Chinese premium EV start-up Avatr has become the second car company after Polestar to design a model with no rear windscreen, a shift that its exterior designer says gives the team more creative freedom. The 12 (pronounced 1,2) is the second model to be designed by the company’s Munich, Germany studio led by former BMW creative Nader Faghihzadeh. The 5.0-metre long sedan was unveiled at the Munich mobility show early in September and was also prominently displayed at the recent Milan Fashion Week, where Avatr was one of the automotive partners.
The design aim of the brand is to minimise the styling and maximise technology. “We want the look to seem as pure as possible,” Nicolas Guille, head of exterior design and another former BMW staffer, said on the sidelines of the Munich show. “We want to make it timeless.” The removal of the rear screen allowed the team to extend the rear trunk lid to give a wider opening while insulating passengers from outside heat or chill when loading up. By extending the sunroof, the designers say they created a cosy rear passenger space without it seeming claustrophobic. “It brings a lot of freedom when it comes to aesthetic. You can play with the proportions a lot,” Guille said.
The company, which has aspirations to sell in Europe starting next year, is planning four models in four years. The 12 is the brand’s second model after the 11 SUV that went on sale in China. Avatr had intended to drop the rear window on that car too but was forced by legislation, since dropped, to add a small glass slit to the back. Avatr is a joint venture between state-owned carmaker Changan, global battery leader CATL and tech giant Huawei. As with any Chinese car entering the fiercely contested premium electric space, the 12 is packed with tech. The exterior features a so-called ‘Halo’ screen, a panel at the base of the windscreen that can be animated to display messages or other light effects.
The car has been designed to be “your emotional, intelligent companion” Guille says. Owners are recognised when approaching the car and shown personalised content on both the halo and also the 35.4 inch screen that runs the width of the car inside.
The 12 sits on the same ‘smart’ CHN platform as the 11 and runs both the HarmonyOS 4.0 operating system and ADS 2.0 driver assistance from tech partner Huawei. CATL supplies the batteries and earlier this year the Chinese battery company said that Avatr would one of the first car companies to use CATL’s recently unveiled Shenxing Superfast Charging lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery which is claimed to add a range of 400km with just 10 minutes of charging.
