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
ArticleLA 2019: Kia Seltos debuts in US spec
The SUV maintains its confident yet modest appearance and ruggedness
- Article
Mercedes introduces three premium SUVs on two continents
Luxury and power is the focus for Mercedes with its new SUVs
- Article
LA 2019: Hyundai Vision T Concept
Hyundai has introduced a sculptural plug-in Hybrid SUV concept called the Vision T
- News
LA 2019: Bollinger B1 and B2
The Bollinger B1 and B2 were introduced back in 2018, a follow-up to the original B1 SUV. Robert Bollinger brought the pair to the 2019 LA Auto Show
- News
Wild Trapezoidal Tesla Truck Debuts in Los Angeles
Tesla has debuted its long-awaited electric pickup truck: the Cybertruck. Featuring only straight surfaces and some very large claimed numbers…
- Article
Discussing Canoo Design with Richard Kim
Richard Kim, the lead designer at Canoo, speaks to CDN about the new company and its unusual approach to vehicle design
- Article
Concept of the Month: Renault Radiance (2004)
As we saw last month, delightful design can be found in unusual places. The 2004 Renault Radiance, a concept for a full-size lorry with more automotive design elements, is just such an example.
- News
Tokyo 2019: Toyota debuts 2nd-generation Mirai
The new Mirai Concept hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, set to go on sale as 2021 model, looks production-ready in its new sedan-like form
- Interior Motives
Interior Motives: Lincoln Corsair
Lincoln has been working in the C-sector space for over a decade, seeking to bring big-car luxury to a small platform and package. The spacious Lincoln C concept of 2009 explored this theme, and hints of Lincoln interiors to come were found in that car, especially the broad two-tiered instrument panel and the wide, open cabin and panoramic roof; and the experience of the C project has surely informed the bringing of the premium ambience of Lincoln’s larger SUVs into the five-seater Corsair, which completes Lincoln’s latest product line renewal.
- News
First Sight: Canoo’s canoo
Car Design News was present at the launch of the first project by Californian EV manufacturer Canoo (née EVelozcity), known as… the canoo. The new subscription-only monospace sits in an electric skateboard platform and maximises interior space. We spoke to design director, Richard Kim
- Article
Syd Mead announces retirement
Syd Mead, former Car Design News lifetime achievement award winner, has officially retired from professional design, according to an announcement on social media
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In Memoriam: Luigi Colani (1929-2019)
CDN takes a visual look back at the life and career the mercurial and deliciously controversial German designer Luigi Colani, following news of his death at the age of 91
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CCotM: Hymer VisionVenture RV (2019)
Our concept car of the month isn’t a car at all, but a reimagining of the recreational vehicle formula. We take a look at the all-terrain motorhome of the near future, which debuted at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf.
- Article
ArtCenter Degree Show, Summer 2019
The latest student degree show from ArtCenter design school in California presents some intriguing mobility design concepts
- News
Pebble 2019: Bugatti Centodieci recalls the EB110
Bugatti has debuted its latest hypercar, the Centodieci, at The Quail, a motorsports gathering in Carmel Valley, as part of the Monterey Car Week. CDN discovers that its design pays homage to the legendary Bugatti EB110, with some distinct differences
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Concept Car of the Month: ATNMBL (2009)
The autonomous concept study that ripped up the car design rulebook
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Pebble 2019: first sight of the Acura Type S concept
This week at the 2019 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Acura will introduce a new expression of the Precision design language in the form of the Type S concept sedan. We take a look at the design language and consider how it will feed into future models
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CCotM: Lo-Res and The Consumer (2016)
Two remarkable concepts explore the ‘Form Zero’ of automotive design
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Design interview: Sharon Gauci, GM
“In its purest form, design should be a sensory journey of discovery,” says GM’s executive director of industrial design
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CCotM: Quasar Khanh’s Unipower City Car
Of all the automotive package formats, the one that seems to be the most vexing is the city car. The sizing, the shape, the seating, the powertrain and even the number of wheels always seem to be open to constant debate and re-interpretation.
