Tag: interiors

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

How lighting is reshaping the truck cabin

The importance of interior lighting must not be dimmed – delivering on both well-being and safety. Car Design News speaks to two experts to delve further into this evolution

Lucy Abbott

Design driven: Peugeot e-208 GTI

Car Design News visited the delights of Loch Lomond to test and observe Peugeot’s new electric hot hatch. We were not disappointed by car or landscape

Freddie Holmes

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

The Audi A2 returns as an electric companion

The Audi A2 has become something of a cult car, but Audi designers don’t want to see the new A2 E-Tron as its successor, as Mark Smyth discovered when he spoke to them in Munich

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

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

First sight: Xpeng L03

Car Design News was in Munich for a preview of Xpeng's latest addition to the line-up, the L03. Freddie Holmes shares his initial impressions

Freddie Holmes

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.

“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

Renault goes beachy with new concept

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

Freddie Holmes

Romulus Rost on autonomous vehicles

The 'retired' interior design maestro spoke to Car Design News about the opportunity and challenge that autonomous driving poses to modern car designers

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

Design is key for EV buyers, study finds

Key performance indicators like charging speed and range are no longer the differentiator for prospective electric vehicle buyers. So says new research from consultancy Escalent

Freddie Holmes

Rolls-Royce unveils collection of 25 cars to mark Phantom centenary

A variety of techniques combine to make this Private Collection Rolls-Royce’s most accomplished artistic expression yet, paying tribute to the Phantom’s rich history

How should we sit in autonomous cars?

A decade after some of the first prototypes were presented, the debate continues as to the optimal layout for autonomous vehicle seating

Porsche interior refresh revealed on the Cayenne Electric

The curved Flow Display debuts on the Cayenne Electric, making the future of Porsche interiors feel tech-first

Lucy Abbott

Rolls-Royce reveals three new woodworking techniques on Phantom

3D marquetry, 3D ink-layering and gold leafing are integrated into the design of Rolls-Royce’s private collection

Lucy Abbott

Interview: Halcyon on remastered Rolls-Royce Corniche EV

British start-up Halcyon debuted its first remastered and electrified Rolls-Royce Corniche at the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance. Car Design News reports from the event

Lucy Abbott

Head of Cupra UX/UI on elevating vehicle experience & AI in the cockpit

As an exploration of Car Design News’ monthly theme of human-centred design, Ruben Rodriquez speaks about the evolution of vehicle experience

Lucy Abbott

Karma doubles up at Monterey Car Week

The Amaris and Gyesera mark a concrete move towards an expanded 'for sale' line-up

Freddie Holmes

Brouillard heralds new era of bespoke Bugatti design

Bugatti is launching a new one-off programme called Solitaire, the first product of which is the Brouillard

Chery’s Tianji Vision concept is Exeedingly luxurious

Car Design News goes behind the scenes with this new luxury SUV concept from Exeed

Freddie Holmes

Design Driven: Polestar 3 vs. Polestar 4

Car Design News pits the Polestar 3 against its newer, younger sibling in an all-in battle royale.Which slice of Chinese-funded scandi-minimalism will win out in this design face-off

First sight: Omoda 9

Chery International’s new brand Omoda is moving fast. Since launching in 2022 under the Chery moniker, Omoda has morphed into a standalone brand with its sights trained on the European premium market. Car Design News took a look at the Omoda 9 flaghship

Interview: Lynk & Co design president Stefan Rosen on creating the ‘anti-Volvo’

In light of the launch of Lynk & Co’s 08, Car Design News spoke to design president Stefan Rosen on how the brand’s design language has evolved

Chery’s Michael Duerr: “We can claim to be Europe’s most productive studio”

At a bespoke event down in Southampton, Car Design News grabbed some time with senior manager of Interior Design at Chery International, Michael Duerr, to speak about building a brand from scratch, AI and China speed

UAE studio Peec reimagines local icon

The Nissan Patrol might seem an unlikely candidate for the luxe treatment, but its connection to UAE culture means it makes more sense than you might think

Luxury and utility combine for unexpected Genesis concept interior

From horology to helicopters, Manil Kim and the interior design team looked far and wide for inspiration with the X Gran Equator concept.

