Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Buyers want a good deal more than latest design]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/buyers-want-a-good-deal-more-than-latest-design/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/buyers-want-a-good-deal-more-than-latest-design/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/15/buyers-want-a-good-deal-more-than-latest-design/#commentsFiled under: ,



A new study by AutoTrader.com indicates buyers are less interested in new designs than automakers may think. In an online survey of car shoppers, 57 percent said they do not feel it's important to have the latest redesign, while 79 percent said they would rather take advantage of a good deal on a current model rather than delay their purchase to wait for the newest iteration. We feel inclined to point out that the results may be skewed toward the inclinations of bargain shoppers, as the survey polled AutoTrader.com users.

Even so, the numbers indicate the automotive sector may be experiencing the same shift in buyer trends as the consumer electronics market. Apple, for instance, saw a huge swell in sales when the company began offering older generation iPhone units at a lower cost alongside the newest models.

Still, buyers keep a close eye on the newest cars. The survey revealed 47 percent of respondents believe it's important to be aware of upcoming redesigns, while 56 percent actively search for those redesigns, though buyers are using that information as a bargaining tool to get a good deal on vehicles currently for sale. You can check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading Buyers want a good deal more than latest design

Buyers want a good deal more than latest design originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingcar designdealdealsredesignMon, 15 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20540061/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/15/buyers-want-a-good-deal-more-than-latest-design/20540061/article-detail.xml 20540061 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/ford-fusion-car-lot-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/ford-fusion-car-lot-628.jpg <![CDATA[Chery hires Porsche's Saracoglu as new head of design studio in Shanghai]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/chery-hires-porsches-saracoglu-as-new-head-of-design-studio-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/chery-hires-porsches-saracoglu-as-new-head-of-design-studio-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/chery-hires-porsches-saracoglu-as-new-head-of-design-studio-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hakan Saracoglu, car designerThe eastward migration of automotive designers bearing European pedigrees continues with Chery Automobile reportedly hiring former Porsche stylist Hakan Saracoglu. The move comes almost a year after Chery hired James Hope from the General Motors Exterior Design Studio in Russelsheim, Germany to be its corporate director of design.

Saracoglu had been with Porsche since 1998, and he showed his abilities on the 997-series Porsche 911 GT2 and GT2 RS, previous-generation Boxster and Cayman and the 918 Spyder. He will join Hope's team with the aim of taking Chery beyond the car it is most known for, the QQ, to a company "standing for value, for design and gaining customer confidence. That's where we want to go." Saracoglu will lead a group of 30 designers to create a range of concepts in various segments.

Chery hires Porsche's Saracoglu as new head of design studio in Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto designcar designcherydesignerhakan saracogluporscheqqWed, 27 Feb 2013 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20478777/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/27/chery-hires-porsches-saracoglu-as-new-head-of-design-studio-in/20478777/article-detail.xml 20478777 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/hakansaracogluchery_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/hakansaracogluchery.jpg <![CDATA[Retro Design: A distant memory [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/retro-design-a-distant-memory/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/retro-design-a-distant-memory/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/retro-design-a-distant-memory/#commentsFiled under:

Just Fade Away
VW Beetle old and new

Designers prefer the loftier sounding "heritage design."

A cursory look at the latest offerings from auto manufacturers in both production and showcar guise reveals that retro design themes may be on their way out. It's ironic that the hottest design trend opening the 21st century was less about heralding some space-age future than celebrating the middle part of the century that just closed.

This pop culture phenomenon arguably started with the launch of the Volkswagen New Beetle in 1997 and saw its influence in a wide range of vehicles, from the entry-level Chrysler PT Cruiser up through high-dollar roadsters like the BMW Z8, a car that paid homage to the BMW 507.

Design practitioners, who also eschew the word "styling," are loathe to call these throwbacks "retro," preferring the loftier sounding "heritage design." Retro, however, is convenient shorthand to describe cars that recall an earlier time. The strong tug of nostalgia is further proof that there is more to a car's appeal than its ability to transport someone to and fro - it can be, in some ways, a time machine.

Matt DeLorenzo is the former editor-in-chief of Road & Track and has covered the auto industry for 35 years, including stints at Automotive News and AutoWeek. He has authored books including VW's New Beetle, Chrysler's Modern Concept Cars, and Corvette Dynasty.

