which looks very simple and even dismissed as "simple" by some people. So what is the reason behind this?

"Model? 3 has deliberately got rid of the concept of traditional cockpit. " Franz said.

Tesla Chief Designer Flantz? Feng? Holzer Hausen

He said that Tesla believes that autonomous driving is the future trend, so he is designing a model? At 3 o'clock, the interior design style also needs to be changed, to be innovative, to be more efficient and to have a better in-car experience.

In his view, human beings are currently undergoing a transition from manual driving to automatic driving. Autopilot technology will not only change people's lifestyle, but also change the interior design of cars.

Because when people stop driving, they don't need to control various buttons themselves. Conversely, I hope there is no steering wheel and other hardware in the car, so there is more space. I hope I can interact more through the screen, listen to music or do other things, such as work, brush social media or play games.

It is based on this understanding that he preached that "the car infotainment system is the most critical thing in the car, and others don't have to be so presumptuous."

In the end, what the outside world sees is a model? Cancel the buttons, chrome-plated metal or other hardware on the traditional car and focus on a large-size car machine.

Models? 3' s interior core is the central control panel.

This has three advantages. First of all, it saves other hardware and makes the car feel more space. The second is to let users focus on the automotive system, especially after the arrival of the era of autonomous driving. Thirdly, with the continuous upgrading of the automobile system, the interior design is never out of date, the interactive experience is getting better and better, and there are more and more functions.

In the dialogue, he also stressed, "Model? 3 The current automatic assisted driving system is very close to fully automatic driving. " 、"? I have two children, and I am thinking that they will. They won't drive unless they want to. "

Another interesting detail is that car companies in China attach great importance to in-car voice interaction, so some media asked Flantz if he had any new plans for voice interaction.

He made it clear that "the feedback I heard was that I could do better in interaction."

The implication is that Tesla's voice interaction system still has room for improvement.

Second, cancel the dashboard to reduce costs? Unmanned vehicles are still beautiful.

In the era of smart cars, the car-machine system is the key, which has been recognized by many car companies. The screens of new factory models are not only bigger and bigger, but also more and more.

So how does Tesla view the current multi-screen trend?

Franz said, model? In addition to the large central control panel, both S/X models are equipped with full LCD instruments, which can provide drivers with a good in-vehicle entertainment experience.

Models? X interior has two screens.

But Tesla's goal is to promote the popularity of pure electric vehicles, and more people need to be able to afford electric vehicles, so it is necessary to reduce the price by reducing costs. So models? Finally, a full LCD instrument is omitted, and a large screen is used as an instrument and an infotainment screen.

In addition to Tesla, many car companies and technology companies have * * * knowledge, that is, after the arrival of the era of autonomous driving, cars will become a mobile space, and people's main activities will become work, entertainment, social and other scenes when riding cars.

Under this cognition, the car will be changed into the shape of a square box, thus providing the interior space to the maximum extent. For example, Toyota's e-Palette and GM Origin are two unmanned concept cars with the same shape.

The Origin (right) of GM Cruise's completely driverless car is a square box.

This also means that the current SUV, MPV, cars, sports cars and other car forms will gradually disappear.

In this regard, Franz did not agree.

He said that history has proved that human beings always want to have attractive products, especially products that can arouse people's voices and realize personalized expression. So cars are the same. Even in the era of driverless driving, they still need to be beautiful and attractive.

"The last thing we want to do is a car like a bubble. Everyone looks the same and has no personality. " Franz said this.

Third, Mars pickup truck first considers durability? China R&D Center is under construction.

If you say model? S, model? X and model? 3 If the three models break people's cognition of automobile design, then the Cybertruck released at the end of 20 19 completely subverts people's cognition of automobiles.

Just like its Cyberpunk-style name, after its release, no one thought that this car belonged to the earth, but should come from Mars, so some people nicknamed it "Mars pickup truck".

Cyber truck

Cars have always been curious: how did Tesla come up with the idea of making electric pickup trucks like this? Why didn't it continue the design language of previous models?

According to Franz, Tesla began to consider making electric pickup trucks very early, after a series of consideration and analysis.

At the beginning of the conception, they thought that traditional car companies such as Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Dodge were very strong in the pickup market, and it was difficult for Tesla to enter the market.

But there are also opportunities, that is, the existing pickup truck models have not changed for 50 or 60 years, which is very traditional. If Tesla can break away from convention and create a brand-new pickup style with unique ideas, it will win.

However, it should be noted that Franz's unconventional innovation here is not for the sake of innovation. For example, in the research and development process, Musk insisted that "the attributes of pickup trucks that people want should be preserved, and then it should be turned into a mass-produced and very unique solution."

In Franz's view, the attributes of the so-called pickup truck, in addition to maintaining a container to pull goods, have strong enough traction ability, but also very strong, durable and even rough, and can cope with various problems.

Although the existing pickup truck has some of the above attributes, the paint or surface of the car body is very fragile, so Tesla wants to build a pickup truck with a very durable appearance, even a car that cannot be damaged.

Franz hit Cybertruck's car door with a hammer to show its firmness.

Based on this consideration, Franz and the team found a stainless steel material, which can meet the requirements of durability, but it also brings a problem, that is, stainless steel is difficult to form and design complex shapes.

So Tesla thought about how to design the simplest appearance, and even looked for inspiration from the design of other models, vehicles and even fighters, and finally designed this triangle-shaped product.

The innovation of materials and shapes will bring certain risks-consumers may not accept this maverick design style, but Franz also stressed that Musk actually insists on innovation in the research and development process, supporting the team to use new materials and try to innovate.

Franz actually understands the impact of Cybertruck's appearance.

He said that when consumers see this car for the first time, they may not necessarily say that it is beautiful, but they will definitely find it unique and attractive, and they are willing to take a good look at what this car is all about.

In terms of market, although the United States is the largest pickup truck market in the world, Franz said that at the beginning of the design, it was not aimed at a specific market, but hoped that this car would go global.

At the same time, he also emphasized the importance of the China market. Tesla's goal is to do styling design and engineering design in China, and is preparing for the R&D center in China. It hopes to recruit excellent design and engineering talents from China, capture the feelings and needs of the China market, design new cars in China that meet the needs of China, and even export them to the world.

Finally, to sum up, after talking with Flantz, the most obvious feeling about cars is that Tesla is really a completely maverick, innovative and adventurous person. Facing the trend of intelligence and electrification, it breaks through the existing automobile design tradition and defines the key design language of intelligent electric vehicles. On the electric pickup, go further. In order to achieve the purpose of durability, it is better to make the vehicle a "rover".

Of course, I am also willing to bear the risks brought by maverick. However, in terms of sales volume and market value, Tesla's innovative and adventurous spirit has been greatly recognized and rewarded.

This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.