Design

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2015 KTM X-Bow GTR Is Reskinned and GT4-Ready To Race via Reiter Engineering

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KTM’s branch-out from its motorcycle core with the X-Bow has created a rapid and fierce bunch of loyalists on and off the racetracks of the world. A simple idea of a carbon-fiber tub, mid-engine dynamics and deconstructed and minimalist panels was such a revolution six years ago — yet today is almost the global supercar template. From the X-Bow — pronounced CrossBow — came the X-Bow GT and the latest one-make race series, increases to 400-plus horsepower, and even a windshield for those days when you can drive without a race helmet. The next step for the X-Bow takes the …

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2016 Hyundai Tucson Breaks Cover Ahead of Geneva Show Packing New DCT

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Warning: this is not a concept. This fresh and big-SUV design is in fact the real Euro-spec Hyundai Tucson! This seriously stylish upgrade of the compact Tucson crossover also includes new engines and a brand-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission on some trim levels. You can really see the Hyundai first-mover advantage coming into play: as this Hyundai crossover looks far more grown-up than the new Chevy Trax or Honda HR-V, but is likely to be priced at similar sub-$20,000 base prices when it arrives stateside this Fall. 2016 Hyundai Tucson   The all-new Tucson All-New Tucson represents significant step forward …

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2015 KIA Trail’Ster Concept Previews Upcoming Soul Refresh + All-New Interior

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The Kia Soul is easily our favorite model in the Kia range – with actual sportiness in the handling and impressive power, there is no other car on the market with such a flexible crossover package. Best of all? The Soul is priced like an economy car, and has almost double the power of the Scion xD and xB. But how to make it a real SUV instead of just a fun and light-hearted crossover? For that, you need all-wheel-drive. KIA has gone theRX450h route here — powering the rear axle with hybrid electric motors. Efficient, compact, and lacking any …

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LARTE Design Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Black Crystal in 80 New Photos!

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Better than even the awesome Larte QX80 and QX60 makeovers? Better than the LX570 Alligator that Larte Design just launched in Moscow? Taste is always subjective — but in terms of the high-fashion and high-exclusivity goals of a luxury SUV upgrade, we’d vote for this Larte GL as their best work yet. The angularity and strongly matte finishes to the Larte trucks grilles and body kit certainly applies here, giving the brand a relatively unique statement of design across all its models. They best part of this body kit and accessory package for the GL550, GL450, GL350 and GL63 is …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Styling Kit in 26 New Photos

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Updated 2.8.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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Design Analysis - 2013 Opel-Vauxhall MONZA Is Exotic, Advanced PHEV GT 12

Design Analysis – 2013 Opel-Vauxhall MONZA Is Exotic, Advanced PHEV GT

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This Monza concept feels subtle at first. Its slinky and silky metallic gunmetal finishes are the perfect shade of subtle, and let the wild surfaces and flowing silhouette speak for itself. How to think of this car? A future production model? Not at all. This is perhaps best thought-of as a potential Tesla Model S-fighter, with ambitions to compete with the BMW i8 from a technological perspective. Theoretical pricing would be around $100,000 — so obviously in the fantasy realm for the mid-premium Opel and Vauxhall brands. Let’s do a full design assessment by angle. But first! Here is what …

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2004 Vauxhall VXR220 – A Design Icon and Style Tastemaker

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When the first-gen Elise was sweeping up accolades, the smartest people in the room might have seen three holes in the perfect-handling bliss that was the new Lotus. — The design was odd and the detailing was all-wrong. The bug-eye lamps and curvy shapes recalled a dune buggy more than an exotic supercar — The original engines were low on torque and not globally certified for emissions — Distribution within the tiny Lotus boutique dealer network was extremely limited Vauxhall was able to bring solutions to these three issues in one fell swoop. Huge industrial might behind it, design talent …

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Houston Tuner Showcase - 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft

Houston Tuner Showcase – 2015 Mercedes-Benz S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design Bodykit

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Prior Design, Featuring Modesta Advanced Liquid Glass Coatings? What is this, a rap battle downloaded from your dorm-neighbor via 2001’s Napster?! No, no it is not. These Modesta coatings are the highlight here. The Prior Design bodykits are just stage dressing. Despite the oddly OOF photos, the glass coatings in the paint are truly seductive and special. They make any paintwork feel three-feet-deep. 2015 Mercedes S-Class by MODESTA Glass Coatings Ft. Prior Design

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2016 Land Rover Discover Sport HSE – Full Design Analysis + Letter Grade Scores

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INTRO: ICELAND IN JANUARY The new Land Rover Discovery Sport just enjoyed its big coming-out party over the weekend in Iceland, with many auto writers enjoying a 1000-mile adventure trying out the new baby Landie across heaps and dales and ice bales. But from our impression back at home, the vast majority of the travel time was not by car, but by plane. Iceland is farrrrr from everywhere in the United States. Far. (Sidebar, would we have gone if invited? YES!) And a general rule of thumb? The more exotic the launch location of a hum-drum car, the worse the …

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2015 Volvo V60 Cross Country – Updated With 20 New, Real-Life Photos from Houston

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First details today on the newest Volvo – a US-bound V60 Cross Country! The new V60 XC is a tough and rugged version of the V60 sportwagen, and will ship to the US with standard AWD and the 250-horsepower T5 engine. Some have asked if the V60 Cross Country is necessary, considering the presence of the XC60 SUV in the lineup. There is certainly some overlap, but the V60 XC will appeal to a sportier customer and have pricing a few thousand less than the taller XC60 SUV. More models are a good thing for Volvo in the US – …

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Super Sedan Design Shootout – 2016 Lexus GS-F vs. 2016 Cadillac CTS-V vs. E63 AMG vs. M5

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  INTRO: How freaky does that sliced image montage look above!?  Despite the four car’s here not quite matching up in the photos we have at hand, they all share a great deal of buyer and market appeal. For shoppers needing supercar pace with room for five people, there have never been more choices. Very exciting times in the super-sedan business! In a segment that the BMW M5 once owned all to itself, the current M5 Jahre 30 Edition is a run-out special for 2015 that feels ancient versus the latest AMG, Cadillac and Lexus four-doors. To save the M5 …

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Design Analysis – 2014 Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV

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When Mitsubishi rolled out its latest trio of design concepts in Geneva last March, we were slightly horrified and very shocked. The designs are quite ‘advanced,’ — which is another way of saying they are freakishly ‘out there’ and not exactly attractive on first glance. But after seeing how this look filtered down to the 2016 Outlander, we are determined to give the new Mitsubishi design style a chance. And clearly, Mitsubishi believes it is on to something here. The XR-PHEV here became the firm’s Vision Gran Turismo car as an ‘Evolution’ version of this design, so you cannot say …

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2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

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When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

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2015 Hyundai Santa Cruz Concept Explores SUV Pickup Crossover

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  What is this Hyundai Santa Cruz? A pickup/SUV? Think of it like a Honda Ridgeline, but perhaps tilted a bit more toward the SUV side of things versus the pickup truck? The Hyundai Santa Cruz concept revealed minutes ago in Detroit is certainly a headscratcher.Not least because the Honda Ridgeline has been a bit of a dud, despite a new model coming for 2016 for Honda. The best way to think of the concept is a look at Hyundai entering new truck segments in the future, as well as a snapshot of the brand’s latest design ideas in the …

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2016 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road Trim Is Mid-Size Raptor-Hunter

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Lots of action in the new 2016 Tacoma range this year. Along with the leather-seated Limited trim come two new TRD packages, with this TRD Off-Road trim level particularly captivating. Huge 35-inch tires, mud-friendly detailing and the AccessCab shown here are all very new and cool indeed. The lift and suspension tweaks for the special-wheeled TRD Off-Road package make it the only mid-size truck capable of going everywhere a Ford Raptor can on the rough stuff. The sandy Moab color help reinforce the Tacoma TRD’s Moab credibility, as do the fender flares and unique grille versus the Limited. A new …