Continue reading Retro Design: A distant memory [w/poll]

Retro Design: A distant memory [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car designfeaturedmatt delorenzoopinionretroretro car designretro carsTue, 08 Jan 2013 19:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20417027/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/08/retro-design-a-distant-memory/20417027/article-detail.xml 20417027 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/vw-beetle-old-new-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/vw-beetle-old-new-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Lincoln opens dedicated design studio]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/19/lincoln-opens-dedicated-design-studio/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/19/lincoln-opens-dedicated-design-studio/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/19/lincoln-opens-dedicated-design-studio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lincoln designer works with 2013 MKZ clay scale model

Lincoln showed off its new design center Thursday, the first dedicated studio for the luxury brand since the 1970s.

Company officials say the new studio will let designers focus just on the Lincoln brand - which is in the early stages of a badly needed rebirth - instead of splitting their time between Ford and Lincoln models.

In the new space, Lincoln designers can focus on one thing: Making the brand something customers want to buy again. "We're trying to bring the best talent in the company together in order to move this brand forward," says J Mays, head of Ford's global design.

The new Lincoln design studio is located inside Ford's existing Dearborn, Michigan product development center, where about 150 designers, sculptors, math sculptors (folks who can translate computer designs into clay), and modelers will work to bring future Lincoln designs to life.

The designers utilize computer-assisted design software to help translate sketches into clay models. The computer designs are then fed to a Tarus milling machine, which scrapes and drills clay models until they look like a real car. Then, clay modelers use traditional hand tools to perfect the pieces, which can be changed on a moment's notice.

Lincoln isn't saying how much the 40,000-square-foot space cost, but officials note the studio has been styled to look like a loft apartment, with open spaces designed to let artists and engineers pop in on each other and foster conversation. It was designed by a company named Imagination, but Lincoln's head designer, Max Wolff had a lot of influence in the space - particularly pushing the openness concept to make the cubicle areas seem like a newsroom.

The radically new 2013 Lincoln MKZ goes on sale later this year and the automaker is poised to show two new models in the coming months.

"Our ambition is not to be No. 1," said Jim Farley, head of global sales and marketing. "We'd rather have a few people love us than everybody like us."

Lincoln opens dedicated design studio originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car designdearborndesignfordj mayslincolnlincoln design studioFri, 19 Oct 2012 16:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20354672/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/19/lincoln-opens-dedicated-design-studio/20354672/article-detail.xml 20354672 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/628-lincoln-design-studio-opening_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/628-lincoln-design-studio-opening.jpg <![CDATA[VW design boss de'Silva says clean and simple design is the new black]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/vw-design-boss-desilva-says-clean-and-simple-design-is-the-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/vw-design-boss-desilva-says-clean-and-simple-design-is-the-new/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/02/vw-design-boss-desilva-says-clean-and-simple-design-is-the-new/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2013 Volkswagen CC - front three-quarter view, silver

Moving forward, we can expect Volkswagen to shift its design language away from anything remotely extravagant. While speaking at the Tokyo launch of the Volkswagen Up!, company global design chief Walter de'Silva said minimalist styling is set to make a resurgence. De'Silva made it clear he believes design is an integral part of resale value, and that the design of models like the Golf helps solidify his brand's value worldwide. The designer said that while the flashier exteriors of models like the Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and BMW 3 Series have been popular in recent years, he believes such looks are already starting to age. Perhaps that's why the redesigned CC "four-door coupe" shown above seems a bit more traditional than its predecessor.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, offers buyers design security, according to de'Silva. As quoted in Automotive News, the executive says: "People want to understand what they buy. There is a certain security in our design."

VW design boss de'Silva says clean and simple design is the new black originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto designcar designccdesignvolkswagenvolkswgen designvwwalter de silvaTue, 02 Oct 2012 10:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20334651/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/02/vw-design-boss-desilva-says-clean-and-simple-design-is-the-new/20334651/article-detail.xml 20334651 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2013-volkswagen-cc-review-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/2013-volkswagen-cc-review-628.jpg <![CDATA[Has Apple's influence made white cars cool?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/has-apples-influence-made-white-cars-cool/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/has-apples-influence-made-white-cars-cool/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/has-apples-influence-made-white-cars-cool/#commentsFiled under:



When you think of Apple products, what color comes to mind? If you purchased a MacBook this year, maybe aluminum's gray hue, but for everyone else, the color that likely comes to mind is that clean white, maybe with a white Apple logo in the middle. According to a Fortune article, that prevalence may have led to a shift in popular car colors. While silver was the longtime favorite color, designers have apparently fallen for white. Says the report "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."

