On March 5th, the opening day of the Geneva Motor Show 2019, has been an intriguing involving experience that has allowed to encompass past, present and future of a kind of mobility that goes beyond traditional automotive reference points embracing relevant changes characterising the present and the future.
Past, Present and Future on stage
The past has been featured and recalled through styling choices revisiting concepts dating back even to the 1920s and 1930s: the ‘one of one’ Bugatti ‘La Voiture Noire’ as well as brands like Ispano Suiza and others represent clear fascinating examples of this trend.
The present reconciles technological evolutions relevant to hybrid and full electric powertrains inspired by sustainability needs and stepping into progressively bolder ways to reap the benefits of digital technologies increasing comfort of the driving experience and safety of mobility; all of the major global brands have brand new or evolved models on display along this line of thought.
The future is present through many concept cars that span from the ambitious subcompact FIAT Centoventi, conceptually filled of creative ideas targeting millennials lifestyle (and even stimulating an entrepreneurial mindset for the driver/user), to several hyper-cars of which possibly the most awaited one is the featured world premiere Pininfarina Battista boosting a raw electric power equivalent to almost 1900 bhp.
Retro style, extreme performance, sustainability, digital technologies opportunities to the benefit of manufactures and users alike, new business models empowering fresh conception of cars as dynamic social media devices (FIAT Centoventi); all in all many perspectives that contribute to fuel an ever stronger and widespread fascination with mobility solutions within the setting of a motor show that in itself is rooted in history and tradition. New brands from Russia and Cina are also introducing themselves leveraging their identity on such emerging trends and contributing to the changes.
The ‘perfect storm’ factors
Overall we can discern that the world of automotive and mobility is clearly at the threshold of relevant changes generated by a sort of ‘perfect storm’ originating from several concurrent factors: a marked evolution of traditional automotive technologies; digital technologies that are progressively affirming their overall pervasiveness and integration in manufacturing, distributing and continuous improvement of the user experience; levels of raw performance reaching new unparalleled heights thanks to electric power matched by the ever sophisticated utilisation of composite materials enabling active vehicle dynamics.
The ‘what’s next’ of automotive is therefore characterised by changes that represent at the same time concrete opportunities of development and treats for growth; it all depends from the swiftness, agility and effective innovation focus that companies involved in the business will utilise to interpret this new dawn of mobility.