Renault Korea (CEO Nicolas Paris) unveiled the Aurora Project's second model, the global flagship crossover "Filante (FILANTE)," for the first time in the world on the 13th at the Grand Walkerhill in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. The first was the popular Grand Koleos. The Renault Filante is characterized by a bold and charismatic design, a premium tech lounge concept interior, and the application of a further upgraded hybrid E-Tech powertrain.
After the new car unveiling event, Laurence van den Acker, vice president and global head of design at Groupe Renault, also set aside time for a separate interview with Korean media representatives. Vice president van den Acker is quite familiar to Korean media representatives.
When asked to pick one point he most wanted to emphasize in Filante's design, Vice president van den Acker prefaced by saying "Actually, I would like to say all of it. I think a very bold and daring approach is necessary to stand out uniquely in the Korean market. Above all, I think first impressions are very important. We introduced the light signature for the first time, and because it continues smoothly down to the lower part, the front inevitably stands out when seen for the first time," then added, "When thinking about contrast, black generally gives a sense of openness, and white gives a bright image. In the Korean market, cars are often black or white, but in our case we introduced a third elegant color called Dark Forest Black. For the side design, like a drawn bowstring becoming taut, we aimed to give an overall impression of length to both sides, and we incorporated an image reminiscent of a spaceship. Regarding the interior, the panoramic screen is the first thing that catches the eye; it is composed of three screens, and the third screen is designed to be visible only from the front for safety reasons. Overall, we focused on delivering a ride and luxurious atmosphere that feels like being aboard an aircraft," he said.
Asked why Filante emphasizes dynamic lines instead of a sense of space in its design, he answered, "Because we pursue novelty, frankly, we wanted to stand out relatively more. We gave the vehicle a sense of space and openness, and externally it is a dynamic vehicle, which in itself is a key advantage."
When asked where the "Filante"—which means 'shooting star'—design is best reflected, he brightened and said, "We added decoration to the ambient lights inside the vehicle, and through the switchable glass roof you can see the stars even closer."
To a broad question about the design direction Groupe Renault pursues, he said, "I don't think a sense of space and sleekness need to be mutually contradictory concepts. And Filante proves that. I don't think only boxy shapes can create a sense of space. In that respect, I think the design team did well in realizing exterior proportions that stretch the body. In the lower graphic we used metal material thinly to give the effect of the vehicle looking longer. Renault's philosophy is to become an icon of the future, make distinctive cars, and remain a brand loved for a long time. We always want to approach consumers with freshness. Because countless new cars are launched in the Korean market every year, it's not easy to always stay at the top, but I hope this vehicle will be remembered as fresh for a long time," he said.
As the name suggests, Filante chose a crossover instead of an SUV. On the reason, he said, "Renault is a relatively small brand in the Korean market. While rooted in France, we manufacture in Korea, and we wanted to focus on being 'different.' There are many brands and excellent cars in Korea, but I think there is an opportunity to differentiate rather than simply following the paths other competing cars take. I want to prove that being different means being excellent. This challenge can be seen as a kind of gamble, and I hope it goes well."
Asked what prompted showing a mid-to-large-size car rather than the small cars preferred in Europe, he answered, "In Korea, the trend continues to favor larger cars. The B segment is relatively small in Korea, and consumers often prefer up to the C, D, or E segments. I think it's natural to follow the direction consumers want. While small cars have clear strengths in Europe, that doesn't apply equally to every market, so we provide cars that the market needs."
Asked to explain the differences between Filante and Grand Koleos, he said, "If the Grand Koleos is a bit more practical and conventional, Filante is more exotic. It carries a unique image reminiscent of a spaceship. I think Filante is a car that will provoke strong likes and dislikes, and in fact that's the point we hope for. We wanted to give the feeling of riding a private jet rather than a typical airliner, a ride like being in a premium class."
On the design elements needed for mid- and mid-to-large-size cars, he said, "If small cars are designed with precision down to the millimeter, Filante was designed as if sculpting a work of art. We focused a little more on the emotion of what overall feeling and texture it would give. If I had to express it in one sentence, it would be, 'a spaceship with four wheels.'"
[OSEN]