But not too fast, as the Yahoo! story that the Fortune article cites point to brown as a leading color in the modern car market. Jane Harrington, Global Color Manager for paint company PPG offered her insights on why that may be: "Think of the experience of a good coffee, good chocolate, great pieces of wood." Apparently, we associate the color brown with genuine materials and handmade luxury.

We could always do as the Yahoo! post did and cite our very own Alex Nunez: "We grew up at a time when you had all these brown cars in active use... this stuff is sort of subliminally ingrained as a feel good thing - these browns and earth tone colors."

How much does Nunez appreciate brown cars, you ask? He's only the founder of the Brown Car Appreciation Society. Hey, everyone has to have a thing.

Has Apple's influence made white cars cool? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebrownbrown carscar colorscar designcolorfortuneppgwhitewhite carsyahooFri, 31 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20313511/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/31/has-apples-influence-made-white-cars-cool/20313511/article-detail.xml 20313511 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/saab-aero-x-concept_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/saab-aero-x-concept.jpg <![CDATA[Lego wants your unique vehicle design for upcoming movie [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/lego-wants-your-unique-vehicle-design-for-upcoming-movie-w-vide/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/lego-wants-your-unique-vehicle-design-for-upcoming-movie-w-vide/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/29/lego-wants-your-unique-vehicle-design-for-upcoming-movie-w-vide/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Lego movie vehicles

Time to get creative folks. The folks behind Lego are making a new movie, Lego: The Motion Picture, and they need your help in populating the big screen with custom-created vehicles. Cars, planes, boats, boat-cars, truck-planes. They're all fair game if they can provide transportation to those yellow-headed Lego guys.

But there's a catch. Your vehicle must look like it was built from something else. Turn a castle into air boat (maybe it burned down, fell over and didn't sink into the swamp). Or a pickup truck assembled from the pieces of a 1950s diner. You get the point.

The Warner Brothers 3D CGI film will be directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller who also directed 21 Jump Street and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and produced by Dan Lin of Sherlock Holmes fame and How to Train Your Dragon producer Roy Lee.

Check out the call to action video below, then check out the link on this page to submit a photo of your cobbled-together creation for a chance to win not only $1,000, but also to see your creation on the big screen.

Continue reading Lego wants your unique vehicle design for upcoming movie [w/video]

Lego wants your unique vehicle design for upcoming movie [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d moviecar designchristopher millerdan linlegolego contestlego the motion picturelego vehicleslego+motion+picturelego+vehicle+contestlegomotionpicturelegovehiclecontestphil lordroy leevideowarner brothersWed, 29 Aug 2012 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20310624/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/29/lego-wants-your-unique-vehicle-design-for-upcoming-movie-w-vide/20310624/article-detail.xml 20310624 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/lego-vehicle-contest-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/lego-vehicle-contest-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Domino's wants you to design the ultimate pizza delivery vehicle [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/dominos-wants-you-to-design-the-ultimate-pizza-delivery-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/dominos-wants-you-to-design-the-ultimate-pizza-delivery-vehicle/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/dominos-wants-you-to-design-the-ultimate-pizza-delivery-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: ,



When you want the crowd to help you design something automotive related, Local Motors seems to have become the go-to. The Phoenix-based company that birthed the Rally Fighter has since collaborated with DARPA, Edison2 and Peterbilt among others, and now it can add Domino's Pizza to the list.

The pizza pie maker wants to create, with your input, the Ultimate Delivery Vehicle that will ease the 10 million miles per week its drivers do. A five-part design competition will begin today and end on February 19, 2013, with each phase covering a different aspect of the vehicle: design, packaging, interior, surfacing and rendering. After that will come the prototype... and eventually, better pizza. Or a better pizza experience, at least.

For insight into the needs of a pizza deliverer, the contest will be joined by a national television campaign featuring the Domino's CEO doing ride-alongs with "delivery experts" and soliciting feedback. The particulars are now available here, and there's a video and press releases from Domino's and Local Motors just below.

