Design
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One of the highlights of the 2016 Detroit Auto Show was the Acura Precision Concept. A design study for future Acura sedans, the car debuts the company's new Precision Crafted Performance mantra and points to a more adventurous and stylish future for Honda's upscale brand. The car's aggressive outward appearance was created by exterior project leader Michelle Christensen at the company's Torrance, California, design studio, where Christensen also acts as the principal design leader. In Detroit, I sat down with Christensen to discuss the Precision Concept and how it will affect the future of...
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Acura Examines Stylish Future With Precision Concept: Live Photos And Video
How often can you say that Acura wowed the crowd with its styling? Sure, the 2017 NSX is a looker, but it's a supercar and we've seen it for so long now that it no longer inspires passion. At this week's Detroit Auto Show, Acura unveiled the Precision concept as an expression of the brand's DNA of...
Kirk Bell -
Ian Callum Tells The Story Of How He Became A Designer: Video
Ian Callum has been responsible for some of the most beautiful cars on the roads over the last few decades, with most of his career actually spent with Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F], though most will likely recognize his more recent efforts at Aston Martin and Jaguar. Some of his most impressive...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Acura To Preview New Design Direction With Precision Concept At 2016 Detroit Auto Show
Acura today provided a glimpse of what it will unveil at 2016 Detroit Auto Show on January 12. It's called the Precision concept, and it's a peek into the future of Acura design, especially that of the brand’s next-generation sedans. READ: 2017 Acura NSX Priced From $157,800, Neither Seinfeld...
Kirk Bell -
VW Group Names New Design, R&D Chiefs In Management Reshuffle
In the wake of its diesel emissions cheating scandal, the Volkswagen Group is undertaking a number of strategies to help curtail spending as well as ensure mistakes like the installation of the “defeat device” doesn’t happen again. This includes streamlining information directed...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Pininfarina Sold To India’s Mahindra: Official
It’s been speculated for months but today Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra finally announced it has acquired legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina. Mahindra, together with its Tech Mahindra subsidiary that specializes in IT systems and engineering consultancy, will acquire a...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Earlier today we told you about Ferrari’s [NYSE:RACE] design challenge among the world’s premier design colleges. Now we have news of a second design contest, though this one is aimed at much younger—though perhaps just as talented—students. MUST SEE: Devel’s 12.3-Liter Quad-Turbo V-16 Dynoed At 4,515 Horsepower: Video We’re talking about the annual Fiat Chrysler Automobiles [NYSE:FCAU] Drive for Design Contest, which this year is inviting from across the country high school students in grades 10-12 to design a Dodge SRT Hellcat for the year 2025. Four...
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Ferrari Design Challenge Makes Return: Meet The Finalists
Every few years, Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] reaches out to students at some of the world’s most prestigious automotive design schools, urging them to pen the Ferrari of the future. The design challenge was first run in 2005 and made a return in 2011. MUST SEE: Devel’s 12.3-Liter Quad-Turbo...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Designing The Exterior Of The Ford GT: Video
When it comes to near perfect automotive design, it’s hard to look past the Ford Motor Company’s [NYSE:F] new GT supercar. But what’s most impressive is that rather than the aesthetic, it’s aerodynamic efficiency that’s at the heart of the design, with every surface...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2016 Ferrari 488 Spider: 5 details that make it go faster, look sexier
The 2016 Ferrari [NYSE:RACE] 488 GTB is arriving just in time to one-up rivals like the McLaren 650S and Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4. Part of what makes the 488 GTB such a standout new product for Ferrari is that it packs a completely new 3.9-liter turbocharged V-8, making 660 horsepower...
Bengt Halvorson -
2017 Jaguar F-Pace: Design Chief On Why SUV Fits Right In With F-Type
The 2017 Jaguar F-Pace fits right into the middle of one very important luxury-crossover battleground that now includes just-right mid-sizers like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Cadillac XT5. and even the Lexus RX 350. Yet what makes this luxury vehicle quite different is that it neither starts as...