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30 New Photos! 2016 Toyota Tacoma Delivers Big Tech Upgrades, LED DRLs + New Limited and TRD Trims

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Updated 1.12.2015 Thrilled to share the full details of the upcoming Toyota Tacoma, which packs all-new engines and transmissions, a full redesign outside and in, and even a new range-topping Limited trim level. The biggest news for the best-selling Tacoma is the addition of six-speed automatics for the base four-cylinder trucks and the top 3.5-liter V6. The new transmission promises a quicker sprint time as well as a near 15-percent jump in fuel economy all by itself. But it is not working solo. The new V6 is very special indeed, with a truck-first combination of direct and port fuel injection …

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2015 Buick Avenir Concept Shows Design of Future RWD Flagship Limo

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This is a tricky design to love at first sight. The sketches whisper ‘chic’ the real car’s nose and profile shouts ‘eek.’ Even so, it is a promising look at a future Buick flagship limo.    2015 Buick Avenir Concept         Avenir’s Design-driven Global Collaboration Buick concept developed via collaboration of GM’s Australia, Michigan studios 2015-01-11 DETROIT – The Buick Avenir concept announced today ahead of the North American International Auto Show represents a collaboration of General Motors’ global designers and fabricators, who worked between studios in Australia and the United States to develop the striking design …

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Bugatti SUV Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec

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In the original article toward the bottom of this page, we explore an online rendering of a Bugatti Veyron-style SUV, plus created our own janky lift of the official Galibier concept from Bugatti. But neither of the below ideas is really as avant-garde as Bugatti would seek for any Super SUV with its EB logos attached. College of Art Center of Design student Ondrej Jirec has a very cool idea for a Bugatti SUV. Grand style, grand pace, and the name? The Grand Colombier. A nod to the explorer Cristobol Colon — who we Americans know as Christopher Columbus — …

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2016 Toyota Tacoma Is Official: Butch New Design + Rugged Capability

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The full batch of 2016 Tacoma images are now all online – with the truck looking fresh and butch up front. A large grille and more deeply-stamped creases and curves give the new Tacoma a bit of the 4Runner’s style kudos, plus new headlights with an LED accent not even the 4Runner enjoys. 2016 Toyota Tacoma    

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LARTE Design Launches Flashy New Range Rover Sport Upgrades

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There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and an F1-inspired rear central brake light shines bright red from the lower bumper. The new three-pod grille insert is a fresh take on the RRS style – and is one of …

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Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Lamborghini Perdigon by Ondrej Jirec

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The Cadillac Estill design vision from last week is not the only incredible future exotic designed by Ondrej Jirec recently. While in his final years as a student at the Art College of Design in Pasadena, Jirec has also been dreaming of future Lamborghini’s. But his dreams turn out far better than any study-hall doodle we could ever achieve… that is for sure. This Gallardo-sized Lamborghini looks fairly traditional from the nose, but is actually a mean and deconstructed beast with ultra-short overhands, complex leading edges, and a full glass canopy. The first thing that hits your eye is the …

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Design Talent Showcase – Ondrej Jirec Styles Cadillac Supercar of Your Dreams

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Up-and-coming design students are a fascinating group to watch. Their ideas can go from senior thesis to luxury or exotic brands in less than five years time, and onto nearly all mainstream cars a few years after that. There are a few really exceptional breeding grounds for this ultra-elite school of designers. The Royal College of Art in England, IED Torino in Italy, or the Art Center College of Design in Pasedena, California all are top-of-mind. Ondrej Jirec attends the California entry in our shortlist — and is very busy indeed these days. His 2013 internship was with General Motors, …

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KAHN Design Range Rover RS600 Is Private Haven in Snow White/Gloss Black

