Tag: features

Hongik University Transportation Design degree show highlights

Car Design News takes a look at work from the graduating 2026 students from Hongik University's transportation design course

Lucy Abbott

Considering the Tesla Roadster: "The last, best driver's car"

Tesla debuted its latest Roadster in a pyrotechnic show of automotive gymnastics. But is the car more than smoke and mirrors?

SEMA concepts underline the importance of design details

A handful of JDM concepts have caught our eye from a trade show that typically passes us by

Freddie Holmes

What does the truck interior of the future look like?

Car Design News was joined by Jeff Cotner, chief designer for Daimler Trucks North America and Wenyu Wu, creative interior designer at FAW Munich. Watch a replay above or read on for the key takeaways

Freddie Holmes

Why DCA refuses to fake it

Inside DCA’s Warwick studios, ideas are built, broken, tested and perfected. Car Design News discovers a fiercely hands-on culture where craftsmanship and engineering turn ambitious concepts into something real

James McLachlan

The changing face of automotive design leadership

At Car Design Dialogues Detroit 2026, design leaders from GM, Ford, Stellantis and Scout Motors discussed why creative leadership increasingly depends on trust, empathy and the ability to challenge convention

Can you design an automotive icon? Cadillac, Dodge and Calty designers on creating cars that endure

At Car Design Dialogues Detroit 2026, designers from General Motors, Dodge and Calty discussed the challenge of creating automotive icons, reinventing established nameplates and why the true value of a halo vehicle extends beyond sales figures

Type 01 – the most important Jaguar ever – as explained by its designers (but not Gerry)

Jaguar has just revealed a rather important car in New York called the Type 01 (6th October 2026). Ahead of that official launch in early September Car Design News talked to a trio of its key designers alongside pre-production cars at a sneak media preview in Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon HQ to get the low-down

Touring Bertone – the styling house that made history

Bertone was always one of the biggest names in car design and today the Bertone Collection resides in the Stellantis Heritage Hub in Turin. Mark Smyth went to have a look

Industrial design cues inform new approach to commercial vehicle interiors

Commercial vehicles are rarely associated with playful CMF and interior design, but one Detroit company aims to change that

Freddie Holmes

IAA Transportation 2026: key launches and design trends

Commercial vehicle design is alive and kicking — and as broad and varied as ever

Freddie Holmes

Volkswagen’s changing view of UX

Volkswagen no longer defines quality only by build, reliability and technical safety. Group chief quality officer Andreas Krepp says UX, software and intuition are becoming just as important to how customers judge a vehicle

Timo Gilgen

"Every touchpoint should feel like it's from the same company"

Rivian's head of design explains why he views the digital ecosystem as part of the brands broader design language

Freddie Holmes

How JCB designed its way into the 400mph club

Data from JCB’s diesel land speed record car 20 years ago played a crucial role in designing the world’s fastest hydrogen combustion engined vehicle. Trinity Francis was there to witness the record being set

Design driven: Mazda 6e — has something been lost in translation?

Handsome, well resolved and unmistakably Mazda on the surface, the 6e makes a convincing design statement. But beneath the Kodo styling, Mazda’s first electric saloon struggles to deliver the character expected of the brand

James McLachlan

Nichols N1A is a track car that doesn’t compromise on style

This small-batch British design takes styling cues from the 1960s — and the team behind it makes clear that aesthetics was the priority

Freddie Holmes

How function defined Lamborghini’s latest ‘super veloce’

Aerodynamic principles were central to the Revuelto SV’s razor sharp bodywork, with significantly more downforce and balance than before

Freddie Holmes

Design driven: Morgan Supersport

Deputy editor Freddie Holmes had a chariot of fine fettle for this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. It is a reminder that art is fundamental to car design

Freddie Holmes

Chinese design school builds a working car

Students at the China Academy of Art have showcased an array of interesting projects, including one full-size fully working prototype

Freddie Holmes

When Detroit went to Broadway: GM’s industrial musical era

For decades General Motors turned new-car launches into full-scale musical theatre, enlisting Broadway talent and costume designers to sell dealers not just a vehicle, but an entire world around it. GM archivist Natalie Morath explains how Winn Morton’s remarkable designs brought that world to life

James McLachlan

Luce sales point to the power of divisive design

If Ferrari’s polarising EV has indeed sold out, it can be labelled a commercial success. What does this tell us about design strategy for the upper echelons of luxury where exclusivity reigns supreme?

