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It’s easier to design hypercar than small car – VW boss

Published

4 years ago

March 21, 2023

Volkswagen’s head of design, Andreas Mindt, says it is more difficult to design a small car than a hypercar.

Hypercars are considered as the most superior and high-performance cars on the market worldwide. They are like supercars designed to go fast and deliver thrills while on the road.

Only one percent of cars are classified as hypercars, and they include legendary Ferrari models and Lamborghini Miura.

Mindt recalled that it was “so easy” to design the Bentley Batur as opposed to the VW ID.2all, a small car. Volkswagen ID2.all concept was his first project at the new office.

He said designing the Continental GT-based Batur was easy because it’s a wide and low car with a long hood.

Mindt started his career at the German automotive conglomerate in 1996 and was involved in the design process of the first-generation Tiguan and the Golf Mk7.

He also worked on the Audi A1, Q3, Q8, and E-Tron GT, as well as the 1999 Bentley Hunaudières concept.

He said, “It’s like taking a penalty in football without a goalkeeper. It’s easy to do. A lot of people think hypercar designers are geniuses, but it’s so easy to do. To make a small car like the ID.2all, you have to work hard, and people don’t understand that. It’s harder to design. When you look at things like the Fiat Panda – those are the genius designers in my eyes, not the ones who do hypercars. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I know both sides of it.”

According to a report by Top Gear, developing a small car is challenging in 2023 what with so many safety and fuel economy regulations while keeping the price low. There are also tremendous packaging limitations, although this is less of an issue for the ID.2 since it’s being developed from day one as a purely electric hatchback. For the Batur or a Chiron where the final price tag isn’t really a major concern, automakers have greater freedom to use more advanced tech thanks to generous development budgets.

VW is said to have an excellent track record when it comes to developing small cars. The Lupo, Polo and Beetle easily come to mind, as does to the subcompact Gol for Latin America.

With the ID2.all, the Wolfsburg-based marque is previewing an all-new electric supermini for 2025.

A cheaper EV has already been announced and will slot below the ID.2 later this decade, with Skoda and SEAT/Cupra equivalents in the pipeline.

On the subject of VW and hypercars, it’s worth noting VW itself toyed around with the idea by releasing the 1997 W12 Syncro, 1998 W12 Roadster, and the 2001 W12 Nardo.

However, those mid-engine concepts sadly never made it to production.

Related Topics:Featured Hypercar Small car VW Mindt

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NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Jobs

Published

8 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

NADDC Pushes Affordable Auto Loans to Boost Vehicle Ownership, More Job

The National Automotive Design and Development Council has called for far-reaching reforms in vehicle financing to make car ownership more affordable while boosting local vehicle assembly, job creation and industrial development.

The Council said a properly structured financing system could turn vehicle credit from a mere consumer lending product into a major economic tool for expanding productive mobility and strengthening Nigeria’s automotive value chain.

Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, stated this in an address delivered on his behalf by the Council’s Principal Information Officer, Tanko Kyumnom, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Auto Sectoral Group Symposium in Lagos.

The symposium, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Henry Fajemirokun Hall of LCCI, was themed: “From Subsidy to Credit: Can Vehicle Financing Replace Fuel Subsidy as Nigeria’s Mobility Equaliser?”
Osanipin said the growing cost of mobility had made it necessary to explore financing models that would enable individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles without bearing the full cost of ownership upfront.

According to him, spreading vehicle payments over an agreed period could provide a more sustainable pathway to vehicle acquisition, provided that the financing products are affordable, accessible and structured around the economic realities of Nigerian consumers.

He, however, cautioned that simply making credit available would not be enough.
“Vehicle financing offers a more sustainable approach by enabling individuals, businesses and transport operators to acquire vehicles and pay for them over time,” Osanipin stated.
The NADDC DG said the bigger opportunity lies in linking vehicle financing with the growth of locally assembled and Nigerian-made vehicles.

He explained that increased access to credit for locally produced vehicles could generate wider economic benefits by stimulating demand for domestic assembly, supporting component manufacturers, creating jobs and strengthening local supply chains.

Osanipin therefore urged stronger collaboration among government institutions, financial institutions, vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders in designing financing schemes capable of supporting both mobility access and automotive industrialisation.

The NADDC boss identified affordable vehicle loans, leasing arrangements, fleet financing, credit guarantees and appropriate interest-rate support as mechanisms that could broaden access to vehicle ownership and productive mobility.

lt also stressed the need for repayment structures that take into account the earning patterns and business realities of Nigerians, particularly transport operators and small businesses whose vehicles are directly linked to their income-generating activities.

Osanipin maintained that the objective should extend beyond increasing the number of vehicles on Nigerian roads.
“The goal is not simply to put more vehicles on Nigerian roads. It is to ensure that Nigerians can access productive mobility without placing an unsustainable burden on government finances or household incomes,” he said.

According to him, a properly structured automotive financing system could create a stronger connection between mobility, economic inclusion and domestic vehicle production.

“With the right policies and partnerships, vehicle financing can become a powerful instrument for mobility, economic inclusion and automotive industrial development,” Osanipin added.

The NADDC’s position places vehicle financing within the broader effort to build a sustainable automotive ecosystem in Nigeria—one in which access to credit supports vehicle users while also creating stronger demand for local assembly, components and associated automotive services.

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Jetour T1 Storms Abuja as Automaker Accelerates Nigeria Expansion

Published

13 hours ago

September 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

Following a successful debut in Lagos, Jetour Nigeria will host the Jetour Experience Abuja from September 22 to 24, 2026, positioning its all-new T1 model as a major competitor in the country’s growing adventure SUV market.

The three-day event in the Federal Capital Territory will give prospective buyers and motoring enthusiasts direct access to product demonstrations, expert-led technical sessions, and hands-on test drives.

“Strong participation, extensive test drives, and significant sales enquiries at the Lagos edition, coupled with growing demand from Abuja residents, influenced the decision to bring the experience to the nation’s capital,” the company said in a statement. The show holds at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki.

To support its growing national footprint, Jetour Nigeria has established a network of seven accredited dealers: Elizade Nigeria Limited, New Era AutoVehicle Services Limited, Kojo Motors, Germaine Auto Centre, Tab Autos Limited, R.T. Briscoe Motors, and Mandilas Autos. The partnerships cover retail sales, genuine spare parts supply, and comprehensive after-sales maintenance.

Jetour T1 Set to debut in Abuja as Expansion Gains Momentum

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Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Published

2 days ago

September 20, 2026

Trends Admin

Abuja Demand Rises as Jetour Brings X70 Plus Experience to FCT

Jetour Nigeria is taking its seven-seater X70 Plus SUV to Abuja as rising interest from motorists in the Federal Capital Territory and neighbouring states fuels the brand’s latest push to deepen its presence across Nigeria.

The X70 Plus will headline the Jetour Experience Abuja, holding from September 22 to 24 at Maha Event Centre, Area 8, Garki, following the strong response recorded during the Lagos edition, where motorists turned out for test drives and made enquiries about Jetour models.

The Abuja activation is designed to give prospective buyers direct access to the X70 Plus and other models, with opportunities to test-drive the vehicles, engage product specialists and experience their technology, safety and comfort features.

The X70 Plus is positioned as a family-oriented SUV, offering seven-seat capacity and a range of features targeted at customers seeking comfort, technology and practicality.

The SUV is available with 1.5-litre and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine options, with outputs of up to 145kW and 290Nm of torque, paired with a dual-clutch automatic transmission.