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KAHN Design will make you turn-key stunner like this or help you upgrade your Rangie a la carte via Kahn wheels, grilles, trims and styling pieces over time. Either way, the results are definitely unique and striking. The level of vulgarity and hints of criminals behind the wheel goes up dramatically with any kind of matte or monochrome paintwork, so this white/black stunner is a great balance. Flashy and classy in all the right ways. There are widebody flares on this car, and totally unique front and rear bumpers as well. The design of these pieces is so well-integrated and …

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X-Tomi Design Ute Pickups

X-Tomi Design Renders Ute Pickups From 12 of The Hottest New Cars

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You know X-Tomi Design as the talent behind the Lexus RC-F cabrio renderings featured a few weeks ago — and this is one prolific car design artist! One of his latest feats is making Ute pickup truck versions of many hot sports cars, crossovers and supercoupes. Sure, the market for these machines in real life might be very slim outside of Australia — but they are fun to ponder regardless. Pop him a like over on the Face via the below link, and check his site for all the latest fantasy renderings he puts out. https://www.facebook.com/xtomidesign http://xtomi.blogspot.hu/   X-Tomi Design …

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Design Analysis – 2012 Pininfarina Cambiano – Why So Lifeless, Bland and Generic?

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We feel a bit guilty for absolutely skewering the Pininfarina/Ferrari Sergio the other day.  After all, they may have had no control over the lame production-friendly changes done by Ferrari. Let’s take another look at some of Pininfarina’s other recent work to balance things out, shall we? The 2012 Pininfarina Cambiano concept was an expression of a clean, EV sedan in the mold of the Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma or the Quant e-Sport Limousine. The vehicle has two doors on the passenger side, and one longer coupe door on the driver side. The trouble is: it is super boring …

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Best of 2014 Awards – Toyota FT-1 Concept Is Stunning Design Triumph

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Update 3 11.27.14 Has there been another concept with the impact of the FT-1? We cannot think of another vehicle this year that has created more buzz. Of course, the FT-1 is just the leading edge of what many hope will become a showroom supercar in the next few years under the vaulted Supra badge. Toyota’s collaboration with BMW on a future sports-car appears to indicate the eventual Supra will be based of a version of the BMW Z4’s chassis, albeit highly modified for a possible production debut of a hybrid-R electric boost setup. Primary power is expected to come …

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Design Evolution Series – 2001 INFINITI FX45 Concept Expored Idea of Supercar Crossover

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Part One in a Series. The first of five or six articles here walking through Infiniti’s first steps designing and visualizing what the brand’s values would be in acrossover form. The QX4 (Q by 4) Pathfinder overhaul arriving in the late 1990s was a decent first effort, with some stylish cues to its wheels, lighting and overall aesthetic. But some time at the wheel made clear how luxury-focused the QX4 was. It was not an eager canyon-carver, and its 3.3-liter V6 was given extra-short gearing to the four-speed automatic to make the QX4 feel a bit less sluggish than it …

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Concept Debrief – 2010 Citroen SURVOLT – Design Analysis in 110 Electrifying Photos

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What makes the 2010 Citroen Survolt such an achievement in sports-car design? Consider that its proportions almost perfectly mirror those of the Lotus Exige — but the curb appeal of the vehicle tells the brain to expect pricing in the $200,000 ballpark versus the Lotus at $75,000. In terms of the Survolt’s mission as a concept car, we can think of the car in the same league as the Ranult DeZir. Part tech showcase and EV R&D tool, part brand roadmap and design superstar. The Survolt found a joyous receptionin 2010 – and four years have done nothing to dull …

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Audi Shits Bed in LA? Second Take on 2014 Audi Prologue Concept + 50 New Photos

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Updated 11.23.14     Audi Shits The Bed. ? What kind of headline is that? Despite being so brash — it seems a bit nicer than the original, which was: Audi Prologue is Worst LA Debut. We have to be honest, the latest press photos of the Prologue look better than the car does in real-life photos — which is rare. Usually any ultra-lux concept will look far more interesting in the real world. The Audi Prologue is a nightmare scenario for Audi’s supposed design resurgence for more than a few reasons. The lack of real-life impact is just the …

