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Car Design News

Design driven: Mazda CX-5

The new Mazda CX-5 brings sharper styling, a roomier cabin and refined road manners, while evolving the brand’s Kodo design language. Car Design News explores the exterior, interior, CMF details and why the new touchscreen HMI is a step backwards

James McLachlan

Ian Cartabiano on Lexus lighting design, architectural inspiration and the future of the spindle

Calty president Ian Cartabiano explains how lighting is shaping the Lexus spindle, defining autonomous luxury and becoming the new language of brand identity

James McLachlan

Bentley Supersports: from gentleman’s express to tyre-smoking menace

Conceived as a modern expression of Bentley’s racing heritage, the Supersports pairs aggressive aero, reduced weight and bespoke craftsmanship with a newfound sense of mischief

James McLachlan

Ferrari's Angelo Nivola on designing with emotion

At Car Design Dialogues Milan 2026, Ferrari's head of exterior and interior design Angelo Nivola explains the process behind "designing emotion"

James McLachlan

"There are many cars you can respect, but very few that you can love"

Laurens van den Acker, chief design officer at Renault Group, joined Car Design Dialogues to speak about designing with emotion, why the future of EVs lies in small cars, and how China is both a challenge and a potential solution to the headwinds facing the industry

James McLachlan

Car Design News designs a Bentley (with a little help)

A recent visit to Bentley's design studio in Crewe saw Car Design News, with the help of the CMF team, design a bespoke Supersports in our brand colours. Here CMF & Bespoke chief Andrea Jensen talks through the design approach

Car Design News

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Ultrasuede blends purity and craftsmanship at new Lisbon showroom

Toray has opened a swish new Ultrasuede showroom in Portugal with the aim of immersing designers in a new world of colour and texture

Car Design News

Bryan Nesbitt: between soul and system

From a hippie childhood spent criss-crossing America in an AMC Gremlin to the top design job at General Motors, Bryan Nesbitt has never seen cars as just objects. As EVs, AI and global platforms reshape the industry, the designer shares his thoughts on the future

James McLachlan

Crystal as a storytelling material in automotive interiors

As automotive interiors become increasingly digital, the role of materials is shifting. No longer confined to surface finish or decoration, materials are emerging as key drivers of brand identity and user experience. Swarovski Mobility is positioning crystal at the centre of this transition — not as an embellishment, but as a multi-sensory storytelling medium

Car Design News

Shaping the future without losing the past

From timeless proportions to radical reinterpretations like the NSX-based TensEi with JAS Motorsport, Pininfarina’s leadership explains how beauty, heritage and innovation continue to drive a design philosophy that is evolving across industries and global markets

James McLachlan

Sharon Gauci on leadership, legacy and letting go at General Motors

From pioneering colour, materials and finish to redefining brand identity across Buick and GMC, Sharon Gauci’s career has reshaped how design works at General Motors — placing culture, collaboration and detail at its core

James McLachlan

CDD Milan 2026:Designing Connection

As the Designing Connection panel during Car Design Dialogues Milan made clear, today’s design leaders are increasingly responsible not just for the product itself, but for the broader narrative that surrounds it, spanning brand, experience and cultural relevance

Car Design News

The unbearable heaviness of brand

A fortnight with the Lotus Emeya raises a deeper question about the power — and peril — of brand identity. As carmakers electrify and evolve, how far can design challenge tradition before it is dismissed as simply “off-brand”?

James McLachlan

Car Design Dialogues Beijing returns: a timely moment for a fast-moving industry

Join us on the eve of the Beijing motor show's opening day for discussions with leaders from Audi, BAIC, Chery, Li Auto, Mercedes and Zeekr

Car Design News

Top colour & trim trends

Spray on shoes, leather made from beer and ancient Indian inlays all feature in CnT Factory’s trend bulletin

Car Design News

"Visualisation translates a single design truth into multiple narratives"

Bentley’s T. Jon Mayer on real-time design, AI, and why integration, not tools, will define the next era of automotive visualisation

James McLachlan

A cultural exchange between Shanghai and Cambiano has empowered Pininfarina

Ahead of Car Design Dialogues Milan 2026, learn more about how the legendary design house is leveraging its global footprint

Car Design News

Exclusive: Kemal Curic to head up McLaren Automotive design

Former design boss at Lincoln and Ford Performance Kemal Curic has joined McLaren Automotive as chief design officer

