All articles by James McLachlan
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Article“My team is very free to explore” – Stephanie Petit, CMF head at Alpine
Car Design News speaks to Stephanie Petit about sustainable materials, 3D-printed finishes, and French craftsmanship – from leather traceability to illuminated triangles
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Article“The better the proportions, the less styling you need” – Gary Telaak, Audi
Audi senior designer Gary Telaak has been with the storied brand for 28 years. Here he looks back at the launch of Audi TT, shares his thoughts on what made that car so special and talks about the challenges designers face in working with and integrating new technology
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ArticleFirst sight: Omoda 9
Chery International’s new brand Omoda is moving fast. Since launching in 2022 under the Chery moniker, Omoda has morphed into a standalone brand with its sights trained on the European premium market. Car Design News took a look at the Omoda 9 flaghship
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Article“We can claim to be Europe’s most productive studio”
At a bespoke event down in Southampton, Car Design News grabbed some time with senior manager Interior Design at Chery International, Michael Duerr, to speak about building a brand from scratch, AI and China speed
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ArticleWatch: Aurelien Doisy speaks to Car Design News
Aurelien Doisy is a key figure in Tata Motors’ design evolution. From humble beginnings in a rented shed to global recognition, this conversation explores themes of cultural identity, design leadership, and redefining modern automotive aesthetics through a uniquely Indian lens
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ArticleAlpine launches new A390
The new electric fastback expands the brand’s product offering and subsequently its customer base. CDN is in France for the official launch to learn more
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ArticleInside Cloud 46: Mercedes-Benz’s new Shanghai studio
Mercedes-Benz has a new studio in Shanghai way up on the 46th floor of a high-rise overlooking the famous Bund. With spectacular views plus a helipad on the roof, Cloud 46 is a strong commitment to mastering the Chinese market
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ArticleExclusive: Zeekr and Lynk & Co Gothenburg design teams facing potential cuts
Geely-owned Zeekr and Lynk & Co design studios will be restructured as part of what the company describes as an “ongoing efficiency program” which will see the Shanghai studio taking on greater operational responsibilities
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ArticleMartin Uhlarik: “We have nine full programs live in the UK at the moment, 13 globally”
Global design head of Tata Motors Martin Uhlarik speaks to Car Design News about the role of the studio, his current recruitment drive, the importance of diverse talent and hosting the live judging for the CDN People Awards
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ArticleReview: Car Design Event highlights
Car Design Event returned for its third year with the now familiar mix of design walkarounds, presentations and networking at the Munich Driver’s Club. Car Design News reports…
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ArticleInterview: Lynk & Co’s Eileen Hwang
Lighting design has become ever more sophisticated as greater demands for efficiency, UX and aesthetics are placed upon the discipline. An industrial designer by training, Lynk & Co’s interior designer & lighting experience specialist Eileen Hwang is charged with developing the lighting design strategy for the brand. This interview is from the Spring edition of Interior Motives
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ArticleInterview: Richard Stevens, JLR
Range Rover’s time-travelling installation at Milan Design Week was the star of the show. Car Design News spoke to design director Richard Stevens about how it feeds into a broader design strategy
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ArticleWatch: Car Design Dialogues Shanghai 2025 highlights
Car Design Dialogues Shanghai gathered industry leaders from General Motors, Stellantis, Scout, Ford and more
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ArticleTaking the temperature in Shanghai
Following the Shanghai Auto Show and Car Design Dialogues, CDN is back from China. Editor-in-chief James McLachlan has thoughts
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ArticleWatch: Swarovski Mobility speaks to Car Design News
Ahead of Car Design Dialogues Milan, Car Design News caught up with the MD of event partner Swarovski Mobility, Lars Schmidt.
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ArticleWatch: CDN Car Design Dialogues Milan 2025 highlights
Car Design Dialogues Milan at the Maserati showroom in Milan gathered industry leaders from Ferrari, Lamborghini, BWM, Stellantis, Changan, and more
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ArticleNew design director at Lincoln; Curic moves to Ford Performance
In an internal shake-up, Kemal Curic has left Lincoln to head up the Ford Performance division while Christine Cheng takes Curic’s former role. The Irvine studio is also set to close design operations as Ford consolidates its design teams in Dearborn
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ArticleDesign driven: Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is a pretty accomplished off-roader that will appeal to outdoorsy types and young families on a budget
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ArticleWatch: Renault design boss Gilles Vidal on winning the Production Car Design of the Year
At the Car Design News People Awards 2024, Renault design chief Gilles Vidal spoke to CDN editor James McLachlan about winning the Production Car Design of the Year for the Renault 5 E-Tech
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ArticleRenault rising
After a stellar 2024, Renault Group has shown that when it comes to navigating choppy waters of the European car industry, it helps to have a clear idea of who you are