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2029 Infiniti SYNAPTIQ Is Spinal Tap – Flying Racecar is F1-Fast + Off-Road-Ready

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The Infiniti entry into the annual LA Design challenge is pretty outstanding – blending future-tech with fantasy to answer to question posed by the contest for this year: how will we interact with cars in 2029? Infiniti’s answer? A spinal lock communications system to allow thought-controlled driving and tech functions. A ‘Spinal Tap‘ if you will — and this one is just as pretend in many ways than the joke band of the same name. However, Synaptiq does offer a highly stylized version of future F1 types of cars in its circuit race setting. The flying and off-road sections of …

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Update1 – 2014 Lexus LFC2 Concept Cabrio Is Truly Miraculous – A Design So Beautiful It Makes Audi Weep

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 A design to make Audi weep? Yes indeed. The Lexus LFC2 made a huge splash today in LA as a highly stylized and clever look at a future RC convertible. But while the main proportions and packaging say RC very clearly, the detailing is divine and clever and fresh from all sides. Let’s break out nsome favorite elements, starting at the nose. Here, we have a very cool and chic interpretation of the RC’s singleframe grille — but this time with elegant waterfall elements flowing cleanly into the F Sport style of zig-zag lines in the lower portion. It is …

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Update1 – 2014 Audi Prologue Concept – World Debut and Design Analysis

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  There has been much speculation about what Audi was teasing for LA – and the wait is now over. The concept is called the Prologue and is a giant A9-sized two-door coupe. This much we knew – but few expected the car to be an actual two door, but rather a four-door coupe as is in vogue. Overall, however, when asked about what the Prologue previews — Audi is keen to say “Everything.” Even the name points to the pre-read status of this car for all future Audi designs – from the 2016 A8 to the 2016 A4, all …

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Concept Flashback – 2013 VW Design Vision GTI Wants To Eat Your Babies

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This is the meanest-looking Golf GTI… ever.   Wow. Very impressive design ideas inside and out. Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Exterior Gallery Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Interior Gallery Design Vision Volkswagen GTI Concept – Animated Gallery

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Speculative Rendering – 2016 Lexus ES350 F Design

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The latest Lexus ES is an all-star for the company – and time in the seat tells you why. The car is simply astounding in how comfortable and smooth it makes even the worst roads, or the most tedious errands. Lexus is not likely to mess with the core competency of this perennial best-seller, but the ES could use an exterior refresh these days. Its xenon low-beams and halogen high-beams were once slim, but now look gaping and too-large versus the coolest cars out there. And what are these cool cars? Many of them are right in the Lexus showroom …

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Volvo V60 XC Coming to USA In February With AWD and T5 Turbo; Pricing From $38,000

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First details today on the newest Volvo – a US-bound V60 Cross Country! The new V60 XC is a tough and rugged version of the V60 sportwagen, and will ship to the US with standard AWD and the 250-horsepower T5 engine. Some have asked if the V60 Cross Country is necessary, considering the presence of the XC60 SUV in the lineup. There is certainly some overlap, but the V60 XC will appeal to a sportier customer and have pricing a few thousand less than the taller XC60 SUV. More models are a good thing for Volvo in the US – …

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Mercedes-Benz G-Code Concept Is China-Penned GLB Design Study

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  At the opening of its new Beijing R&D Center today, Mercedes revealed a very tasty new concept car to the world: the G-Code SUV concept. G-Code? Mercedes calls this hot new concept an SUC — which seems like an acronym too far! Let’s just say it is a very sporty crossover coupe. A Super-Sport Utility Vehicle? Regardless, the themes shown here are very interesting and fresh versus previous Mercedes SUV ideas and concepts. The flowing and ultra-sensual forms of the body are an extreme interpretation of Mercedes’ latest California-originating design themes — with the sheetmetal appearing like a taught …

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Quail Classics – 1950 Healey Silverstone Roadster Is Race-Optimized Aerolithe