James McLachlan

“A happy designer is a creative designer” – Simon Loasby

Hyundai's head of global design reflects on the Ioniq line-up, global design and his father's influence on his career

Car Design News

The state of automotive digital tools in 2026

March saw the CDN team dig into digital tools – from the top tools in designers’ toolboxes to the impact of these tools on workflow and speed…

Car Design News

How Dinamica is Shaping China’s luxury car interiors

Chinese luxury car interiors are evolving, blending bold colours, advanced materials and cultural storytelling. Dinamica®, a leader in non-woven suede, partners with OEMs to deliver bespoke, high-quality materials that enhance design, comfort and exclusivity for premium and high-end vehicles

Car Design News

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Hidden space, visible impact

From daily commutes to weekend adventures, this clever headrest compartment keeps valuables safe, portable and out of sight, offering designers a seamless way to combine security, function and style

Car Design News

Sharon Gauci to retire from GM

The executive director of global design for Buick and GMC will leave the business as of 1 May 2026

Car Design News

“Designers should spend time in finance, product planning and production”

Lamborghini’s design director Mitja Borkert argues young car designers should step outside the studio and work across departments to build broader skills, gain business insight and create more value within OEMs

James McLachlan

"Design has never moved faster" – Shao Jingfeng

Chief design officer at SAIC, Shao Jingfeng, reflects on strategy in Europe, the impact of EV technology on design and the influence of social media

Car Design News

Join CDN in downtown Detroit this October

CDN's flagship North American event shifts to an exciting new venue in downtown Detroit

Car Design News

"Design now informs every part of the brand experience" – Robin Page

Design director at Bentley Motors Robin Page reflects on the EXP 15, bringing the UX team physically into the design space and the importance of lighting

Car Design News

Navarro to lead Italdesign as García departs

Long-time company veteran José Navarro takes over the creative helm at Italdesign following the departure of design chief Joaquin García Sanchis who joins Electrolux

James McLachlan

Genesis’ John Krsteski: Why digital tools make it the best time to be a car designer

According to Genesis’ John Krsteski, digital tools are empowering designers, simplifying complex processes, and allowing unprecedented creative freedom, making now an exciting era for automotive design innovation

James McLachlan

"We’re very conscious that the brands are king” – Ralph Gilles

Stellantis' chief design officer Ralph Gilles reflects on how to make an affordable product, AI and the magic of a non-hierarchical work culture

Car Design News

Raphael Bretecher on design mavericks and concepts

Bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and a glimpse of the future: Hyundai’s head of interiors in Europe Raphael Bretecher discusses maverick designers and concept cars

James McLachlan

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Milan design week feeds “a year of creative thinking” says CMF designer

Meet Kristin Michl, senior designer at Rino Mastrotto who will join our panel of expert speakers at Car Design Dialogues Milan 2026

Car Design News

Soft power play as MG refines the MG4

The MG4 Urban tempers the sharper edges of the hatch that helped revive the brand

James McLachlan

Pierre Leclercq: “We learn a lot as designers by making sure our cars are affordable”

Citroën design director on French identity in design, mono materials and the importance of working on brand strength

Car Design News

Designing the future from first principles: von Holzhausen on the Tesla Cybercab

Franz von Holzhausen and Eric Earley explain how Tesla’s Cybercab rethinks autonomy, luxury and manufacturing from the ground up — pairing hyper-efficiency with emotional design to democratise premium mobility at scale

James McLachlan

Inside Ford’s new global headquarters: Jennifer Kolstad on designing culture, identity and change

In this exclusive building tour for Car Design News, global design and brand director at Ford Jennifer Kolstad guides readers inside the carmaker's new campus in Dearborn, revealing how architecture is reshaping culture, brand identity and organisational change

James McLachlan

Jozef Kaban: "We need to be the light for the whole system, not just design"

SAIC design VP and self-described life optimist Jozef Kaban explains why strong leadership still matters in a flatter creative culture, failure and design heroes

James McLachlan

Designing autonomous luxury at Lucid

Lucid Motors' design supremo Derek Jenkins explains how autonomous driving reshapes vehicle design, user experience and luxury expectations, outlining the balance between tech innovation and human-centred creativity in future mobility

James McLachlan

Car Design News People Awards 2026 open for entries

The entries for the 2026 People Awards are now open

Car Design News

Detroit design students showcase contrasting visions for mobility’s future

At the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, the next generation of car designers presented projects ranging from off-road rescue vehicles to visionary urban transport systems, revealing how industry briefs and academic imagination combine to shape fresh design thinking

