2011 Erin Aeonara Concept
A bold new design language for a bold new Erin. Aeonara introduces a number of distinctive new design features that combine smooth flowing lines with modern, angular edges, to create a fresh but contemporary design.
It reflects Erin’s vision to extend its push for efficiency and performance further than ever before, and to cement its status as a leading company in the automotive world.
History
Current Head of Design at Erin Alexa di Atorgia took her position in late 2009 as the new CEO of the company Paul Erin began to prepare for the next generation of Erin vehicles. He wanted a new design language for these new cars, something that found its roots in the current styling of their cars but also something that felt like a change of direction.
Di Atorgia and her 22-strong team were given 9 months to develop this, and put it into show on a new concept car, from which the styling of new vehicles would then be derived. Research focused on areas that Erin really aimed to capture with their vehicles, particularly urban European areas and more affluent parts of the world.
After numerous meetings where design ideas were shared and extensive research, the team were all on the same page, and all that needed to be done was to apply this new style to a car. Over the winter of 2010/2011, the Aeonara concept was born, taking the form of a compact sedan.
The car was revealed at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show, with an announcement that the first cars to receive this new look set to be launched around 2013 and 2014.
The Aeonara concept itself would go on to become the 8th gen Merna, while “Aeonara” itself became the name for this new design language.