Lynk & Co teams up with Harman Kardon: “We saw a lot of synergies there”

The design teams at Lynk & Co and Harman Kardon worked closely to push in-car audio to new levels

‘Fight or flight’: the human science of perceived quality

There is a reason why products resonate with consumers in a certain way, and Alina Braun has dedicated a large portion of her career to understanding that in more detail. Today, Braun is applying that knowledge in the world of car design

CDR 11: “Studiokurbos moves with speed, agility and independence”

Andreas Kurbos, CEO of Studiokurbos, speaks on the growing importance of CMF design and the integration of smartphones into vehicles

Forvia’s minimalist tech shines at preview ahead of Shanghai auto show

Jason White reports from Detroit where Tier 1 supplier Forvia gave a preview of what was to come at Auto Shanghai

Italdesign talks pick-ups, materials and converging design worlds

Italdesign’s Joaquin Garcia gives CDN a walkaround of the Quintessenza concept and explores the idea of simplicity

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

Changan’s European debut: “Design talent is what you need to create success”

China’s oldest automaker and one of the ‘Big Four’ in the country has officially arrived in Europe – Car Design News reports

Keep it simple: can a mono-material strategy reshape interior design?

In this abridged feature from the Spring 2025 issue of Interior Motives, we consider how one material for key interior structures could boost recyclability and celebrate sculptural form over visual complexity

The design experts behind Chery’s new Journeo concept study

From achieving ‘China speed’ to the crucial role of AI in the cockpit, Car Design News speaks to the design experts at Chery Automobile

Smart reveals its first mid-size SUV, smart #5

The German marque has expanded its smart product line-up in the UK, with the smart #5 becoming the third electric model introduced within three years

First sight: Renault 5 Turbo 3E

Car Design News visits Renault in Paris to become acquainted with its new mini supercar and to speak to Renault’s chief design officer Laurens Van Den Acker

Lighting and screens define new Mercedes CLA

This new generation Mercedes-Benz CLA brings a familiar form to the table, now packed full of technology and more reliant on lighting than ever

Car Design round-up: Bentley, Toyota and Lexus

Car Design News takes a look at some of the stories that may have gone under the radar this week. Read on for the latest from Bentley, Toyota and Lexus

Morgan modernises with new Supersport flagship

Traditional British marque, Morgan Motor Company, has introduced a slightly more modern design language on its new flagship, the Supersport.

Four finalists battle for YouClip glory in Dacia student design contest

Dacia’s YouClip design competition has reached its final stages, with just four innovative projects left standing

Bold, clean and spacey: Lynk & Co interior team on the Z10

Car Design News takes a closer look at the interior of the Lynk & Co Z10, which draws inspiration from spacecraft

First sight: VW ID. Every1 concept

VW design boss Andy Mindt gives an early walkaround of the new concept which, two years into his tenure, now sets the stage for a new design language

Five new material trends: from apple pomace to optical fibre

CMF experts CnT Factory provides a valuable insight into five of the latest material trends

March Focus: Materials

This month Car Design News will be exploring the current materials landscape across traditional and new materials

Car Design round-up: Bentley, Skoda and Toyota

Car Design News takes a look at some of the stories that may have gone under the radar this week. Read on for the latest from Bentley, Skoda and Toyota

Kia unveils Concept EV2

Kia has previewed its smallest Kia EV yet – the Concept EV2

Rolls-Royce announces Black Badge Spectre

The Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre makes its global debut in a new Vapour Violet paint finish

Design driven: the functional yet fun Dacia Duster

The Dacia Duster is a pretty accomplished off-roader that will appeal to outdoorsy types and young families on a budget

Chris Benjamin: “Scout Motors is a start-up with heritage”

Chris Benjamin, chief design officer at Scout Motors, explains how the connection heritage to ingenuity is key, the growth of his 45-strong team and the challenges that come with reintroducing vehicles 44 years later

Designer realises childhood dream with James Bond’s Bentley Continental

The James Bond novel Thunderball saw Ian Fleming vividly describe a Bentley Continental Mk2, a car that didn’t outside the pages of fiction. Car designer Tony Hunter remedied this by designing and building his own

Inside DRVN design and the art of the Continumod

Car Design News gets a behind-the-scenes tour of the Coventry studio and the design team led by Wayne Burgess

Should Renault thank Peugeot for its recent design success?