Bengt Halvorson -
Pininfarina Confident Of Acquisition By Mahindra
Earlier in the year it was revealed legendary Italian design firm Pininfarina was in talks with Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra about a possible sale. Now it’s been revealed an announcement of a sale of Pininfarina to Mahindra is likely to be made soon. A spokesperson for...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Current Volkswagen Group design boss Walter Maria de Silva is set to retire at the end of the month, though he will continue his links with the automaker in an advisory role. The Italian designer has worked for VW for the past 17 years and been in charge of all the design teams at the automaker since 2007. The announcement comes amid VW’s ongoing diesel emissions cheating scandal, which looks to be expanding to include incorrectly stated CO2 and fuel consumption levels. De Silva, 64, started his automotive design career at Fiat back in 1972 but left after three years to join Studio R...
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New Renault Concept Celebrates Famous Architect Le Corbusier
Swiss architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, best known as Le Corbusier and a pioneer in modern design, passed away on August, 1965. To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, French automaker Renault has rolled out a striking concept car inspired by his modernist principles and theories...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Italdesign Giugiaro founder looking to start new design firm
Earlier this year, legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro sold his remaining 9.9 percent stake in Italdesgin Giugiaro and finally stepped down from the design firm, which he established in 1968. The 9.9 percent stake was sold to the Volkswagen Group, which owned the other 90.1 percent of Italdesgin...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Porsche design chief talks about the Mission E concept: Video
The Porsche Mission E electric sports sedan concept turned out to be one of the major stars of this week’s Frankfurt Auto Show, not only because of its sensuous lines but also because of its advanced powertrain and the performance it promises. ALSO SEE: Bugatti Previews Veyron Successor With...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Bugatti previews Veyron Successor with Vision GT concept
Bugatti has joined the pantheon of automakers taking part in the Vision Gran Turismo video game challenge, with its design taking the form of a stunning supercar-turned-racer. Crucially, the design is a preview of Bugatti’s Veyron successor, an even faster model currently thought to be called...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Icona Design Vulcano Titanium Mega Gallery
Whether the Vulcano Titanium will get a limited production run remains to be seen, and it's looking less likely with comments from its designers that the car was envisaged purely as a technical showcase. But the latest Vulcano (the original was unveiled two years ago) from Icona, the design house...
John Coyle -
If you're a Porsche fan, you know that the 911 has evolved from its start in 1963 through to the version that we know and love today. You can probably also spout off the various generational names. If you're not up on your 911 love, however, you might think that the car has pretty much remained the same for the last 52 years... at least in terms of its exterior shape. ALSO SEE: Koenigsegg One:1 Breaks Its Own Record At Spa: Video A quick walkthrough of the models over the years walks you from the original 911 up to today's 991. Along the way, you'll come across the 930, 964, 993, 996, and...
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BMW Preparing Concept Duo For 2015 Pebble Beach Concours
BMW has confirmed plans to unveil two new concept cars in the lead up to the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance taking place in mid-August. The German automaker will unveil the concepts on August 13 at its own BMW Villa set up in Monterey, with key executives including BMW brand design...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Inside The Ford GT's Secret Underground Design Lab: Video
Even for those without a terribly active imagination, the phrase "secret underground lab" implies plenty. And while there's no death ray, roomful of training ninjas, or super villains lurking in this one, it's pretty exciting nevertheless. After all, it's where the new Ford GT was born. ALSO SEE...
John Coyle -
Giugiaro Quits Giugiaro: Automotive Design Icon Exits Company
Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Italian master behind iconic designs like Alfa Romeo's Giulia Sprint GTV, the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Lotus Esprit has resigned from Italdesign Giugiaro, Automotive News (subscription required) is reporting. The quiet departure closes the door on one of the most celebrated...
John Coyle -
Ex-Bentley design chief joins Hyundai-Kia
Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke is headed to Korea to replace Peter Schreyer, who is currently in charge of design at Hyundai and Kia. It was announced earlier this month that Donckerwolke would be leaving the top post at Bentley design after only joining the brand in 2012. No reason was given...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
PT Cruiser Designer Bryan Nesbitt To Lead Buick Design
Bryan Nesbitt, most famous for his work on the Chrysler PT Cruiser, has returned to the States to head up Buick’s design team. The American spent the last four years leading the design team at General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] International Operations, based in Shanghai, China, and is...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran