All articles by Nick Hull – Page 6
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Design Development: Aston Martin AMV8 Vantage
At a second review in April, the design was not only finalised but the decision was taken to build a running concept model for NAIAS as a cost-effective way for showcasing the company and proving-out the new design as fast as possible. The exterior clay was subsequently digitised and surface ...
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Design Development: Aston Martin AMV8 Vantage
The Detroit Auto Show is becoming a significant showcase these days for Aston Martin. Just as the V12 Vanquish was originally launched as a concept at the 1998 NAIAS, so the AMV8 Vantage will go into production pretty much as seen at this years NAIAS by 2005. Furthermore, what sets ...
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College Exhibition: Institut Superieur de Design 2009
Another Parotech intern was Thomas Clavet, who collaborated with colleague Baptiste Viry on the ‘Green GT' project. This was a group project based on the 2009 Green GT chassis that is being developed by the Swiss racing team. The project took two different directions: an open single seat racer powered ...
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College Exhibition: Institut Superieur de Design 2009
Valenciennes in northern France might not be the most glamorous of French towns but it's been quietly turning out transportation design graduates for over 20 years. The Institute Superieur de Design (ISD) isn't as well-known as Strate or Creapole in Paris, nevertheless it has a growing reputation as one of ...
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Design Review: Renault Zoe concept
The rear seat is formed from a single S-shaped curve across the car and is wonderfully inviting, reminding one of a comfy armchair. The Zoe also features a 'Pass' system - a small iPod-like control pad that stores a selection of interior ambiences to suit driver tastes. One click can ...
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Design Review: Renault Zoe concept
Renault is renowned for searching for the 'Next Big Thing' in car concepts but until now it seemed a bit slow to join the wave of '3-Metre' cars that many believe are the next big vogue in Europe. The Opel Trixx and Fiat Trepiuno concepts featured at Geneva last year ...
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Design Review: MG Zero concept
Other highlights include a witty glass roof featuring a see-through abstracted union flag motif that casts interesting reflections and shadows across the interior and the use of a lozenge pattern that is repeated throughout the car, including a red graphic in the rocker panels, the texture in the lower grille ...
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Design Review: MG Zero concept
SAIC has a fairly standard strategy with their new model launches: a showcar concept model is shown 12 months before the start of production as a way of introducing the press and sales teams to the impending new model. The latest MG Zero concept shown at Beijing in April follows ...
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Louis Vuitton Classic Concours d'Elegance 2004
At the other extreme was a totally original Bugatti Type 43 from 1930, its satin black bodywork and weathered chestnut leather bearing all the scars of a long career. The display also included a great selection of American V8 muscle cars including a rare Plymouth ?Roadrunner' Superbird, one of the ...
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Driven: Hyundai i40
CDN recently spent a day sampling Hyundai’s new i40 Tourer, which has just been launched in Europe. For the launch, Hyundai invited us to Waddesdon Manor, the home of the Rothschild banking family and a venue that has been used for previous Louis Vuitton events. It has recently added a new art gallery with fabulous views across rolling countryside, and contains work by Anish Kapoor, Michael Craig-
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Driven: Honda CR-Z
One-mile rear seatThis latest interpretation also offers a 2+2 seating package (though not in the US market). It has been misunderstood by much of the media but it's actually a great feature; an essential part of this car's appeal. For a start, it makes the CR-Z stand out: it's not ...
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Driven: Honda CR-Z
The Honda CR-Z has been a long time coming. Although the concept debuted in 2007, as a project it's been kicking around Honda for over 10 years. Since the first Insight was launched in 1999, there have been numerous stop-start projects to produce a hybrid successor to the much-loved CR-X ...
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Architects and Car Design
Having recently employed an architect to produce plans for some remodeling on my house, I was frustrated at the reluctance to embrace new ideas for intersecting walls and surfaces. Anything more complex than perfectly straight walls and 90-degree angles was met with a lot of sucking of teeth and shaking of heads by both architect and builder alike. This left me wondering why automotive designers and architects still approach design from such different directions.
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Driven: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Stepping into the C200 Sport test car, one notices how the basic interior architecture is notably different from the previous model, which was soft and flowing in character. This is more 'blocky', with flat surfaces that echo some of the old W202 C-Class in the shape of the binnacle hood, ...
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Driven: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Just over 25 years ago, in November 1982, Mercedes Chief Designer Bruno Sacco introduced his new 'baby' 190, codenamed W201. Billed as the new compact Mercedes, it was a successful model that lasted a full ten years until being replaced by the first C-Class (W202). This model - the first ...
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Design Review: Honda FCX concept
The individual shell-like rear seats feature luxurious ottoman footrests, as on an airliner, with centre armrests containing climate control buttons. Neat scrolled armrests are tucked into the rear quarter panels, to compliment those on the front doors. This rich upper cabin feel is contrasted by a striking metallic floor that ...
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Design Review: Honda FCX concept
Should an alternative fuel vehicle look any different from a regular car? Honda seems to believe so with its FCX series of fuel cell technology cars that have evolved a look that's not only distinctive but clearly signals the advantages offered by this new technology in terms of packaging. But ...
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Goodwood Revival 2011
The middle week of September was a crowded one for the CDN team with coverage of the Frankfurt motor show but we still found time to get our period tweeds out and head down to Sussex to cover the Revival weekend. This historic motor racing festival runs over three days, ...
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Design Review: Honda OSM concept
Compared to the CR-Z, the form language here is softer. Whereas the CR-Z had a large snout and a deep grille, the OSM has a broad, flat hood and slim, pointed headlamps. The tail is more rounded too, with the beltline running around the rear deck in a sweeping curve. ...
