BAIC Motor of China has just announced that it has snapped up renowned Australian automotive designer Peter Arcadipane. He was chosen to draw up an entire range of luxury vehicles that are set to challenge the establishment, “with sophisticated styling and great proportions.”
The first of these new luxury models will be a rear-wheel driven sedan of “medium-large” dimensions, which will be predictably followed by crossovers and SUVs that are “big news in China.”
Having designed cars you definitely know, like the Mercedes-Benz CL and CLS, as well as the first-generation ML, Arcadipane had spent the last two years coming up with a design for an EV that is to be built under the Denza brand (Daimler-BYD joint venture).
Now, according to Australian website GoAuto, the man who among others came up with the design for the Mad Max Interceptor movie car, will lead “an international team of more than 130 designers at a state-of-the-art new research and development facility.” In order to keep the new cars from looking too generic and familiar, a negative trait common among Chinese cars designed in a very short time frame, Arcadipane will not be rushed, as BAIC wants to achieve a “carefully controlled” corporate identity.
Still, before all of this unfolds, the aforementioned Denza EV he designed will be revealed at the Guangzhou motor show in November – should prove to be an interesting vehicle which we’re looking forward to seeing.
By Andrei Nedelea
PHOTO GALLERY