Car Design round-up: Volvo EX60, new Mercedes F1 design & people moves

Mercedes reveals 2026 F1 design 

The Mercedes-AMG F1 W17 E Performance has been unveiled, with the new vehicle being smaller, narrower and lighter than its predecessor.

The W17 features a new livery, with a turquoise flow line sweeping low across the bodywork. A gradient from Mercedes silver to deep black spans from the front to the rear.

 Full release here. 

Mini Paul Smith Edition 

Mini Cooper has, once again, collaborated with British artist Paul Smith. This time, the collaboration spans the entire range – starting with the electric Mini Cooper Paul Smith Edition. 

The EV appears in Midnight Black, with Paul Smith’s signature stripes on the roof in glossy and matt black. There’s also an Inspired White colourway, featuring Nottingham Green (a forest-green-like shade). 

The interior remains consistent across all variants, with deep Nightshade Blue seats and black knitted surfaces featuring tone-on-tone striped patterns. Small details reflect Paul Smith’s style, such as a striped textile band on the six o’clock spoke of the steering wheel and a hand-drawn graphic of his trademark rabbit on the floor mat.

Full release here. 

New Volvo EX60 revealed 

The new electric mid-sized SUV has attracted significant attention for its range, with the highest-spec version capable of travelling up to 503 miles on a single charge. 

The design maintains the company’s Scandinavian design principles, with a focus on aerodynamics evident in the low front, sloping roofline and tapered body sides. 

The UX design is particularly noteworthy. With an emphasis on driver concentration, the interface is designed to be ultra-responsive and intuitive. To do this, the new Volvo uses Gemini, the AI assistant from Google, allowing users to have ‘natural and personalised’ conversations without having to remember specific commands. 

There is much more to explore with this new SUV, so keep an eye on our website for the full feature by Guy Bird, who attended the launch. 

Full release here. 

People news 

Scouring LinkedIn this week revealed a couple notable job updates. At Ford, Sarah Waston, has been promoted from senior colour and materials designer to design manager, after more than nine years with the company. “Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to a wide range of programs within Ford Design — learning from exceptional teammates, partners, and leaders along the way,” she said in a statement. “I’m especially grateful for the trust placed in me to now lead and support a talented team of designers, helping shape the creative direction, culture, and share in the craft that define our most storied nameplates.” 

Another promotion sees Robin Wöhr move from senior design talent partner at Zeekr to senior lead, design talents & creative collaborations. Wöhr commented that his new role includes: “Strategically identifying and engaging design talent, driving creative partnerships with independent artists, educational institutions and shaping initiatives such as Milan Design Week.”