Freddie Holmes

Borkert on the Urus SE Perfomante – “it just gets better and better”

Lamborghini’s flagship SUV is now both electrified and performance focussed. Design boss Mitja Borkert speaks to CDN about the challenge of working with mixed materials and aero, and why the industry’s fascination with big wheels may have reached its limit

Freddie Holmes

Daytona Shooting Brake Hommage pays tribute to iconic coachbuilt design

The latest creation from Niels van Roij Design is a homage to the 1972 Ferrari Daytona Shooting Brake. Mark Smyth spoke to Van Roij at its reveal at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club Concours

Design driven: Alfa Romeo Giulia Intensa

Car Design News spends a week with the medium-spice variant of Alfa’s stunning sedan

Freddie Holmes

Volvo EX60 HMI review: the software-defined Volvo finds new clarity

Car Design News gets hands on with the HMI of Volvo’s new mid-size SUV

Timo Gilgen

Audi, Apple and Arc'teryx designers reimagine the beach buggy

The fusion of automotive and industrial design has led to a pared back all-rounder that leaves only what matters — but is far from boring

Freddie Holmes

Rediscovering sketching in the age of AI

As generative AI reshapes automotive design, sketching is becoming more important, not less. Designers are discovering that creativity, judgement and intent — not image-making— are emerging as their most valuable skills

Aero as a surface: Praga on the Bohema hypercar

Car Design News learns how this road-to-track hypercar employed aerodynamics to create its distinctive and unexpected two-seater form

Freddie Holmes

Monthly focus: Surfacing & aerodynamics

Car Design News explores surfacing and aerodynamics this month, speaking to a range of automotive designers about the delicate balance between sculptural expression and aerodynamic efficiency

Lucy Abbott

Klaus Busse on 'surfacing with purpose' and the GT4 race car

Maserati used the platform of Goodwood to reveal a new race car alongside its recently-refreshed core line-up. Head of design Klaus Busse spoke to CDN about the new track project and reflects on the significance of surfacing as a design principle

Freddie Holmes

How Citroën turned aerodynamics into another layer of comfort

Car Design News spoke to design project manager Kate Mouiron on the C5 Aircross about how close collaboration between designers and aerodynamic engineers has delivered greater efficiency, reduced cabin noise and a more relaxing driving experience

James McLachlan

Zeekr 7GT is a bid to redefine luxury

The Zeekr 7GT showcases a brand passionate about design. Mark Smyth spoke to its chief exterior designer Lukas Medeisis at the cars’s European launch in Spain.

We designed a Gulf-inspired Boreham Motorworks Escort RS

Car Design News was given free rein of the Boreham Motorworks configurator and devised a sky blue and orange tribute to the Gulf GT40

Freddie Holmes

Exclusive: VW on the new Atlas and global collaboration

Volkswagen’s full-size SUV celebrates its ten-year anniversary, and Car Design News caught up with two of its main architects to learn more

Freddie Holmes

New Audi Q4 e-tron: improving UX to update your bestselling EV

Audi’s interior design expert talks us round the new, slightly more analogue Q4 e-tron interior

Product and fashion combine for new smart #2 interior

Car Design News was in Rome for a preview of the upcoming smart #2

Freddie Holmes

OEMs, kids and the forever young

With memories of Skoda’s ‘Ooooh, that’s EpiQ’ installation at this year’s Milan Design Week still fresh, it’s high time that we look at how OEMs are courting kids, both big and small

Design driven: 2026 Mitsubishi L200

Car Design News was at Thruxton racetrack of all places for the launch of Mitsubishi brand’s seventh generation pick-up truck

Freddie Holmes

What’s the difference between advanced and production design?

Seasoned designers give their take on the process and mindset behind advanced design

Freddie Holmes

University of Staffordshire Automotive and Transport design BA show highlights

Car Design News visits the University of Staffordshire to take a look at what the Automotive &Transport Design BA students have created

Lucy Abbott

"Industry is at a turning point" says HMI expert

One designer has warned that the current status of UX/UI needs to change. As it happens, that's exactly what new studio östra plans to do

Freddie Holmes

Coventry University Automotive and Transport Design show 2026 highlights

Coventry's latest BA showcase brought an intriguing mix of CMF projects, surrealist shapes and water-ready vehicles…

Lucy Abbott

Design driven: Lotus Emeya – bravery with intelligence

Lotus' premium grand tourer, the Emeya, has struggled to find its audience. Yet its blend of daring design, genuine innovation and driver engagement makes a strong argument for reassessment

James McLachlan

Autonomous driving has a comms problem

Car Design News reflects on the themes raised at a conference about the 'human-centric physical AI mobility ecosystem', whatever that is

Freddie Holmes

Design driven: Refreshed Tonale keeps Alfa on brand

CDN tries the refreshed Alfa Romeo Tonale and learns more about its unexpected links to the 33 Stradale and Giulia GTA

Freddie Holmes

CCS Transportation Design BFA showcase highlights

Jason White, assistant professor at CCS, profiles a selection of standout projects from the BFA degree Show, launched on May 15th at the A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education

June focus: Advanced design

This month we dig into the world of advanced design to explore how these hyper-creative teams work. And given this is a future-looking discipline, we consider the long-term strategy for advanced design teams following the closure of major studios

Freddie Holmes

Umeå UID 2026 degree show highlights

Car Design News shares a selection of mobility projects on show today at the Umeå Institute of Design

Freddie Holmes

CCS Detroit Transportation Design MA show 2026

CDN takes a look at first year and thesis MFA work from the CCS Transportation Design show 2026

Lucy Abbott

Ferrari’s electric future arrives without its soul

A fascinating object — and an unconvincing Ferrari. In treating the car as a product rather than an object of desire, LoveFrom's Luce sacrifices the emotion that made the marque iconic

James McLachlan

“Our task is more an architect of a tiny house” – the secret of truck interior design

Fundamentally, truck interior design strays from the world of car design in its form and function but there’s a lot we can learn from this hybrid design task

Design driven: Mazda CX-5

The new Mazda CX-5 brings sharper styling, a roomier cabin and refined road manners, while evolving the brand’s Kodo design language. Car Design News explores the exterior, interior, CMF details and why the new touchscreen HMI is a step backwards

James McLachlan

Italdesign: People Awards win "meaningful recognition" for studio engineering team

Italdesign's chief technology officer Davide Casini reflects on his studio engineering team's win at the 2025 People Awards

Freddie Holmes

Slate on People Awards win: "We were all so excited about it"

Slate Auto's head of design reflects on what it meant to win two categories at the People Awards in 2025

Freddie Holmes

What are the opportunities in OLED lighting?

Car Design News audience members put live questions to a lighting supplier

Freddie Holmes

Design driven: 2026 Subaru Forester

While the design fundamentals are solid, an established brand has no excuse to sign off such a poor user experience

Freddie Holmes

Pforzheim University Transport Design MA show 2026

Car Design News reports from the Pforzheim University 2026 MA show to discover what the next generation of car designers have created

Lucy Abbott

Max Missoni on the new Vision BMW Alpina

The new Vision BMW Alpina concept just launched represents a fully-grown manifesto for the future of the understated high-performance Alpina marque, now that it is fully tucked into the BMW Group fold

Design driven: Xpeng G6 refresh

This electric fastback SUV has been subtly refreshed, but does it stand out any better than the previous version?

Freddie Holmes

Bentley Supersports: from gentleman’s express to tyre-smoking menace

Conceived as a modern expression of Bentley’s racing heritage, the Supersports pairs aggressive aero, reduced weight and bespoke craftsmanship with a newfound sense of mischief

James McLachlan

Renault goes beachy with new concept

The Renault 4 JP4x4 Concept introduces an open air experience to the versatile runaround

Freddie Holmes

Auto China review: more is more now = less later?

This year's Beijing auto show had plenty going on inside (and outside) the enormous exhibit halls, complete with evening entertainment on behalf of CDN

May focus: Lighting

Car Design News will be digging into the world of lighting design, with dedicated features throughout the month. What trends do we see so far and what do we hope to find out?

Freddie Holmes

Could persimmon fruit create a viable leather alternative?