CDN’s exclusive Q&A with Sandeep Bhambra, Renault’s chief designer, advanced design and concept cars reveals all

Tata reimagines iconic Sierra, reveals new Avinya brand

The SUV enamoured by Gen X has been reborn, this time looking to connect with the next generation of younger drivers. Alongside it sits a new sub-brand, dubbed Avinya, bringing an entirely new level of luxury into the Tata fold. CDN visited the UK studio to learn more, with global and European design bosses Martin Uhlarik and Aurelien Doisy on hand to show us around

Dacia teams up with design students for UX and YouClip project

Dacia design boss David Durand explains the brand’s latest project with design students, and why it has reminded the team to “embrace new perspectives”

Perceived quality: a bridge between function and desire

Experienced perceived quality specialist Kyungmin Lee explains how carmakers stand to gain from giving PQ a platform within the group

EyesOn Design Awards 2025: the winners

As a proud sponsor of the EyesOn Design awards, Car Design News can reveal the winning cars at this year’s event in Detroit

Honda debuts 0 Series Saloon and SUV prototypes at CES

New electric series brings a fresh philosophy and design language – but also channels Honda’s heritage

UX dominates the automotive stage at CES

Read on for an overview of the UX-related launches at CES 2025

Interview: Madalina Marcu, head of product quality, McLaren

What are the nuances for perceived quality between high and low volume car brands? We spoke to someone who has worked on both sides

“A true crossover” – Chery’s design boss on the Omoda 5

Interior Motives: Fiat Grande Panda

The 2024 Fiat Grande Panda is part of a new family of vehicles that lean into the legacy of the very first one, but in intelligent new ways

DS goes luxury chic with flagship No.8

Since Stellantis launched the DS brand back in 2009, you could say the models have been somewhat over-designed. Now the design team are reining things back in, starting with a brand new flagship model, the DS No.8. Mark Smyth travelled to the DS Studio in Paris to take a look

A closer look at the Callum Skye’s interior design

It has been over a year since Callum revealed the Skye concept, but now Ian Callum’s design and engineering consultancy has revealed the interior

Nuro’s head of design talks autonomous pods

Autonomous vehicles need not be as cold and uninviting as we might first think, providing the focus lands on humanisation and smooth UX design

Mazda Iconic SP: "It's not just one of those empty show cars”

The breathtaking Mazda Iconic SP concept might be going into production. We hope. Car Design News caught up with Mazda’s design manager Masashi Nakayama to hear more

Interior Motives: Cadillac Sollei

Interior Motives takes a deep dive into the interior of the Cadillac Sollei concept, and speaks with the design team behind it

Jaguar takes a bold leap with concept Type 00

Jaguar sparked controversy with its rebrand, but will its new concept, the Vision Type 00, silence its critics? Mark Smyth attended an exclusive preview with the design team

We were determined to create something striking: Giovanny Arroba on the new Nissan Murano

Nissan’s senior design director speaks with CDN about the long-awaited update to the brand’s signature midsize SUV

Pininfarina CCO on restoring Honda’s first ever concept car

The Honda HP-X has been beautifully restored by Pininfarina, capturing an iconic glimpse in time. But instead of feeling nostalgic, the design team is looking ahead to challenge market convergences

Mahindra’s new SUV shows concepts can make it to production

The concept we saw over two years ago has made it through to production virtually unchanged, a testament to the advanced design studio that does far more than purely creative work

Callum Designs predicts Aqua Mist as the colour for 2025

Aqua Mist, Midnight Tide and Neon Riot all come together to create a vibrant but calming colour palette in 2025. Mark Smyth spoke to the team at Callum Designs about their predictions

Interior Motives: Nilu27 – Analogue Purism

Sasha Selipanov realises his dream of creating a hypercar with a visceral driving experience

Chevrolet designers go “truck-like” with compact SUV

Car Design News took the new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox for a road trip in the deep south to find out how SUV design is evolving in the US market

Callum revisits stunning C-X75 supercar

Legendary designer Ian Callum describes working on “the one that got away” and the principles of designing for longevity

Karma design bosses reveal the ‘ultimate’ edition of the Revero

Michelle Christensen and Nicholas David share the design story behind the brand’s latest ultra luxury performance coupe

Scout reveals SUV and pick-up concepts in long-awaited debut

Rugged SUV and pickup truck concepts revitalise a storied American brand. Head of design Chris Benjamin gives Laura Burstein the details

New DS concept combines autonomous driving, Formula E performance and feathers

With one side dedicated to racing and the other to chauffeured comfort, DS Automobiles’ new concept has a split personality

Jeep and North Face bring off-road and outdoor skills to special edition Avenger

Jeep has entered a collaboration with The North Face. Mark Smyth travelled to Mont Blanc to chat to the design team behind it

“Aero-dramatic”: Lynk & Co's design team discuss the 02

At a suitably quirky launch event in Milan – dancers, saxophones and laser shows all featured – Lynk & Co showed off its 02 and Car Design News spoke to the design team

First sight: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe gets a makeover