James McLachlan

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Fellten transforms vintage Porsches, Land Rovers and Minis into clean EVs

British firm Fellten is retrofitting classic cars with bespoke EV powertrains, all with the help of Autodesk

Car Design News

Exclusive: BAIC's new Turin studio takes shape with Ivo Groen at the helm

Chinese automaker BAIC is opening a new design studio in Turin, appointing experienced European designer Ivo Groen to lead the facility

James McLachlan

Exclusive: Raul Pires replaces Max Wolff as head of Ford design in China and Asia; Wolff joins GM China

Pires drafted in to lead Ford's China studio as Wolff crosses over to head up General Motors Shanghai operation

James McLachlan

Review: Heritage & Horizons at the DAF museum

A new exhibition at the DAF museum curated by Bart van Lotringen explores the truckmaker's past and looks at a future defined by Artificial Intelligence

James McLachlan

Car Design News launches podcast

Car Design News launches new monthly podcast for global design community

Car Design News

Kia PV5: a modular electric toolbox

Kia’s Won-Kyu Kang explains how customer research, modular thinking and a product-design mindset shaped the PV5 into a flexible, human-centred electric commercial vehicle

James McLachlan

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Car Design News - Car Design News

Car Design News

Design driven: Mazda CX-5

Ian Cartabiano on Lexus lighting design, architectural inspiration and the future of the spindle

Bentley Supersports: from gentleman’s express to tyre-smoking menace

Ferrari's Angelo Nivola on designing with emotion

"There are many cars you can respect, but very few that you can love"

Car Design News designs a Bentley (with a little help)

Ultrasuede blends purity and craftsmanship at new Lisbon showroom

Bryan Nesbitt: between soul and system

Crystal as a storytelling material in automotive interiors

Shaping the future without losing the past

Sharon Gauci on leadership, legacy and letting go at General Motors

CDD Milan 2026:Designing Connection

The unbearable heaviness of brand

Car Design Dialogues Beijing returns: a timely moment for a fast-moving industry

Top colour & trim trends

"Visualisation translates a single design truth into multiple narratives"

A cultural exchange between Shanghai and Cambiano has empowered Pininfarina

Exclusive: Kemal Curic to head up McLaren Automotive design

“A happy designer is a creative designer” – Simon Loasby

The state of automotive digital tools in 2026

How Dinamica is Shaping China’s luxury car interiors

Hidden space, visible impact

Sharon Gauci to retire from GM

“Designers should spend time in finance, product planning and production”

"Design has never moved faster" – Shao Jingfeng

Join CDN in downtown Detroit this October

"Design now informs every part of the brand experience" – Robin Page

Navarro to lead Italdesign as García departs

Genesis’ John Krsteski: Why digital tools make it the best time to be a car designer

"We’re very conscious that the brands are king” – Ralph Gilles

Raphael Bretecher on design mavericks and concepts

Milan design week feeds “a year of creative thinking” says CMF designer

Soft power play as MG refines the MG4

Pierre Leclercq: “We learn a lot as designers by making sure our cars are affordable”

Designing the future from first principles: von Holzhausen on the Tesla Cybercab

Inside Ford’s new global headquarters: Jennifer Kolstad on designing culture, identity and change

Jozef Kaban: "We need to be the light for the whole system, not just design"

Designing autonomous luxury at Lucid

Car Design News People Awards 2026 open for entries

Detroit design students showcase contrasting visions for mobility’s future

Fellten transforms vintage Porsches, Land Rovers and Minis into clean EVs

Exclusive: BAIC's new Turin studio takes shape with Ivo Groen at the helm

Exclusive: Raul Pires replaces Max Wolff as head of Ford design in China and Asia; Wolff joins GM China

Review: Heritage & Horizons at the DAF museum

Car Design News launches podcast

Kia PV5: a modular electric toolbox

ZEISS holographic windshield display: Reconciling infotainment demands with design freedom

Jeep Recon: a modular electric off-roader

Designing on the edge: how Ford’s Dark Horse SC took shape

EyesOn Design 2026 honours Cadillac, Ferrari and Bentley for automotive design excellence

Detroit’s design renaissance leaves its auto show behind

Don't end up with a "Potato"

Interview: Richard Shaw, Opel interiors chief

“I am so proud of them all” – Richard Pietruska, ArtCenter College of Design

"The future is clear, it is electric"

First Look: Opel refreshes the Astra