An unlikely contender in the vegan leather space has emerged. Car Design News explores how persimmons are being turned into automotive-grade surfaces

Freddie Holmes

Inside the CMF strategy for bespoke EV restomods

From embracing patina to the comeback of ‘70s wood, Lunaz is experimenting with new materials and finishes to create custom electric conversions

The evolution of CMF decision making

As digital material libraries enhance the CMF workflow, designers are combining virtual tools with physical validation to accelerate innovation while preserving emotion

Lucy Abbott

Car Design News designs a Bentley (with a little help)

A recent visit to Bentley's design studio in Crewe saw Car Design News, with the help of the CMF team, design a bespoke Supersports in our brand colours. Here CMF & Bespoke chief Andrea Jensen talks through the design approach

Top colour & trim trends

Spray on shoes, leather made from beer and ancient Indian inlays all feature in CnT Factory’s trend bulletin

Design Driven: DS N°8 – Less than the sum of its (well-designed) parts?

Guy Bird gets behind the wheel of DS' highly-lauded design, but does the experience match the appearance?

Exploring the many points of the third-generation Jeep Compass

Sacha Barber, chief exterior designer for Jeep EMEA, had the task of creating the third generation Jeep Compass. Mark Smyth spoke to him about its evolution

First look: Cupra unveils new Raval

The sporty Spanish carmaker has taken the wraps off its new urban electric vehicle, specifically designed to appeal to a young demographic

Leather supplier gives second life to ‘waste’ avocado and agave

Discarded material from two widely farmed fruit and plant crops has been repurposed to treat leather in a more sustainable manner. Freddie Holmes speaks to senior Pangea figures to see how this came about

Freddie Holmes

April focus: New materials and CMF

No April Fools here: it’s a serious and increasingly production-realistic topic

Freddie Holmes

Design driven: Changan S05

It is difficult to fault the Chinese brand’s next offering for Europe, but there is no shortage of capable and affordable EVs on the market. Will the Changan name cut through?

Freddie Holmes

Design driven: Kia EV4 – Fastback vs Hatchback

Guy Bird drives both the Hatchback and Fastback versions of the Kia EV4 to see which he prefers

The state of automotive digital tools in 2026

March saw the CDN team dig into digital tools – from the top tools in designers’ toolboxes to the impact of these tools on workflow and speed…

Lola launches period correct supercar, with a twist

Storied British brand Lola Cars has used its motorsport roots for a 'sustainable' V8 supercar. Car Design News was at the launch in London today

Freddie Holmes

AI in 2026: Cutting through the confusion

The proliferation of AI models has created an exhausting range of options for car designers. Car Design News cuts through the confusion

Design driven: Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo

In stretched wagon guise, the Taycan feels like the Porsche shooting brake we never had. But is it any good?

Freddie Holmes

Chris Lefteri joins Alcantara

Materials specialist Chris Lefteri has formally joined Alcantara in a newly created role

Freddie Holmes

BMW welcomes new i3 to the 3-Series family

The eighth-generation 3-Series is also the second generation of the i3. This time, its form is more in line with conventional BMW design principles

Freddie Holmes

Celebrating International Women's Day

Car Design News recognises International Women's Day 2026

Lucy Abbott

Design Driven: Kia PV5

“It really could encourage you to carry too much stuff... but a future classic? Just maybe”

How to design restomods and stamp your creativity on existing cars

Theon Design and The Landrovers are 250 miles apart but united in their philosophies

Design driven: Skoda Superb

This stately offering from the Volkswagen group’s typically sensible brand checks most of the boxes, but mechanical issues hamper an otherwise strong design

Freddie Holmes

The rise of Indian car design

The Indian automotive industry has shifted from manufacturing international vehicles modified for local roads to producing design-led automobiles shaped by Indian consumer demands

Lucy Abbott

Inside Ford’s new global headquarters: Jennifer Kolstad on designing culture, identity and change

In this exclusive building tour for Car Design News, global design and brand director at Ford Jennifer Kolstad guides readers inside the carmaker's new campus in Dearborn, revealing how architecture is reshaping culture, brand identity and organisational change

James McLachlan

New AV shuttle has a compelling design, but will the project take off?

Freddie Holmes reports from the world premiere of a new autonomous shuttle near Ingolstadt, designed with a multitude of partners and led by the team at UE Studios

Freddie Holmes

Is Ferrari’s Luce interior a masterclass in HMI?