Continue reading Domino's wants you to design the ultimate pizza delivery vehicle [w/video]

Domino's wants you to design the ultimate pizza delivery vehicle [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car designcompetitioncontestdesigndominosdominos pizzalocal motorsultimate delivery vehicleMon, 13 Aug 2012 17:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20298484/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/13/dominos-wants-you-to-design-the-ultimate-pizza-delivery-vehicle/20298484/article-detail.xml 20298484 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/pixar-pizza-planet-truck_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/pixar-pizza-planet-truck.jpg <![CDATA[Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ex-bmw-styling-boss-chris-bangle-gets-lifetime-achievement-from/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ex-bmw-styling-boss-chris-bangle-gets-lifetime-achievement-from/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/ex-bmw-styling-boss-chris-bangle-gets-lifetime-achievement-from/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Eyes On Design honors Chris Bangle

Even to casual car enthusiasts, Chris Bangle needs no introduction. One of the most controversial designers of all time, the "Bangle Butt" redesign of the BMW 7 Series is still hotly debated even today. Introduced in 2002 during Bangle's tenure as chief designer at BMW, the E65 7 Series only began to develop Bangle's new design language for BMW, later dubbed "flame surfacing." Whether you love or hate his work - and there seems to be no middle ground - the man's influence is undeniable. Many manufacturers have since borrowed aspects of his designs for their own vehicles.


It's only fitting, then, that the 25th anniversary Eyes On Design car show should award Bangle its prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award. Held each summer at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House just outside Detroit in Grosse Pointe Shores, Eyes On Design is a real insiders club, in that only those designers who have won the Lifetime Design Achievement Award are eligible to vote.

While we knew Bangle would be receiving this award from his peers since November 2011, the actual ceremony was held this past weekend at the Detroit Yacht Club. Retired Ford designer Jack Telnack, General Motors design chief Ed Welburn, and Ford director of exterior design Joel Piaskowski were among those who spoke. Bangle joins a pretty famous crew of past award winners, including Italian design legends Giorgetto Giugiaro and the recently deceased Sergio Pininfarina, William "Willy" G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson, and former Chrysler and GM "car guy in chief" Bob Lutz.

Scroll down to watch video footage of the awards ceremony and read the full press release.

Continue reading Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>banglebangle buttbmwcar designchris bangledesigned welburneyes on designflame surfacingjack telnackjoel piaskowskiwilliam davidsonWed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20280166/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/18/ex-bmw-styling-boss-chris-bangle-gets-lifetime-achievement-from/20280166/article-detail.xml 20280166 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/eyes-on-design-honor-chris-bangle001-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/eyes-on-design-honor-chris-bangle001-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Ford expands European design center]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/ford-expands-european-design-center/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/ford-expands-european-design-center/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/ford-expands-european-design-center/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ford of Europe's expanded design center - entrance

It's a big week for buildings: after the announcement of Lamborghini's prototype center, not only is Ford not pulling out of Europe, it has spent €11.6 million ($14.3M U.S.) to expand its design center in Germany. The 3,000 square-meter architectural addition to the location charged with global design of small and compact Ford models revamps existing studios, adds a "powerwall" for projecting 3D designs and virtual envrionments, along with new machines for clay modeling.

The new wing is said to be "reminiscent of a boat," but it doesn't resemble any oceangoing vessel we've ever seen. No matter, you can read more on its land-lubber details in the press release and check out the high-res gallery above.

Continue reading Ford expands European design center

Ford expands European design center originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architecturecar designdesign centerfordford designford design centerford europeford of europegermanyMon, 09 Jul 2012 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20273399/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/09/ford-expands-european-design-center/20273399/article-detail.xml 20273399 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/forddesigncenter_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/forddesigncenter.jpg <![CDATA[Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/06/henrik-fisker-what-are-you-drawing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/06/henrik-fisker-what-are-you-drawing/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/06/henrik-fisker-what-are-you-drawing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Henrik Fisker drawing during his TED Talk

"Cars have become an appliance... And on top of that, you start feeling a bit guilty about driving a car, because it pollutes, you use a lot of gasoline." These are the words of Henrik Fisker, car designer and the man who startes his own automobile company which currently builds and sells the extended-range electric Karma sedan.

"Why do electric cars, or small fuel-efficient cars, always have to look dorky? Why can't we make a beautiful, gorgeous car?" Well, if you're the man who penned the BMW Z8 and a couple of show-stopping Aston Martin coupes, you don't have to design a dorky EV. Which explains the sleek lines of the aforementioned Karma and upcoming Fisker Atlantic.