The second generation has been pared back inside and out, reducing visual clutter and bringing what the design team see as more of a traditional BMW look and feel

Foxconn goes from iPhones to cars with first EV: the Foxtron Model D

The maker of iPhones introduces a new SUV-MPV hybrid

Alpine Alpenglow nods to future endurance racing design

Alpine design boss Antony Villain chats to Trinity Francis about the brand’s motorsport ambitions and the challenges of designing around high-pressure hydrogen tanks

Dacia enters the C-segment with the Bigster

Dacia is back with the Bigster and has remained faithful to the chunky 2021 concept. Car Design News spoke to design director David Durand about the brand’s entry into the C-segment

New super-slim speakers could revolutionise in-car audio design

Innovative technology and design exploration has led to a breakthrough in how in-car audio systems can be packaged

Cupra CMF lead explains matte paint, copper accent strategy

Francesca Sangalli, head of colour and trim at Cupra, explains how distinct colour themes, finishes and parametric patterns help the brand stand out

Interview: Brian Balicki, head of design, Volvo Trucks North America

The interior of the new Volvo VNL truck highlights the crossover (and constrast) between commercial vehicle and passenger car design

First sight: Renault Estafette Concept

The legendary workhouse returns for a BEV era

DS creates tribute to iconic SM – just don't call it retro, says design chief

DS Automobiles’ design boss gives a walkaround of the inspired SM Tribute concept which was created from scratch just in time for its public debut this month

The mysterious role of perceived quality in car design

The science of perceived quality ensures a product materialises as intended

BREAKING: Cupra reveals ‘rebellious’ Terramar SUV in Barcelona

The Spanish brand has thrown a lavish event to celebrate the launch of its new model, a performance SUV that it says is an example of “design following emotion”

bb-Auto: Looking back at fifty years of innovation

As the storied German customiser heads to Monterey Car Week, we look back on a half-century of bespoke Porsches – and others

Sasha and Inna Selipanov on Nilu27, their “middle finger” to the car industry

Car Design News went along to the hotly anticipated launch of the Nilu hypercar and grabbed a word with the masterminds behind it

How does marketing influence car design?

Car Design News investigates how departments beyond the studio influence the final design of a vehicle. This time, it is not engineering, but marketing and product planning under the microscope

Alpine design boss Antony Villain on the A290

Car Design News caught up with Alpine head of design, Antony Villain, to learn more about the tough second album that was the A290

First Sight: Volkswagen Iroc concept

Launched at the Paris Motor Show in 2006, the Volkswagen Iroc concept was the precursor to the third generation Scirocco. Sam Livingstone was there for Car Design News

First Sight: Tourbillon is a Bugatti to watch

Design director Frank Heyl explains the all-new Bugatti

“This can only be done in Italy” – Quentin Amore on the Maserati GranCabrio

Exterior chief designer at Maserati, Quentin Amore to compares the electric and ICE versions of the new GranCabrio and explains how Maserati is incorporating historic cues into modern design

Interview: Alena Gersonde, senior colour and material designer, Mazda Motor Europe

From a spell working as a motorsport journalist to shaping the look and feel of new cars, the German-Italian designer discusses the collaborative aspect of CMF, smart surfaces and transporting European flavours to Japan

“Alfa Romeo is a car for egoists” – Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos

Car Design News visited Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos at Alfa Romeo’s studio in Turin to hear about the Junior and the designer’s hopes for the future of the brand

Milan Design Week: A CMF sampler

Furniture, fashion, cars, make for a veritable feast of materials. Car Design News sampled the offerings at Milan Design Week 2024

Cadillac fashions its EV future with new Optiq

Cadillac is continuing to rebrand for the electrified era. Its first EV, the Lyriq, debuted four years ago and since then the design team at the famous American marque have brought us the luxurious Celestiq, the Escalade IQ and revealed the 2025 seven-seater Vistiq

Klaus Zyciora VP design of Changan on the Nevo E07

Klaus Zyciora, newish VP of design for Changan spoke to Car Design News about ‘China Speed’, why engineering and design departments are much closer in China, material innovation and the striking new EV E07 SUV/pickup crossover. Ethan Robertson, our man on the ground in China, has more

“Our inspiration is in people and the character they have”

Cupra used the reveal of its new Leon and Formentor models in Madrid to underline its commitment to a new design language distinct from the ‘performance Seat’ look. The brand also unveiled bespoke design studio Cupra Design

Mitja Borkert on updating Lamborghini’s most successful car: the Urus

As Lamborghini unveils its hybrid-powered Urus SE, we speak to design boss Mitja Borkert about how to develop the brand’s biggest seller – and how he got into his Sant’Agata ‘garage band’