By working with product design royalty in Newson and Ive, the cockpit of Ferrari’s first electric car looks strong at first glance. It is also a lesson in channelling the positives of Big Tech with restraint

Freddie Holmes

Detroit design students showcase contrasting visions for mobility’s future

At the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, the next generation of car designers presented projects ranging from off-road rescue vehicles to visionary urban transport systems, revealing how industry briefs and academic imagination combine to shape fresh design thinking

James McLachlan

Classic three-wheeler reimagined as modern van

How do you take a modern van and channel the vibe of a three-wheeler from 1948? CDN speaks to Italian coachbuilder Caselani to find out

Freddie Holmes

Are EVs designed for technology or for people?

Many EVs feel like products, not cars. And that needs to change, writes multi-disciplinary designer George Watson

July focus: Aerodynamics

Car Design News explores the topic of aerodynamics from various angles this month

Freddie Holmes

Driving transformation

As China backs industrial strategy and the West bets on tech disruptors, the race to define the future of mobility intensifies, where autonomy, ownership, and identity are all up for grabs

Goodwood 2025: highlights from the Cartier lawn

Read on for the top ten classic cars from Guy Bird's annual pilgrimage to the Style et Luxe lawn

Coventry University Automotive Design BA degree show 2025

Coventry’s Automotive & Transport BA class of 2025 brought the heat this spring. In the first of two reports, CDN spotlights a selection of undergraduate projects that hint at where car design is headed next

Exclusive: Inside 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

Interview: Richard Stevens, design director at 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

First look: Citroën C5 Aircross

The second coming of the larger Aircross is an aero-led flagship for the French brand. Pierre Leclercq talks us round it

In pictures: Slate, your automotive canvas

Slate is the latest EV startup to hit the US market, offering a compact, convertible pickup designed for customisation. With analog charm, the ‘Blank Slate’ is set to stand out

Genesis’ Luc Donckerwolke: competition fuels strong design

Genesis’ chief creative officer speaks on his coupe and convertible concepts and beating competition – on road and racetrack

First sight: Genesis X Gran Equator concept

The Korean firm targets Defender and G-Class appeal with its luxe, old-school take on an SUV

The future of screens: balancing tech and tactility

Car Design News takes a deep dive into what’s to come for the interior screen and how designers are integrating technology into the cockpit

First Sight: Hyundai’s 2025 Seoul Quartet

The Korean powerhouse brand Hyundai chose the Seoul Mobility Show in early April to unveil not one, but four new cars, mostly playing very different tunes, but still united by the pixel

Shao Jingfeng: “This is our chance, our time”

Shao Jingfeng, chief design officer at SAIC, on trusting your strategy and recruiting the next generation of design talent

The enduring art of sketching in car design

As part of Car Design News’ April focus on sketching, we speak to a range of voices in the automotive industry to learn how sketching is viewed in the modern day and what the future holds for this art form

COMMENT: "The Geneva Motor Show has gone with a whimper not a bang, but I'll miss it"

After a series of false starts followed by a weak 2024 edition, the Geneva Motor Show has reached the end of the road. Jason Barlow offers a personal post-mortem of what was the premier show in the automotive calendar

Generations: looking back at the Dodge Charger

A look back of the history of the Dodge Charger reveals the good, the bad, and the plain awful

Book review: Wheels & Watches

“Cars and watches have marked the evolution of technology and to a certain extent, that of design, fashion and society” – Flavio Manzoni

Inside the studio: General Motors, Advanced Design UK

Car Design News paid a visit to General Motors Advanced Design UK in Leamington. And while the work itself is shrouded in secrecy, CDN discovered a studio relishing its role as creative friend to the mothership in Michigan

Interview: Michael Simcoe, senior VP design, General Motors

In an exclusive interview with Car Design News, General Motors senior VP of design Michael Simcoe talks about the role of design within the company, the Warren campus extension, and the complexities of electrification

Review: Artcenter Invitational 2023

The annual Artcenter Invitational returns with a renewed focus on the school and the students, and the cars

Flashback: Four fibreglass pioneers of the car world

Often derided as “a poor man’s carbon fibre”, fibreglass was critical in the development of the modern sports car. We take a look back to the beginnings of the composites era

Flashback: sequential turn signals

Flashback: the era-defining Cord 810

Karl Smith takes a look at the short-lived yet iconic Cord 810, a symbol of mid-1930s glamour

Will aerodynamics dominate automotive design in future?