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We need an article to put together while my pulse comes down after totally breaking this website a few hours ago. Learning to be a webmaster on the fly is fraught with peril. Would Healey have said the same thing about his much-wider Silverstone roadster for 1950? This ‘E-Type’ Healey was widened by more than a foot versus the D-Type of 1949, which was initially planned as an affordable vehicle to slide under a $4,000 cap at which new car taxes doubled from 33-percent to 66-percent. The plan was to put Jaguar and Alfa-Romeo and Maserati power and tech into …

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Concept to Reality: 2015 Ford Mustang Sketches That Led To Gorgeous New Ponycar

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We really like that Ford has been releasing so much information on the design development of their models. A big part of the One Ford program means getting these core models absolutely correct — but such success in styling is not easy to guarantee. So how did Ford get to the 2015 Mustang design? Looking at some of the ideas behind the final look of the Mustang is interesting — with bits from various sketches coming together to form a clean and holistic look for the car. One of the biggest challenges is getting the nose right. In order to …

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Gen-6 Toyota Camry NASCAR Revealed Ahead of 2015 Season

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The NASCAR ‘Car of Tomorrow’ is now in its sixth generation after barely as many years roaring round the nation’s speedways. Luckily, this latest design rulebook allows the cars to look much less generic, and more like their actual namesake road car models. The first out of the gates for the 2015 season of the Sprint Cup and 2015 Xfinity (formerly Nationwide) racing series is the new Camry. It really does look like the production car! ANIMATED OVERLAY ANALYSIS: Camry v ‘NASCamry’ In this transparency of the production Camry XSE versus the NASCAR Camry, we can see how similar these …

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First Drive Review – 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe 3.6 AWD Drives Well, But Lacks Sex Appeal at $55,000 Price

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            The new ATS Coupe from Cadillac would appear to have all the right stuff – on paper. But as we griped in an Op-Ed article this summer, the results in the real world are less than thrilling. http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/07/03/op_ed-2015-cadillac-ats-coupe-is-boring/ How can a new executive coupe be so terminally dull? Ultimately, we struggle greatly about what benefits the Coupe has over the better-looking sedan. As noted in the video above, the ATS Coupe is theoretically stiffer in the chassis department — and perhaps a bit sportier in its handling tune. 2014 Cadillac ATS Sedan But it …

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Design Talent Showcase – 2020 Lamborghini Minotauro by Andrei Avarvarii

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This Lamborghini Minotauro can really catch your eye in all the right ways. Designed as part of a student portfolio by Andrei Avarvarii of Spain, this is not merely a Photochop like many of the renderings seen online. Avarvarii designed out the electric EV prototype five phases, with detailed planning for the interior and exterior volumes, with a level of mechanical engineering thoroughness built in as well. The prototype is was set to explore a softer, rounder Lamborghini for the 2020 model year.   In-wheel motor/generators allow an unusual amount of freedom in the proportions of the Minotauro,and the car …

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2014 Audi TT Sportback Concept Is a Stylish Escape From Current Audi Styling Funk

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Audi design is in a major funk. After a full 15 years of making BMW and Mercedes seem old and tired and boring, Audi lost the plot some time around 2010. We are not sure what exactly happened, but the magic seemed gone. The cars started to look like cheap copies of earlier Audi ideas – with the current A6 and new TT perhaps exemplifying this major design problem best. Sure, its proportions are cleaner than ever in 2015, and its new lighting is very dapper indeed. But what the heck? It looks like a 1999 model. This is a …

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Ford Advanced Design Sketches Show Direction of 2016 Taurus Redesign

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The 2016 Taurus is rumored to ditch its jumbo Volvo-based platform in favor of an enlarged Fusion chassis. The current Fusion has been a total savior for Ford as rival Chevy Malibu and Chrysler 200 have nose-dived in recent years. Originally designed for the Mazda6, this platform is lighter and has been heavily tweaked to meet all the latest crash and emission standards. These updates continue for 2016, as the Taurus is markedly larger in every dimension than the mid-size models. So what will the new Taurus look like? Today’s reveal of the updated European-market Mondeo also includes a variety …

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2010 BERTONE Pandion for Alfa-Romeo Is Next-Level Brilliance Inside and Out

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  We obviously cover a lot of concepts and dream cars here, but rarely does one captivate the eye and mind more than the 2010 Bertone Pandion. BERTONE: COMPANY SITUATION ANALYSIS First things first: Bertone (pronounced ‘Bear Tony’) is currently restructuring after some lean years in the Italian car business drained its corporate accounts to breaking point. Is this any way indicative of the quality of the firm’s design work? Absolutely, positively not. In fact, it is because of Bertone’s amazing ideas that the firm branched back into actual car factories versus just dreamy, steamy concept cars and prototypes. Full-scale …

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2013 Kia CUB Concept Is Retro-Futurist Hatch With Surfacing and Stance To Best Even MINI Cooper

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  Here is a real charmer of a concept – one that shows what the aesthetic of the Soul might look like in a traditional five-door hatchback. The retro portion of the design is in the low hood and steep windshield glass, while the futurist element comes with the lack of gaudy chrome detailing or a big grille up front. Rounding takes over in the front corner vents and the smooth flow of the rear canopy and hatch region. A shark-fin element appears in three-dimensional relief in the front door panel, while the rear glass incorporates a CHMSL LED as …

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2006 Giugiaro Ford Mustang Concept Was Ringer vs In-House Ford Designs

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Surprisingly few new ideas in this Giugiaro Mustang concept, which brings scissor doors, a glass roof and hideous cabin to the style of the venerable pony-car legend. The tail is perhaps the most interesting element, with a unique flush-fit three-pack of brake lights in each corner. A sharp fender peak is one throwback styling element that has not yet been seen on a modern iteration of the car. By contracting the car with Giugiaro, Ford used a bit of failsafe strategic vision testing. Would the Giugiaro car be far better than anything Ford could do in-house? As this car shows, …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 R-Design Adds Sex Appeal to All-New 7-Seater

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  Hooray for Volvo! We are very excited for the XC90 launch and have a strong feeling that Volvo’s efforts in the cabin and with the ultra-modern powertrains will be a big hit with shoppers. But if one thing was missing from the XC90 announcement last week — it might have been a bit of sex appeal. Where was the VaVaVoom of the Concept Coupe and Concept Estate? The new XC90 seemed a little too practical for its own good? Luckily, the R-Design trim is now out and addresses many of these concerns. It looks hot — and even hotter …

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2015 Citroen C4 Cactus Is Large-Cabin Crossover With Funky Design Details

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At first and second glance, there are many things bizarre about the C4 Cactus from Citroen. A production version of the Cactus show car, this funky little crossover packs conventional diesel engines and front-drive under those futuristic panels. This ditches the need for AWD and any off-road credibility, but the tradeoff for big cabin room at a low price is well worth it. Perhaps most importantly, the C4 Cactus can play to both the young hipster crowd as well as the young parent consumer segment. A big child seat or three will certainly fit inside — with Mom and Dad …

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LARTE Design for Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Might Be Their Best Work Yet

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Better than even the awesome Larte QX80 and QX60 makeovers? Better than the LX570 Alligator that Larte Design just launched in Moscow? Taste is always subjective — but in terms of the high-fashion and high-exclusivity goals of a luxury SUV upgrade, we’d vote for this Larte GL as their best work yet. The angularity and strongly matte finishes to the Larte trucks grilles and body kit certainly applies here, giving the brand a relatively unique statement of design across all its models. They best part of this body kit and accessory package for the GL550, GL450, GL350 and GL63 is …

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LARTE Design Creates Killer ‘Alligator’ Upgrade Package for Lexus LX570