Will Fisker ultimately succeed in establishing a viable automaker that continues to build cars well into the future? Only time will tell. Either way, we have to admire Henrik's bravado. "The doubters out there, they are rarely the builders. And those who are the skeptics, are never really the inventors... There are a lot of us out there who believe that dreams are possible."

Those parting words are spoken as Henrik Fisker lays out what appears to be a two-door sports car with a low-slung profile that would seemingly mesh quite well with the rest of Fisker's slinky but eco-conscious machinery. Scroll down below to watch the video, which was shot during his TED talk at Chapman University.

Continue reading Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing?

Henrik Fisker, what are you drawing? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jul 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlanticcar designchapman universityfiskerfisker atlanticfisker automotivefisker karmahenrik fiskerkarmatedted conferenceted talksvideoFri, 06 Jul 2012 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20273007/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/06/henrik-fisker-what-are-you-drawing/20273007/article-detail.xml 20273007 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/fisker-ted-drawing_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/fisker-ted-drawing.jpg <![CDATA[Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/03/legendary-designer-sergio-pininfarina-passes-away/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Sergio Pininfarina kneels down to inspect a car - 1959

The world of automotive design has lost another great. Sergio Pininfarina - the honorary chairman of the Pininfarina Group that bears his family name - passed away last night at age 85.

Sergio took control of Pininfarina as chairman back in 1966 after his father, Gian Battista 'Pinin' Farina, passed away. He would hold this role until transitioning to honorary chairman in 2006.

Over his tenure, his Pininfarina firm worked on design projects for everyone from Alfa Romeo to Chevrolet to Bentley and Volvo, but he is perhaps most known for his work for Ferrari and Maserati. No stranger to edgy aesthetics, Pininfarina presided over designs like the 2002 Ferrari Enzo and the 1984 Ferrari Testarossa before it. Conversely, he was also responsible for some beautifully simple forms, including the lauded 1996 Peugeot 406 Coupe and 2003 Maserati Quattroporte.

Sergio Pininfarina is survived by his wife and two children. You can learn more about him by scrolling down to read the company's official statement.

Continue reading Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away

Legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina passes away originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's no secret that automotive designers build large clay models of their cars while working out a final design. But let us axe you something: What happens when a design is approved and the car is put into production? Deconstruction. And boy, it sure looks like fun.

Jaguar gave its XF sedan an updated skin for the 2012 model year, and now that the car has been on sale for many months now (we've driven it, in case you forgot), it's time for the sculptors who built the original life-size clay model to take it apart in the most violently awesome way possible. That's right - with axes. Is this the way they do it in England all the time? We have no idea, but it sure seems like a good stress reliever.

Scroll down to watch a trio of identically dressed Jaguar engineers hack a full-size XF model down to just scraps in a matter of edited-for-video minutes.

Continue reading Jaguar designers deconstruct XF clay model... with axes

Jaguar designers deconstruct XF clay model... with axes originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 jaguar xfauto designaxecar designclaydesigndesign clayjaguarvideoxfWed, 06 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20253114/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/06/jaguar-designers-deconstruct-xf-clay-model-with-axes/20253114/article-detail.xml 20253114 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/xfvideo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/xfvideo.jpg <![CDATA[Ex-BMW design boss Bangle writes book, launches contest]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/ex-bmw-design-boss-bangle-launches-contest-and-new-book/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/ex-bmw-design-boss-bangle-launches-contest-and-new-book/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/01/21/ex-bmw-design-boss-bangle-launches-contest-and-new-book/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chris BangleChris Bangle's latest novel idea is, in fact, an actual novel. The designer has penned fiction tome called Peter Teufel, A Tale of Car Design in 3 Parts.

There's more to the work than Bangle laying out a potential future of transportation via the Teufel character's story. The prologue contains descriptions of six different kinds of vehicles, and Bangle wants readers to draw those concepts and submit them. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to the studios of Chris Bangle Associates (CBA) in Italy or €2,000. Ten other winners will have their designs showcased on the CBA site and published in the second edition of the book.

A cynic might suggest that this is merely a ploy to get readers, but you can read and download the text for free - and Bangle's interest in the future of the automobile is nothing new. The contest is open to "design students of all disciplines" who are not paid professionals.

Ex-BMW design boss Bangle writes book, launches contest originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookcar designchris banglechris bangle associatesfictionnovelpeter teufelpeter teufel a tale of car design in 3 partsSat, 21 Jan 2012 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20151780/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/21/ex-bmw-design-boss-bangle-launches-contest-and-new-book/20151780/article-detail.xml 20151780 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chris-bangle_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/chris-bangle.jpg <![CDATA[Evolution of Speed: Chevy speedometers through time]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/06/evolution-of-speed-chevy-speedometers-through-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/06/evolution-of-speed-chevy-speedometers-through-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/06/evolution-of-speed-chevy-speedometers-through-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Speedometer

The devil is always in the details when it comes to industrial design. Sure, there are some ugly and disjointed consumer products that should never have been wrought upon the buying public, but the differences between most of the things we build and buy are subtle. Paying attention to the little stuff is important, especially in the auto industry, as it's the collection of these details that add up to produce truly memorable vehicles.

Which brings us to this cool design blog from Christian Annyas, where he's posted 24 black-and-white images of Chevrolet speedometer designs dating back to 1941. (The 2002 Monte Carlo SS Dale Earnhardt Signature Edition speedometer pictured above is not one of them.)

Tracing the evolution of the fonts and layout of all these speedos is interesting in itself, but Annyas seems to have a more pointed motivation - trashing digital speedometers. He pictures a single digital unit, from the Chevrolet Sonic, describing it as "not an ideal situation." To be fair, the Sonic's speedometer wouldn't be our choice if we had these to choose from, either. That honor would have to go to the trio of art deco 1940's Chevy truck designs Annyas selected.

Evolution of Speed: Chevy speedometers through time originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car designcentennialchevroletchevrolet centennialchevydesignfontspeedometertypographySun, 06 Nov 2011 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20097695/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/06/evolution-of-speed-chevy-speedometers-through-time/20097695/article-detail.xml 20097695 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/2002-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss-dale-earnhardt-edition-speedometer-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/2002-chevrolet-monte-carlo-ss-dale-earnhardt-edition-speedometer-opt.jpg <![CDATA[LA Design Challenge concepts toast Tinseltown]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/la-design-challenge-concepts-toast-tinseltown/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/la-design-challenge-concepts-toast-tinseltown/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/04/la-design-challenge-concepts-toast-tinseltown/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As we revealed last month, the theme for this year's LA Design Challenge is Hollywood - more specifically, what the silver screen's next iconic automobile might be. For some reason, this year's challenge features a lot fewer entrants than year's past. In fact, half of the field comes from Daimler, with concepts submitted by Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and Smart. The other three competitors are Honda, Hyundai and Subaru.

Their challenge was to dream up the next DeLorean, Highland Green Ford Mustang or Black Audi S8 that will capture the attention of moviegoers in the year 2050. Each entrant picked a different style of film; everything from westerns to thrillers to fairy tales and vampire movies is represented.

We've collected all six entrants, including descriptions of a blockbuster Hollywood storyline that goes along with each vehicle, after the jump. Check them out and then vote for your favorite in our poll. We'll see if the Autoblog community was right on November 17 when the winner is announced at the 2011 LA Auto Show.


View Poll

Continue reading LA Design Challenge concepts toast Tinseltown

LA Design Challenge concepts toast Tinseltown originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto designcar designdesignla 2011la design challengela design challenge 2011los angeles 2011movie carsFri, 04 Nov 2011 20:13:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20099113/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/11/04/la-design-challenge-concepts-toast-tinseltown/20099113/article-detail.xml 20099113 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/0000-honda-intelligent-horse-la-design-challenge-opt2_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/0000-honda-intelligent-horse-la-design-challenge-opt2.jpg <![CDATA[I DRAW CARS book coming for budding car designers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/i-draw-cars-book-coming-for-budding-car-designers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/i-draw-cars-book-coming-for-budding-car-designers/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/07/i-draw-cars-book-coming-for-budding-car-designers/#commentsFiled under: ,

idrawcars book

Love cars? Surely, then, you spent many a classroom hour doodling them all over their book covers and binders. Sometimes they looked kinda cool, while other times you wish you had used pencil instead of pen. A new book is in the works that will help budding automotive designers hone their skill, and the octavo will serve as both a sketchbook and a reference guide. It's called I DRAW CARS, and you can help bring it to life.

The team behind the book is currently asking for help on the Kickstarter.com website, and they've nearly hit their goal. There is still room to help out, and for some we'd think this would be money well spent.

I DRAW CARS was created to inspire and guide those who are intrigued by automotive design. The guide portion of the book breaks down the various vehicle segments being produced, as well as the various angles and perspectives one might choose to pen a design. The templates utilize non-photo blue ink, which means you can scan your design into a computer and the template won't come through, leaving just your image behind.

The project aims to put a great tool in the hands of those who dream to someday design the real thing. Check it out at the official website, and head over to Kickstarter if you feel like pitching in.

I DRAW CARS book coming for budding car designers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive designcar designcar design bookdesigndesign booki draw carsi draw cars bookkickstarterTue, 07 Jun 2011 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19959962/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/07/i-draw-cars-book-coming-for-budding-car-designers/19959962/article-detail.xml 19959962 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/pageimage-492856-2169996-idrawcars223_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/pageimage-492856-2169996-idrawcars223.jpg <![CDATA[Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/ford-nabs-former-cadillac-stylist-for-new-lincoln-design-chief/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/ford-nabs-former-cadillac-stylist-for-new-lincoln-design-chief/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/01/ford-nabs-former-cadillac-stylist-for-new-lincoln-design-chief/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Max Wolff, Lincoln design headMax Wolff, formerly of General Motors, has been hired by Ford Motor Company to head up Lincoln's design team effective January 3, 2011.

During his tenure at GM, Wolff was most recently responsible for leading Cadillac's exterior design team, though he also held positions at the automaker's Holden and Daewoo divisions. Ford sees Wolff's global design experience as a benefit for Lincoln, bringing "a fresh perspective that will challenge us internally and take Lincoln to new levels of prestige," says Derrick Kuzak, Ford's Group Vice President for Global Product Development.

Wolff, 38, is tasked with creating a definitive design language for Lincoln that extends beyond the large split-grilled creations we currently see. Specifically, Ford has cited that the Lincoln brand will debut seven all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles over the next four years, including the automaker's first-ever C-segment car. For the full details, hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief

Ford nabs former Cadillac stylist for new Lincoln design chief originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If automotive designers can agree on one thing, it's that the future will be more diverse. Three current designers and one teacher came together to discuss the way forward at the monthly Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit. Cadillac's Clay Dean, Hyundai's Phil Zak and Ford's Scott Strong joined Larry Erickson from the College for Creative Studies at the Detroit Athletic Club.

There will be multiple forces driving this increased diversity, including the emergence of megacities (like Paris, Beijing, Shanghai, Mumbai and Singapore), changing demographics and new powertrain systems.

The increased urbanization we're seeing in many regions is leading to larger, more crowded cities that make traditional automobiles unsuitable and unsustainable. There simply isn't enough room for large vehicles carrying only one or two occupants on the roads of these metropolises. Dean discussed vehicles such as the General Motors EN-V concepts being shown at the Shanghai expo as one possible answer to the increasing density. Read on after the jump to hear more of what the panelists said.


Continue reading Designers: Future transportation environment will be much more diverse

Designers: Future transportation environment will be much more diverse originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 May 2010 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It might not get you a date, but this Porsche definitely taps into our biology drives and pumps us up

"Is that a Porsche in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" That's the subtitle on a funny and informative piece by colleague Diego Rodriguez over at AOL Autos. In it, Rodriguez looks at the connection between biology and our attraction to certain cars. While relating how deflated he felt every time he had to get into his faded Taurus in a lot full of "Range Bruiser Nantucketmobiles" and Aston Martin DB5s, he points out that it wasn't social conditioning so much as "a hard-wired biological mechanism," at work.

To explain the phenomenon, Rodriguez looks back more than a century to 1899, when "economist Thorstein Veblen published his seminal work The Theory of the Leisure Class, in which he postulated that we buy expensive things not so much for their inherent qualities, but for the attention we receive as we experience said object." He blames it on lekking, the mating dance done by species for eons, but Rodriguez says it goes much further than that:
"...a 911 literally makes a driver more potent from a biological standpoint, whether or not there are witnesses to your possession of the car. A Porsche driver, science says, no matter where or how they drive, have higher testosterone levels than if they were stuck in a sedan. By driving a Porsche they become more potent competitors in the game of life..."
Because of that, Rodriguez sees the future of automotive design linked more closely to biological wants and needs. It's a good read and definitely worth the click over if for nothing else other than the graphic that tops the page - Priceless.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo


[Source: AOL Autos]

Are sex and biology the future drivers of automotive design? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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