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Bruce Newton24 Jan 2015
NEWS

Detroit winner in Melbourne

Holden-designed Buick concept to star at exhibition
The Holden-developed Buick Avenir concept car that starred at the Detroit Auto Show will make its Australian public debut in March.
It will be one of the main attractions at an exhibition in Melbourne celebrating Australia's history of innovative automotive design.
Dubbed Shifting Gear: Design, Innovation and the Australian Car, the exhibition will be held at the Ian Potter Centre, NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) Australia at Federation Square from March 5 to July 12.
Along with the Avenir, which won 'Best Concept Vehicle 2015' and 'Best Innovative Use of Colour, Graphics and Materials' at Detroit, Holden will also display the 1969 Hurricane sports car (pictured) and the 2005 Efijy FJ tribute concepts.
The Lew Bandt-designed Ford V8 utility from 1934 will also be shown, as will several muscle cars including the legendary E49 Valiant Charger. In total 23 vehicles will be displayed.
A host of industry and racing paraphernalia, photography, sketches, models and ephemera will also be on display.
"Shifting Gear will be the first major exhibition of Australian car design and is exclusive to the NGV," said Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV. 
"As part of the NGV's commitment to showcasing design, this exhibition will uncover how the modern automobile is far more than simply a means of transport; it is a sophisticated design object that reflects contemporary aesthetics and social values."
The Avenir that will be on display is not the same car as shown in Detroit, but an identical clay that was also shaped in the Port Melbourne outpost of General Motors' global design network.
Its appearance comes at a watershed time for the Australian car industry, with Ford, Holden and Toyota all exiting manufacturing by late 2017.
However, in some form, all three are keeping design and engineering facilities in Australia to service local and international needs.
The exhibition will examine the future of the Australian automobile industry and this shift from manufacturing to being a global contributor through specialist design knowledge.  
Holden is one of two General Motors design centres globally that builds concept cars as well as styles them. The other is its Warren tech centre near Detroit.
Another hit in Detroit was the Chevrolet Bolt EV, which was one of the finalists for the 'Best Concept Vehicle 2015' prize. In its original form it was developed by GM's advanced design studio in South Korea, but the EV design study was taken through to full-size concept car reality in Port Melbourne, with styling changes along the way. 
Meanwhile, Australian designer Todd Willing was also celebrated at Detroit for his key role in the new Ford GT supercar.
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