The ‘global influence’ of British car designers

As vice president design for Vauxhall and Opel, Londoner Mark Adams is overseeing all aspects of the exterior and interior design development for the Vauxhall and Opel brands, including strategy, concept and all production vehicles. He is, says Vauxhall, supported by Malcolm Ward, born and bred in the vicinity of Vauxhall's headquarters in Luton and now director of exterior design. Adams' responsibility also extends to the design of some significant global products such as the Buick Regal which is based on Vauxhall's Insignia and has taken China by storm. "Mark and his team of ten Brits (pictured) are making a big impact in every aspect of Vauxhall and Opel design and beyond - from idea conception to finding technical solutions, their ideas flow from the sophisticated computer screens, through full size clay models, all the way to beautifully executed final exterior and interior designs that provide distinct showroom appeal," Vauxhall says. Many of these British members of the design team were graduates of Coventry University's faculty of Automotive and Transport design, one of the most influential in Europe, or the Royal College of Art's Vehicle Design Department, the world's leading centre for vehicle design, education and research. "From these academic backgrounds stems the DNA of subtle British elegance so beautifully illustrated by the recent cars' dynamic sweeping lines and sculpted surfaces, together with the high degree of craftsmanship and quality in our new interiors," says the company which is owned bt US giant General Motors. "There is no doubt of the impact our British designers have on our cars' final look and feel," said Adams, speaking from the Geneva Auto Show where the all-new Zafira Tourer Concept makes its world debut. "Elegant design details are encapsulated in all areas of our new generation products giving Vauxhall cars a much coveted, premium feel."