All articles by Joe Simpson – Page 5
-
Article
LA Auto Show 2010 - Trends and Overview
Elsewhere, the Mazda Shinari, aforementioned Ellure, and Hyundai's impressive new Elantra feel like a further message to customers that despite the growing number of niche products, the sedan still has much to offer, no longer playing second best in terms of features and quality to the SUV. Even Chrysler and ...
-
Article
LA Auto Show 2010 - Trends and Overview
Whenever we head to the US's west coast, it is always in the hope that we'll find the weird and wonderful of the automotive world. If that's not a cliche, then nothing is.
-
Article
Who's Where: Jason Castriota opens own design consultancy
Former Bertone and Pininfarina designer, Jason Castriota, has opened his own design consultancy based in New York and Turin. CDN recently caught up with Castriota - who is currently in New York - and discovered he's already working on a series of projects, despite having not yet officially ...
-
Article
CDN and Opel/Vauxhall launch Interactive Design Competition
Opel/Vauxhall today asks students: "What do you think is our lounge style?" as part of a new, interactive design competition being launched with Car Design News.
-
Article
Jason Castriota to head Saab Design
When Car Design News spoke to Jason Castriota about the new design consultancy he had set up in New York and Turin back in March, the designer told us he was working on a very exciting automotive project that he couldn't talk about at the time. It turns out that ...
-
Article
Driven: Lexus GS450h
Unfortunately this tech-forward effect is ruined by the lack of consistency between each element. The graphical design and quality of the cluster and the corresponding 12-inch centre screen and HUD (which features a rev-counter graphic straight from an 80s child's toy) feel unrelated. It's a shame Lexus doesn't have a ...
-
Article
Driven: Lexus GS450h
Lexus' identity is still unclear, even 20 years after it launched. Toyota's premium brand has perpetually failed to establish a clear identity of its own due mainly to a lack of consistency and detail refinement across its products.
-
Article
Design Review: Kia Pop concept
Contrasting with the dark chrome body sides is the gloss-white front panel, onto which the minimal DRG is rendered. While not entirely benign, the facial expression is a welcome relief - and much more appropriate for the car's intended city environment - from the overt aggression that could be seen ...
-
Article
Design Review: Kia Pop concept
There is a connection between a specific country and certain typologies of car. True muscle cars only come from the USA; exotic sports cars really have to be Italian; and, having invented the layout (front wheel drive) that made the type practical, France is synonymous with the small car.
-
Article
Interview: Citroën’s Thierry Metroz and Carlo Bonzanigo on DS and the Concept Numéro 9
In Shanghai in 2011 Citroën introduced the DS5. Reviewing it after the show, we suggested "there are many reasons why the DS5 is both significant and impressive, but primary among these is its marriage of the best in French luxury style with a contemporary Chinese design approach and sense of ...
-
Article
CDN and Opel/Vauxhall launch new Interactive Competition - design the Ampera of 2020
‘Design the 2020 Ampera': That's the challenge being thrown down to European design students by Opel/Vauxhall's design team in a new interactive competition launched today in conjunction with Car Design News.
-
Article
Design Review: Volkswagen Cross Coupé concept
1 Drab architectureAfter the stunning precision surfacing of the exterior and the smile-a-minute quality of Geneva 2011's Bulli concept, the upper interior architecture feels a little dull.
-
Article
Design Review: Volkswagen Cross Coupé concept
1 Bustle backAngle of rear hatch glass says hatch, not wagon and thus ‘modern SUV'. Note the horizontal surface between glass and tailgate - this section gives pronounced bustle-back, unusual for an SUV. A future VW design signature?
-
Article
Design Review: Volkswagen Cross Coupé concept
First seen Tokyo 2011 [silver car], TDI concept Geneva 2012 [red car]Dimensions L: 4,357 mm W: 1,868 mm H: 1,523 mm W: 2,630 mmType 5-door SUV/coupé crossover concept
-
Article
Essay: The Art of Electric Cars
Thinking about mobility in a different way is also something that Sacha Lakic has tried to do at Venturi. The designer of two electric cars - the Fetish and the Eclectic - Lakic does not believe that the design needs to stand out simply due to its powertrain. "I don't ...
-
Article
Essay: The Art of Electric Cars
The jury is still out on which fuel will replace gasoline to power cars in the future. But a host of recent concept and prototype cars suggest that battery electric powered vehicles (EVs) might provide the best alternative yet to the internal combustion engine.Instrumental in winning over cynics who think ...
-
Article
Could Michelin’s Active Wheel truly transform the car?
Cars today have evolved and been refined to an extraordinary degree, but carmakers - and car designers - are still always looking for ‘the next big thing'. Yet despite a myriad of recent technical innovations, ask the man on the street what is the problem with cars of today, and ...
-
Article
BMW 'Dwelling Lab' project
One of the most interesting pieces of work shown at the recent Milan Design Week was 'The Dwelling Lab', collaboration between BMW, Flos Lighting and Kvadrat fabrics. Artists Patricia Urquiola and Guilio Ridolfo were commissioned to effectively turn a BMW 5 Series GT inside out.
-
Article
Design Review: Citroen DS5
Citroen’s launch of the DS5 at the Auto Shanghai in April 2011 has much greater cultural importance than might be initially apparent. Yes, there are many reasons why the DS5 is both significant and impressive, but primary among these is its marriage of the best in French luxury style with ...
-
Article
GQbyCitroen unveiled in London
Two days after unveiling the Survolt and DS High Rider concepts at the Geneva motor show, Citroen last week pulled off a rare surprise by unveiling the GQbyCitroen - its third concept in three days.
