Maxus, a brand under Shanghai Auto (SAIC), began design development
on a more premium, upscale refresh to their highly successful but aging
Maxus G10 luxury van. Given the imporance of the luxury van/MPV segment
for China’s business consumers, the G10 interior was no longer meeting
these consumers’ increasing demands for a more luxurious, premium
experience.
From late 2016-2017, I worked within the SAIC-Maxus studio
collaborating cross-functionally with a team of digital sculptors,
project managers, engineers, and manufacturing suppliers to translate my
selected design sketch into a prouction-ready interior. My time on the
project encompassed the completion of 1 full-scale partial clay model
and 2 full-scale wrapped hard models. The scope of this project included
a full redesign of the dashboard, center console, front doors, rear
sliding doors, steering wheel, gauge cluster, and interior headliner.
The new Maxus G20 debuted on the floor of the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show.
Elegantly Showcasing Technology
The floating center console showcases the use of an electronic shift knob, creating a stunning centerpiece. With no direct connection to the floor, this creates an opportunity for an additional open storage compartment below
VIP Lounge
The second row seats are where most occupants will be seated. It was crucial to design the sliding door panel to feel upscale. This proved to be a challenge given the technical constraints of a minivan sliding door.