Car Design News investigates whether aerodynamics will be the prevailing trend moving forward as EVs seek extra range

Flashback: in-car record players

The concept of a personal road trip playlist began with an unlikely technology

In review: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2023

From the mightiest pharoah to the lowliest peasant, who doesn’t enjoy the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Car Design News made its annual pilgrimage to the show

The Volvo team unpacks the EX90

The team behind Volvo’s flagship EX90 offer their unique perspectives on the design development of the car

Feature: Car Design and Fashion

Fashion has always had an influence on car design and collaborations between the two are nothing new. But when individuals within those industries work together, with equal input and interest, the results can be spectacular. Interior Motives investigates a few recent high-profile examples…

Circularity in car design requires a culture shift

Sustainable car design is finally starting to gain speed but it needs to accelerate faster and more credibly than ever. Jonathan Bell gauges the state of the industry

How is future mobility shaping CMF?

Ahead of an upcoming livestream on future materials, Car Design News caught up with a handful of experts in the space to get a handle on the main talking points in this exciting field

The future is hybrid – but not like you think

Hybrids have been prominent in the automotive discussion for two decades now, but from a powertrain perspective. But a new hybrid era is emerging, one which revolves around bodystyle. Karl Smith explores the possibilities

Heritage mining: car brands dig back into the past

As the industry charges into the future, an appetite for classic aesthetics remains. But is it lazy to draw inspiration from old icons – or with new brands coming out of the woodwork, should retro design be celebrated?

New research explores car design working practices

The report explores how car designers at various levels and locations are adapting to the new way of working – and what all this means for employers

How important is smell in car design?

Many might turn their nose up at the idea of investing in multisensory design, but research shows that carmakers could be missing out

Inside Tesla: a retrospective at the Petersen museum

LA’s famous Petersen Museum has a hot new exhibit that documents the development of Tesla as a brand, the vehicles it has launched, and some models that never (yet) made it to market.

How auto and architecture crossover in the ‘Nth Space’

It may sound like science fiction, but the function of the car may be expanded in the coming years to a fusion of architecture, urbanism and transportation. Two design giants, BMW/Designworks, and Gensler Architects, step up to the challenge with a collaboration that radically re-envisions the car and the city. We speak to them about the results.

World exclusive: Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan global design boss

Nissan design boss Alfonso Albaisa speaks to Car Design News during a tour of the carmaker’s European design studio

How batteries will shape car design

Electric skateboards are an interim step to battery-chassis-body integration and the implications for car designers will be enormous. New packaging designs are possible and old ones will be renewed. Car Design News’ Karl Smith investigates the near future

Studio tour: Mahindra Advanced Design Europe

A host of exciting new EVs are being honed at Mahindra’s new UK-based advanced design studio and will soon launch under the XUV and BE nameplates. Car Design News was given a private tour of the new facility and an inside look at its first prototypes

Rumpler Tropfenwagen – the first streamliner

Largely forgotten, the pioneering Rumpler Tropfenwagen was a decade ahead of the designs of the time. But its legacy lives on in a new generation of aerodynamic research and in automotive design

Metasketching: an interview with Mike Jelinek

Mike Jelinek is an artist, designer, and researcher practicing in Czechia near Prague. He has a strong automotive design background having worked with Škoda, Volkswagen, PSA, and General Motors Europe. Jelinek spoke to Car Design News about advancing the next generation of design tools via his work at Wacom

Top Ten Pininfarina aero designs

As Pininfarina celebrates 50 years of its famous wind tunnel Car Design News highlights ten of its best designs shaped by aero tech

What has happened to Audi design?

(Single)Framing the rise and decline of design kings, Audi. Design critic Wayne Batty is unconvinced by the Bauhaus aspirations of the German marque’s ’Sphere series

Exclusive: CDN Tours Lucid's New Design Studio

Car Design News’ North America correspondent Laura Burstein is the first non-Lucid employee inside the new Silicon Valley space, which encompasses more than just designing cars. Read on for the lowdown

Porsche’s Fabian Schmölz walks CDN through the VisionGT Race Car

The brand’s first-ever digital-only car for Sony PlayStation’s GT 7 allowed designers complete freedom. Car Design News’ Laura Burstein spoke to designer Fabian Schmölz about the concept

The expanding universe of the pick-up truck

Times, and powertrains, are changing – Karl Smith investigates how the pickup truck is finding itself in the middle of an ever-expanding universe of products

