356A, Lego Style food, Halcyon concept, Durability study #233 / February 16, 2024 (Fri) / Confidentiala |
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Renowned Christian counselor and marriage seminar leader Dr. Gary Chapman, with over 40 years of counseling experience for couples, introduces ways to express love through his book "The Five Love Languages." These languages include words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. What expressions do you find yourself using the most, and in which area do you feel lacking?
Reflecting on the past 21 Valentine's Days, engrossed in flowers, gifts, and elaborately prepared meals, I hadn't taken the time to discover my current self. However, marking this year as a turning point, I took a moment to introspect. Sharing a carefully cooked steak and a glass of wine, sitting around with my children, we reminisced and laughed, experiencing a rare and enjoyable time.
Expressions of love seem to hold something special. It could be the steaming bowl of rice on the dining table or the husband rushing to fix a flat tire like a beam of sunlight. All these seemingly trivial things may constitute expressions of love that we often overlook. Hoping everyone had a happy and joyful Valentine's Day. |
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"I couldn’t find the sports car of my dreams — so I built it myself ..." embodies the expectations and aspirations of Ferry Porsche, the son of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche and the second-generation leader. I had the opportunity to see the first-ever Porsche sports car, the 356, in person after only hearing about it in stories. A few days ago, discreetly parked in front of the Kia Design Center in the United States, the 356A basked in the clear California sunlight, creating rich highlights as it reflected the light in various directions.. (Thank you Tom!) |
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According to a manager, there are noticeable distinctions among the 356 A, B, and C models when scrutinized with a trained eye. Specifically, the A model stands out with its headlights angled more upright compared to the B and C models, displaying the most beautiful and iconic presence.
The delight of observing stunning cars under the California sunlight is truly refreshing. The next time I come across another iconic model, I'll make sure to introduce it! (Regrettably, Perry Porsche passed away in 1998 without witnessing the release of the dream car he had longed for throughout his life. His dream materialized through the Porsche Panamera in 2009, and the first-generation Panamera achieved success with sales surpassing 150,000 units. Perry Porsche, possessing a timeless sense and talent, truly held the position of the top engineer at Porsche!) |
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01. Consumer Trend - Winning Food's meals are completed in just a few minutes by addressing various nutritional deficiencies.
02. Product Design - Chrysler's Halcyon Concept
03. Automotive Weekly : JD power's dependability Study, the pinnacle of popularity in hybrids |
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01. Consumer Trend - Winning Food's Meals Completed in Minutes Through Various Nutrient-Enriched Blocks
- A meal kit that utilizes 16 varieties of frozen packaged food blocks, allowing users to stack them like LEGO bricks for cooking.
- Identified by numbers and codes, this innovative kit enhances convenience and diversity, enabling users to enjoy a wide range of dishes.
In Belgium, a new food concept is emerging with Winning Food, a meal kit that allows users to stack frozen food blocks like LEGO bricks to easily prepare a variety of dishes at home. With 16 different frozen packaged food blocks, the kit is designed for convenience and diversity.
Each frozen block is marked with a unique alphanumeric code for easy identification. For instance, B represents the base (sauce), V stands for vegetables, C indicates carbohydrates, and P signifies protein. To create a stir-fry dish, one can simply combine codes like B3, V2, C1, V4, P2. Combining the correct amount of frozen blocks instantly results in a delicious meal. The frozen food comes in bite-sized portions, facilitating quick thawing and cooking. Utilizing Winning Food's 16 diverse frozen food options, customers can easily create over 75 different dishes by adding oil, spices, and more.
Winning Food, based in Belgium, is set to launch next month. Customers can pre-order a sample pack containing 5 blocks capable of creating up to 10 dishes for 49 euros online.
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[Jenna's Insight]
One key difference between the once-trending HelloFresh and BlueApron meal kits and Winning Food lies in the fact that Winning Food does not target specific dishes, offering higher flexibility. There's no need to chop ingredients or follow complex cooking methods. The goal of Winning Food's frozen blocks is to prepare healthy and delicious meals as quickly and flexibly as possible.
The choice to focus on frozen food instead of fresh ingredients stems from concerns about food waste. Even if you order a meal kit, plans may change, leading to fresh ingredients wilting in the fridge. In contrast, frozen vegetables and carbohydrates can patiently wait for the next meal. Reducing food waste is not the only sustainability effort by Winning Foods. The brand innovatively allows consumers to choose a vegan option without strictly adhering to vegetable usage, offering the freedom to separate nutritional elements like carbohydrates, vegetables, and proteins.
