Car Design round-up: Video game-inspired Rolls-Royce, Ferrari educational hub & Hyundai Crater concept

Christof Täubl named as KTM vice president of design 

Motorcycle (and occassionally cars) manufacturer KTM announced Christof Täubl as its new vice president of design. 

Täubl previously worked for Kiska, a brand and design agency, rising from junior designer to director of transportation design over a 17-year tenure. He studied MA Transportation Design at Umeå University. 

See Täubl’s LinkedIn profile here. 

Ferrari opens educational hub 

M-Tech Alfredo Ferrari educational hub will be based in Maranello, Italy, and is scheduled to open in 2029. Designed by Italian architectural practice Labics, the complex aims to ‘inspire and train future generations of technology and automotive innovators.’

The hub will offer programmes for upper secondary school students, university-level specialisation pathways and professional development for workers. Training will include advanced mechanical design and simulation, supported by workstations, professional software and CAD/CAM modelling equipment. 

The programme will also include a state school, which will be built and donated to the community.

Full release here. 

Hyundai Crater concept 

Making its global debut at Automobility LA, the Crater concept is a compact off-road SUV inspired by extreme environments.

The exterior appears chiselled, with precise lines and steep approach and departure angles. The 18-inch hexagonal faceted wheels, clad in 33-inch off-road tyres, should provide ample traction and ground clearance. Hidden functions include side-mirror cameras that double as removable flashlights as well as a built-in recovery hook that serves as a bottle opener. 

The interior is striking, with a dashboard crash pad shaped like a bent metal sheet that wraps around the form, featuring perforations that allow light to glow through. Wraparound seats depart from traditional bucket seats, offering a soft-yet-durable aesthetic.

Full release here. 

McLaren X Bowers & Wilkins headphones 

As part of the decade-long relationship between Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren, the Px8 McLaren edition wireless headphones have been revealed. 

The design combines McLaren’s signature Papaya finish with Anthracite Grey, alongside the McLaren Speedmark on the headband and earcups. The headband is also trimmed in Nappa leather, and memory-foam cushioned pads complete the feel.

Full release here. 

Vintage video game inspired Rolls-Royce 

The Black Badge Ghost Gamer is the latest bespoke commission from Rolls-Royce, inspired by the 8-bit universe of vintage video games. 

Two-tone paint coats the exterior, transitioning from Salamanca Blue on the main body to deep-shimmer Crystal over Diamond Blac on the upper body. This colour choice reflects the metallic aesthetic of classic arcade hardware. A hand-painted ‘Cheeky Alien’ on the green coachline motif also makes the theme evident when you approach the exterior.

Inside, the front seats feature embroidered ‘Player 1’ and ‘Player 2’ writing, with ‘Player 3’ and ‘Player 4’ in the rear. The ‘Cheeky Alien’ motif returns on each headrest. A ‘Pixel-Blaster’ Starlight Headliner – made up of 80 bitmapped battlecruisers – and a ‘Laser Base’ illuminated fascia including gunships composed of 85 individual stars push the theme further.

Full release here. 

2026 Jeep Recon EV

The Jeep Recon EV is the only fully electric SUV designed with removable doors, swing-gate glass and rear quarter glass. 

The EV adopts a familiar boxy design, with expansive glass maximising visibility. The upright front face contains illuminated seven-slot grille rings and U-shaped daytime running lights. Moving around the vehicle, visual contrast is created through Gloss Blac accents on the grille, pillars and window trim. 

Jeep’s off-road heritage is evident inside the SUV, with functional details such as a passenger-side grab handle, a modular accessory rail on the instrument panel for mounting cameras, scuff-resistant vortex-textured surfaces, a wireless charger on the centre console and interchangeable cargo solutions. Technology is woven into the practical interior through a 12.3-inch dial display and 14.5-inch infotainment screen. 

Full release here.