Péter Kukorelli

by Paul Negyesi

He's 25 but experienced lot more than others who are older than he. He knows his own values, and the potential inside the Mazomoto group. He was born in a northern Hungarian city. One of his friends described him as someone who "while sat on the po he drew cars". Péter just patiently smiled when I mentioned this, because he thinks that all the other Mazomoto members should be characterized similarly.

After finishing elementary school he wisely chose an Art College. He knew that if he wants to be a car designer (and he definitely eagers to be) there's only one University in Hungary where this should be learnt so he took the first step to the University of Crafts and Design by choosing this particular secondary school. In the library of this College he saw foreign car magazines for the first time which impressed him a lot. These magazines showed him that car design is existing as a true profession. He always dubbes automotive design as a branch of modern art which reflects the contemporary style. So after College he went to the University. He's slightly disappointed with the University but not as much as Tasi. In 1991 he met with Tasi. They're like fire and water. Tasi is emotional, his works are showing new world. Kukorelli on the other hand is more down-to-earth, more realistic. His finished scale-models are mostly buses, becausein Hungary in spite of the 2 assembly plants, the autobus productionis a truly Hungarian tradition. Ikarus, a world-famous makers is on the scene for more than 50 years now.

The first the big blow for the Mazomoto group was the Opel competition in late1992. Before that I'd like to show one design:

These sketches were among the first which were created under the Mazomoto aegis.

In 1992 Kukorelli won the Opel competition with his Astra-based taxi.

The scale model employs the same wheelbase and basic measures.

In parallel with this competition Kukorelli entered to the First International Transportation Competition of the Swiss Art Center Collegeof Design (Europe). The first 20 runner-ups were noted, the first were immediately engaged. Péter's work reached 20 place:

After these competitions he spent a year in Great Britain. While he was there he designed the scale model of a city bus, powered by a hybrid power train.

This bus was designed with consultancy from László Finta, the chief designer of the Hungarian Ikarus bus factory. This shows how realistic is Kukorrelli. Look at the sketches: every details has been worked out, thinked over. The seat-design is unique and will appear in later projects When he got back from the UK, in the spring of 1994, the Swiss Art College announced thier second International Transportation Competition. Kukorelli reached third prize with his small-car design. This meant the chance to study in the prestigious school.

The East-Car project wasn't just a modern interpretation of the once popular East German family car, the Trabant. It represents a 3+1 seater sub-compactcar reflecting the flair of the Trabi. "I meant my scheme as a sub-compactcar due to the fact this category is predicted to get more significancein the near future. There are existing concepts like the Mercedes-Benz Vision A, BMW E1 and Ital Design Lucciola" - wrote in his paper about the car. His other design also woed the jury. It's a 2+1 seater electric roadster:

It took a year and a half to gather the necessary funds so between January,1996 and April, 1996 he spent a term in Switzerland. In April theSwiss college was suddenly closed down so he returned. But I ran forward a bit. In the summer of 1995 he created his diplom-work, another bus. It was designed with influence from Ikarus and the Csepel Truckmaking Co.

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The floorpan was designed to accept various bodies, like city and intercity (more seats, lower windshield window etc.) transport, airport people carrier etc. It's a block design: the passenger compartment is oneblock, the powertrain (a diesel-electro traction system) is another and soon. The appliead boy work technology shoudl consider Hungarian coach industries' production practice which are the follows:

-integral structure of square cross-section members
- stretched steel side sheet
- polyester panels.

While he was in Switzerland he took part in a project, sponsored by Caterpiller. His work made with Spanish Jose Paris Gonzalez is a wheelloader truck: