Autoblog

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Whenever car design students tackle a project with as little direction as designing a "future eco-friendly automobile," you know that the designs will bear little resemblance to what's currently available. Still, when it's students from the Royal College of Art we're talking about, we should take note. After all, this is the same school that graduated the likes of Peter Horbury, Ian Callum, Martin Smith from Ford of Europe, Aston Martin's design director Marek Reichman and Peter Schreyer, Kia's current design head and the man behind the iconic shape of Audi's original TT.

The winner of the 2008 Pilkington Automotive Vehicle Design award was Pierre Sabas with his Airflow concept (shown above). Although the looks of the vehicle, with its entire exterior made from glass, are pretty far fetched, the in-wheel electric motors specified by the designer may have a future as many automakers are already exploring this idea for production. In contrast, Arturo Peralta Nogueras's concept uses non-existent "solid hologram technology" for the exterior along with an interior that evolves with its surroundings. We're sure that one's coming right around the corner. Thanks for the tip, Mike!


[Sources: Inhabitat, Wallpaper.com]

One thing Kia has never been accused of is being on the cutting edge of style. That may change with news that the Korean automaker has hired on Volkswagen's advanced design chief, Peter Schreyer, to head up its global design operation. Schreyer is the guy responsible for Audi's Bauhaus flava and has lately been laying low over at Volkswagen designing such shapes as the Concept-R roadster. Word has it that Schreyer has been unhappy at VW/Audi for some time due to differences with VW's design chief Murat Gunak. What does this mean for Kia? We can expect future designs from the automaker to include copious amounts of style along with their trademark value.

[Source: Inside Line]