While convenience has become a cornerstone of consumer habits, it often conflicts with environmentally friendly actions. By providing such flexible options, Winning Food appears to establish itself as a good example of a solution that immediately encourages responsible choices, satisfying consumers.
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02. Product Design - Chrysler's Halcyon Concept
Chrysler has unveiled the Halcyon Concept alongside its new logo. The choice of the concept name seems apt, emphasizing a departure from the outdated approach that focused on form.
While the Halcyon Concept's design, reminiscent of the Ferrari 308, the roofline of the Nissan 300Z, and a side profile akin to the first-generation Acura NSX, may initially seem somewhat conventional and lacking a groundbreaking feel, it gains favor when compared to the insane concept showcased at last year's Japan Mobility Show. 😃🤣
Halcyon presents a liberated design, as if a talented clay modeler had the freedom to shape it at will. The beltline is continuous, deliberately creating a thematic flow from the nose to the tail, completing a sense of connectivity. Confidently showcasing a side profile without uneasy fender flares or meaningless angles, Halcyon exudes self-assurance.
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However, it does look a bit peculiar when all the windows are opened. Of course, the likelihood of this aspect translating into production seems very low.
Designed with a 360-degree panoramic view, the windows are futuristic, and the vertical 15.6" infotainment screen completes the minimalistic interior. With an AR head-up display, drivers won't need to divert their gaze from the road, and the York-designed steering wheel and foldable pedals are prepared for autonomous driving.
Consciously considering the enormous amount of lithium reserves recently discovered in the California Salton Sea, it is expected that the use of an 800V lithium-sulfur EV battery will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 60%. Anticipating the day when we can experience a design beyond the rendered sketches... |
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03. Automotive Weekly
- 2023 JD Power's Depenability Study
In the Vehicle Durability Survey (VDS) released by JD Power, Lexus secured the top spot, followed by Genesis and Kia in the second and third positions. Hyundai also performed well, securing the 8th position, making it the top-performing automotive group among the 16 surveyed for the second consecutive year. The top three models in each segment were also recognized:
Compact: Kia Forte / Toyota Corolla / Hyundai Elantra Compact Premium: Volvo S60, BMW 3 Series Compact Sporty: Mini Cooper Mid-Size: Kia Optima, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion
Additionally, the Kia Sportage was identified as the top model in the compact SUV segment.
The Durability Survey assesses customer satisfaction with durability on 184 items three years after vehicle purchase, calculating the number of reported complaints per 100 vehicles. Lower scores indicate higher durability satisfaction.
The most problematic area was the infotainment system, surpassing exterior concerns and being twice as troublesome. Among the top 10 issues, six were related to interior voice recognition, especially with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity, Bluetooth pairing, challenging touchscreen interfaces, and insufficient power/USB ports.
One interesting observation is the growing appeal of older components alongside technological advancements. Despite having outdated infotainment systems, consumer satisfaction scores improved when updates were delivered via over-the-air (OTA) methods. This highlights the increasing importance of regular OTA updates in both smartphones and automotive infotainment systems.
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- Craving for Hybrid than EV!
As demand for electric vehicles shows signs of tapering in the automotive industry, many companies are turning their attention to hybrid vehicles. Toyota, for instance, anticipates generating $33 billion in revenue by the end of the first quarter of 2024, driven by a remarkable 46% surge in hybrid sales in the past quarter. Toyota's operating profit margin of 14% surpasses Tesla's 9%. The weakened value of the yen has played a role, reducing the costs of producing cars and components in Japan.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), impressed by the success of plug-in hybrids, has decided to postpone the development of their planned electric vehicle. With over 45,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) sold in Europe last year, a 70% increase, JLR is actively working on introducing more plug-in models.
A similar trend is noticeable in Ford's U.S. sales figures from last month. While total sales increased by around 4.3% to 152,617 units, EVs experienced an 11% decline, contrasting with a 43% increase in hybrid sales. The Mach-E saw a significant 51% decrease, sales of the Lightning truck remained stagnant, but the E-Transit experienced an impressive 214% surge.
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The statement is a quote from Stephen Covey, who authored the seven habits of successful people.
Throughout today's tasks, there were many frustrating cases. Reflecting on a moment where I, without fully listening to the other person's words, clung to my own perspective and sighed, I look back through a passage.
Wishing for your day/week/month/year to be different from mine, I conclude this message.
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Written by Jenna Chwee
Kia Design America jchwee@hatci.com 101 Peters Canyon Rd. Irvine, CA 92606
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