Karl Smith
Karl is the Car Design News correspondent in the United States. He lives near Los Angeles. He has written for Car Design News since 2013, as well as our sister publications, Interior Motives, and Automotive IT International. He has also been a contributor to our bespoke publications for Volvo and Nissan, as well as our annual Car Design Yearbook.
Karl has written for design journals for over 30 years and has been published in books and magazines in the US, Europe and Japan. Karl is also a practicing architect in California, with projects across the United States and in Europe.
Karl.smith@cardesignnews.com
Contact info
- Email:
- Karl.Smith@cardesignnews.com
- Website:
- www.KarlSmithStudio.com
ArticleReview: “Eyes on the Road” at the Petersen Museum
The Petersen’s new exhibit examines the artwork inspired by automotive culture
ArticleBMW balances retro and future with Neue Klasse X
At the annual BMW Group conference, a new concept previews the marque’s SUVs of the future
ArticleFlashback: Return to Geneva
After sixty years, an iconic sports car had a quiet homecoming to the show where it all began
ArticleDodge introduces a new generation Charger
The storied Dodge Charger muscle car starts a new era as an all-electric with artificial sound and an ICE option
ArticleFirst sight: the new Dacia Spring
The refreshed entry-level EV may be the electric car we need now
ArticleGeneva Motor Show 2024: rating the stands
Architect and design historian Karl Smith reflects on the stands of the show floor at Geneva, designed as always to present the brand and its cars in the best possible light
ArticleInterview: Jacques Flynn, Mazda Design Americas
The new senior director of design for Mazda North America shares some thoughts about the brand and where it is going under his leadership
ArticleChrysler Halcyon concept: new American luxury
The heritage brand debuts a futuristic sedan with the stance of a sports car
ArticleReport: ArtCenter fall/winter show 2023
Innovative monospace projects and a revival of a classic Jeep highlight the student show in Pasadena, California
ArticleXiaomi enlists Bangle as ‘strategic design consultant’
Veteran designer Chris Bangle has been brought in as a consultant for Xiaomi’s venture into the automotive space
ArticleFlashback: designing the car windscreen
Long used for protection and safety, the windscreen of the future could also become a field of information
ArticleHonda reveals futuristic ‘0 Series’ concepts
Honda’s new Saloon and Space-Hub concepts preview a new line of electric vehicles
ArticleXiaomi introduces its first car, the SU7
Has the mobile phone giant introduced the first truly 21st century car?
ArticleFlashback: the origins of the speedometer
An instrument so ubiquitous we hardly notice it, the speedometer was once a marvel of the emerging automotive age
ArticleFlashback: Hidden headlamps, the ‘sunglasses’ of car design
Once considered the ‘sunglasses’ of the automotive world, this seemingly forgotten technology faces an uncertain future
ArticleFlashback: car seats that swivel
Designed as a convenience and a novelty, the swiveling seat may yet have something to say about the future of the automotive interior
ArticleFlashback: central driver’s seats
Karl Smith looks back at the move by some designers to deploy a central driving position, an interesting trend that never really caught on beyond specific niches
ArticleArtcenter graduate show: Summer 2023
Land jets, stretched Range Rovers, outdoorsy vehicles and even a levitating sail craft: all feature in the Artcenter summer show round up
ArticleFlashback: Four fibreglass pioneers of the car world
Often derided as “a poor man’s carbon fibre”, fiberglass was critical in the development of the modern sports car. CDN takes a look back to the beginnings of the composites era