Dodge 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

Interior Motives: Volvo EX30

The EX30 might be Volvo’s smallest SUV to date, but its significance is mighty

Interior Motives: Aston Martin DB12

The interior of the new Aston Martin DB12 marks a revolution for the British marque and the start of a new journey (via Interior Motives Autumn 2024)

Watch: Bentley’s design heads on the brand’s future

Car Design News paid a visit to Bentley at the luxury British marque’s Crewe headquarters to speak to the department heads of exterior, interior and CMF

Interior Motives: Lancia Pu+Ra HPE

Lancia is back with a concept that promises a bright future for the beloved brand by pulling together Italian mastery of furniture design and domestic landscapes with simple shapes

HiPhi brings its ‘A game’ with new hypercar

Two Chinese carmakers have teamed up to produce an electric hypercar with added character, the HiPhi A

CDN goes behind the scenes of the SPACE D concept

Car Design News chats to Continental Surface Solutions head of design Ralf Imbery about the SPACE D concept and the future of interiors

Avatr 12 gran coupe blends Chinese innovation with European flair

The Avatr 12 was unveiled to the world this year at IAA in Munich and is going on sale this week in China. The “monolithic” gran coupe without a rear window shines, thanks to a design team assembled from European luxury brands

Interior Motives: Tata Avinya

Taking its cues from catamaran design with a dollop of modernism, the Tata Avinya marks a sea-change for the Indian brand

Ford balances form and function with new Tourneo

The new Ford Tourneo Courier has just entered production. We caught up with its design team ahead of the launch to find out how they approached the redesign, and why it balances the needs of various user groups in a way that other vehicles do not

Interior Motives: Dacia Manifesto

Dacia has torn up the rulebook with its latest concept. Originally a thought experiment for the company’s brand values, the Manifesto project quickly snowballed into concept that was driven from the inside out

Flashback: car seats that swivel

First designed as a convenience and a novelty, the swiveling seat may yet have something to say about the future of the automotive interior

HiPhi enlists audio expert for in-car HiFi

In-vehicle audio is becoming an increasingly important element of the user experience. To find out how carmakers and suppliers are working toward a system optimised for luxury EVs, CDN sat down with experts from both sides who have been doing just that

Automobili Pininfarina taps heritage, yachts and sharks for Pura Vision

Automobili Pininfarina has revealed a new electric show car dubbed the Pura Vision. Ahead of its official unveiling at Monterey Car Week later this month, we caught up with Chief Design Officer, Dave Amantea, to find out more

Flashback: in-car record players

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

IAA Mobility Design Conference Livestream

A precursor for ”Building a Creative Culture”, this panel looked at how designers from Mahindra Group and Ford are cultivating a high-performing and creative culture in the world of design, and producing a roadmap to creativity in their studios

Makkina revives Triumph with the TR25 concept

A reimagined Triumph TR2 has finally been revealed – the TR25 concept designed by Makkina to celebrate the studio’s 25th anniversary. The team at CDN deserves an award for keeping quiet about this project for as long as we have

Zeekr on studio culture, interiors and starting from scratch

Car Design News was in Gothenburg to visit Zeekr’s huge design studio and get hands on with its first European launches, the 001 and X

The Volvo team unpacks the EX90

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

Aston Martin DB12 is all about the experience

Mark Smyth spoke to Aston Martin’s director of design, Miles Nurnberger, about the all-new DB12

First Sight: Mercedes-Benz Vision One-Eleven – Orange Revolution

Mercedes has launched the Vision One-Eleven, which draws on the legendary C111 from 1970. Car Design News was on hand for a first-hand look

SMMT event highlights pros and cons in modern car design

CDN writers take various new cars for a spin and give their view on where the user experience excels in some cases and falls down in others

Designworks’ yacht collab previews luxury interior

A new kind of luxury yacht is born out of a unique collaboration and may preview the executive ‘car’ of the future

Lexus debuts new TX and redesigned GX SUVs in Texas

A significant update to an off-road favourite and a new three-row family SUV round out the luxury brand’s lineup

Praga design boss on the Bohema hypercar

Head of design at Praga Cars, Juraj Mitro, discusses the design process behind the Praga Bohema, the influence of engineering and aerodynamics, and the crossover between furniture and car design

Mini targets authenticity as bigger models come in

Head of design Oliver Heilmer speaks to Car Design News about Mini’s new design language and how it must stay true to the brand experience