A new book on Lamborghini focuses on the brand’s design history

Author Gautam Sen has turned his attention to Lamborghini to examine the legendary Italian marque’s design pedigree. Car Design News spoke to him about what readers can expect from this extensive tome

Driven: Infiniti QX60

Infiniti’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S., the QX60, has been updated with a new design and refined driving dynamics

Book Review: Roots and Wings – Peter Schreyer: Designer, Artist and Visionary

Peter Schreyer, the man who steered Audi and Volkswgen through the 80s and 90s, and completely transformed Kia, Hyundai and Genesis, is now the subject of a stellar monograph examining his work

Reinventing Luxury with Chris Bangle

At the recent Pratt Institute Design Symposium 2021 on Re-Inventing Luxury held at the Whitney Museum in New York City, car designer and thinker Chris Bangle shared his thoughts on creating a new narrative around luxury design

Italian car design legends captured in unique photobook

Italian car design greats captured in unique new photo book by Car Design News contributor and former Bertone employee Piotr Degler

Do these GM concepts signal the return of the personal luxury car?

Two futuristic concepts, the Buick Smart Pod and the Cadillac Innerspace Concept recently introduced by General Motors, point to a revival of a classic format

Interview: Stellantis chief design officer, Jean-Pierre Ploué on Lancia’s future

An almost forgotten brand, Lancia is now the focus of Stellantis’ chief design officer Jean-Pierre Ploué who will oversee the revival of the brand. Car Design News spoke to him about legacy, why he likes small teams and what makes Lancia unique

Opinion: a brand story untold – Mercedes’ EQS

Telling the brand story will be the most important task for car designers in the future as electrification, urbanisation, congestion and developments around self-driving cars will conspire to curtail the driving experience. Thus, the brand story will soon be the only truly differentiating USP. Niels van Roij examines the Mercedes-Benz EQS in this light

Exclusive interview: Maximilian Missoni, head of design, Polestar

Car Design News contributing editor Guy Bird spoke to Polestar’s head of design Maximilian Missoni about sustainability goals, future products and why the brand does not need to please everyone

Where next for SUV design?

The success of SUVs has been remarkable story but has brought with it an aesthetic homogeneity. Can designers harness electrification and new technology to reinvigorate the segment?

Review: Goodwood Festival of Speed 2021

Goodwood Festival of Speed has become the premier UK car show with a variety of cars both old and brand spanking new on display. What’s more its outdoors which means Covid restrictions are a little less stringent. Armed with camera and notebook, longtime CDN contributor Guy Bird reports

Opinion: Secret design sauce comes from expert artistry

Car design is shrowded in mystery, with brands pedalling an intangible narrative that detracts from the talent and expertise of highly skilled professionals

Studio Visit: Nissan Design America

With an eclectic spirit fostered by the late Jerry Hirshberg, the California satellite studio in La Jolla is a designer’s sanctuary with a storied history

Post Opulence: A Softer Tomorrow?

A decade or more of adversarial design and in-your-face attitudes has left us in need of a breather. Might a new era of post-opulent aesthetics mellow us out? Aidan Walsh hopes so.

Opinion: Transforming old into new

Revered retrofit architects Lacaton & Vassal’s recent Pritzker Prize win poses some interesting questions for car designers, writes CDN editor James McLachlan

The three-box sedan: requiem or revival?

Stateside, the three-box sedan seems to be in retreat with VW withdrawing the Passat and Lincoln phasing out the Continental. Is it all over for this time-honoured format, or does its future simply lie in other areas of the global market?

Comment: Too much minimalism?

Everyone is a minimalist these days, but beyond being a handy catch-all for pared back aesthetics, what does the term mean for car design? Are designers sacrificing ornament at the altar of functionality?

Hitting the e-SUV spot

OEMs are rushing to bring out more electric SUVs in a bid to meet emissions targets and protect margins. But they will require innovations in design and engineering to stay desirable and competitive in an increasingly crowded field

Concept Cars: All Dressed Up With Nowhere to Show?

The star turns of the motor show, concept cars provoke, excite and inspire. But what happens to the special guests when the party is cancelled?

Concept Car of the Month: Gran Turismo Red Bull X1 (2010-19)

The lines between virtual and real racing continue to blur; something a Formula 1 team managed to encapsulate with a different sort of concept car…