BMW i8 Designer Gives China Its Most Restrained EV Yet

BMW has produced more influential car designers than most brands can name, from Chris Bangle to Henrik Fisker, with giant-grille-loving Adrian van Hooydonk leading the brand’s design direction since 2009. Now, another former BMW creative, Benoit Jacob, has resurfaced with a new project far from Munich. He is the man behind the design of the GAC Aion N60, a compact Chinese electric SUV that begs the question: Is this a rare instance of tasteful design restraint, or just another shape dissolving into the crowd?

A Minimalistic Electric SUV

At first glance, the Aion N60 looks like it should be a minivan. However, on paper, it sits firmly in the compact SUV class, sharing similar dimensions to the Volkswagen ID.4. Power comes from single-motor front-wheel-drive setups producing either 148 hp or 221 hp, paired with just under 400 miles of range per charge.

The N60’s design seems a bit cookie-cutter to us. It's uncluttered, has full-width light bars in the front and back, and is overall pretty restrained. There are no in-your-face body lines, oversized grilles, or unnecessary details. It seems as if it's designed to age gracefully rather than grab attention – something we never thought an ex-BMW designer would be capable of.

Traces of BMW’s Early EV DNA

Benoit Jacob's influence is easy to spot if you know his past work. His portfolio spans everything from the futuristic BMW i8 to the hideous BMW 5 Series GT. The Aion N60 most clearly channels the thinking behind the BMW i3: Simple geometry, upright confidence, and even the subtle rear-quarter treatment hints at BMW’s design language from a decade ago. While we won't go as far as to say that the i3 was a stunning car, but its funky, minimalistic design language fit its compact size. The Aion N60, on the other hand, is a much simpler and larger car, prompting us to ask the same question as legendary designer Gordon Murray: Have modern cars become too large and heavy?

Are Chinese Cars Becoming Cool?

Chinese manufacturers have already mastered aggressive pricing and technology-heavy value propositions – that's why BYD is conquering the automotive market. After mastering the art of performance, bringing in established designers is the next step toward beating the competition. Yet the risk is obvious. When restraint goes too far, personality disappears – cough, cough, Jaguars Jaguar Type 00. The Aion N60 suggests that some Chinese carmakers are becoming more design-literate and starting to adapt to the "less is more" way of thinking. The GAC Aion N60 will go on sale in March this year, and time will tell whether its flavorless design will pay off or become just another short-lived trend.

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