Autocar confidential: Land Rover's design vision, Seat's electrification plan and more

October 31, 2017

Our reporters empty their notebooks to round up this week's gossip from across the automotive industry

This week's snippets of automotive news cover the entire industry, from Land Rover's design vision to Huracan Performante UK feedback, from Citroen wanting some people to dislike their cars and to Seat's electrification plan.

Land Rover "delivers without dilution":

Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern says the whole company has bought into his vision for “delivering without dilution” the innovative designs his team has come up with. McGovern said at Land Rover thecar is engineered without compromise to fit the design, whereas at other companies the car is designed around the engineering brief.

Lamborghini R&D boss proud of UK feedback on Huracan Performante:

Lamborghini R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani says he’s most proud of the plaudits given by UK critics to the Huracán Performante. This, he says, is because the UK has the richest history of aerodynamic development in the car industry and it was a “big achievement” for Lamborghini to show that “there are other ways to achieve performance, not just with aerodynamics”.

Citroen wants some people to dislike its cars when first previewed:

Citroen wants some people to dislike its cars when they preview them in early customer clinics, according to company boss Linda Jackson. But there “has to be a higher level of people who love it as over- compensation. You accept that to be different”.

Electric Seat SUV due by 2020:

Seat might not have shown any electric car concepts yet but that “doesn’t mean we are not prepared”, according to boss Luca de Meo. “We will have access to the [electric] platforms the VW Group is developing.” A Seat electric SUV is due by 2020.