Design round-up: Aston Martin Dreadnought; Bentley Torcal’s new sound; VW ID Cross reveal

Aston Martin Dreadnought 

Just when you thought Aston Martin couldn’t get any cooler, the brand has revealed the Dreadnought – a dramatic tactical SUV concept designed exclusively for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. 

The in-house Aston Martin design team was let loose to create something free from real-world constraints. As a result, the Dreadnought rolls with an armoured exterior and military-grade armour plating. The concept actually takes inspiration from the revolutionary early 20th century British warship – HMS Dreadnaught. 

Aston Martin chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, said: “The team have hugely enjoyed the not inconsiderable challenge of redefining what an Aston Martin can be when the only limit is imagination. 

“To me, Dreadnought is unmistakably an Aston Martin — amplified without restraint. The quality of the details we have been able to include, right down to the iconic Chiltern Green paint colour so synonymous with this marque, underscores our dedication to delivering a truly authentic Aston Martin experience.” 

Bring it to production, we say. Who’s going to start the petition? 

Full release here. 

Bentley Torcal EV sound uses real instruments 

Move aside unnerving electric hum, Bentley has revealed the new sound of the Bentley Torcal – and it’s impressive. 

Using real instruments – including drums, viola and bass guitar – and acoustic textures, the Torcal’s sound mimics the character of a V8. Bentley, of course, has an impressive backlog of engines to be inspired by, including the supercharged cars of the 1930s and the powerful W12. 

This new sound, much like a real engine, will respond to the driver’s inputs – suggesting that perhaps the drums increase in tempo when accelerating.

We are certainly curious to hear this properly in action, in the meantime here’s the promotional video to hear an example of what this engine sounds like. 

VW ID. Cross

This new compact SUV EV stays true to VW’s ‘Pure Positive’ design language, with slim, high-positioned headlights, clear lines and well-balanced proportions. IQ.Light LED matrix headlights feature a lighting strip that runs between the headlights and taillight clusters for improved visibility. From the side, door cladding and wheel arches emphasise its SUV character and characteristic elements are also present – including the elongated roof and strong C-pillar. 

Inside, tactility is key with physical buttons under the 12.9-inch central touchscreen providing direct access to important functions. Ambient lighting is also utilised, with a light strip running into the doors. A fabric-covered dash panel and metallic outer edge on the audio controls help to create an inviting aesthetic.

Full release here. 

People news 

It’s been a busy week… 

Jean-Philippe Salar has been promoted to design director at Renault Design Centre India. Salar previously worked as the VP design at Renault’s Mobilize studio. Salar succeeds Julien Sabatier who will take on the role of head of design factory India and UI management. More to come on Salar’s move. 

Sang Won Lee joins General Motors as senior creative designer on the advanced concepts team. 

Anthony Vincent joins CFMOTO as automotive designer in the four-wheeler team. 

Rebecca Ives joins McLaren Automotive as model operations manager within the design modelling team. 

Maxwell Sullivan joins Dodge as senior exterior designer. 

Violetta Victoria Wickenheiser has transitioned roles at BMW from specialist user interface experience designer to become the lead UX, UI and AI designer. 

Johanna Johnsson has joined the Cadillac F1 team as surface design engineer. 

Mo Ismail has joined Jeep as senior creative designer.