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The Lexus LX570 just joined the cool fleet over at Larte Design in California and Germany! This monster-truck makeover sees the family/luxury SUV become saomething altogether darker, more sinister and more exclusive. The trademark Larte Design style is present up front, where the makeover is the most significant with matte-effect dark trims and a newly-chiseled lower bumper. The Larte Design LX570 program is dubbed “Alligator” and just debuted this week at the Moscow auto show — where buyers give a first-hand look at this stylish upgrade for Lexus LX570 owners. LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator LARTE DESIGN INTRODUCES “ALLIGATOR” TUNING …

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2014 Toyota U2 Is CALTY Design Concept With Future-Tech Cabin, Nose and Van Functionality

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The Toyota CALTY U2 design concept for this year’s NY Maker’s Faire (gag) is at first a pretty lumpy and frumpy looking CUV/Van hybrid. The segment occupied by the current Nissan NV200, Chevy CityExpress and Ford Transit Connect is surprisingly untapped for Toyota. This omission is odd from a brand which has everything from the AWD Sienna to the Prius C hatchback in the stable. Who better to make a bread-and-butter utility van for cities than Toyota? Sure, the Prius V and the Scion xB and xD absorb some of these Earth-y crunch-y buyer demands, but not in an overt …

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USA Debut in 80 New Photos – 2014 Mercedes-Benz Concept Coupé SUV

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Updated 8.31.14 The Concept COupe SUV earned a huge share of foot traffic at the Mercedes-Benz Pebble Beach house. One of perhaps twenty vehicles on display, this concept is clearly going to be a huge sales hit. Despite being an advanced vision and not a production model whatsoever, almost everyone who approached the truck wanted to get inside. Many tries at those flush door-handles, to no avail. These awesome nose and tail designs are reafy for primetime! The next-gen ML-Class is rumored to be name-changed to GLE-Class, This name change would bring along a new-segment GLC-Class in a racy, X6-form, …

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Updated USA Debut – 2014 BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept – Design Analysis

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Updated 8.27.14 The fact that the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept headed to Beijing this Spring instead of to the concurrent New York show says quite a bit about its market-makers. This machine needs to be successful in China. Period. As the biggest growth opportunity, China represents perhaps the only non-American and non-German (domestic) volume market for ultra-luxury sedans in the coming decade. But while the Chinese limo shopper has whole-heartedly adopted the Audi brand, BMW and Mercedes-Benz find themselves playing second fiddle. At the same time, the VFL concept needs to revive the unpopular current 7 series in the …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere – Pricing from $48,000 – Fabulous Hybrid Tech and Cabin Innovations

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The 2015 XC90 is official and it is fantastic! At once both very futuristic and innovative, while also rebuilding on the Volvo luxury and family safety that have been brand pillars for decades. The base price is $48,000 in the US market, where the first trucks will hopefully be arriving before year-end. The two launch packages are likely one of the biggest choices to make when considering the new XC90: — Urban luxury: body-color trims and 21-inch wheels — Rugged luxury: grey body cladding and some very handsome 22-inch wheels 2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere   World premiere: the all-new …

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1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Streamliner is One-Off Coupe With Wrap-Around Glass and Aero-Smooth Design

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Mercedes-Benz was coupe-focused at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours – with a number of sexy back catalog models reinforcing the gravitas of the just-launched S-Class Coupe and S63 AMG Coupe’s on display. These can be called “Coupes” but they are fancier and more fun as “Coup-pays” — pronouncing the accent over the “e” like the Europeans do. None drew more stares than this one-off 1938 540K Streamliner, which feels many years younger than its 1938 build date would suggest. The most striking elements of the hyper-flowing panels are: — the sheer scale of the machine from tip to tail, and …

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USA Debut – 2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE Project 7 Speedster! 3.8s to 60MPH, 575HP, 250 Copies Max

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Update2 Included here is the final US-specification of the Project 7 from Jaguar. Very, very impressive style in person — with far more visual aggression and intensity than even the F-Type R from all angles. The US car has a slightly taller windshield than the Euro models, but all are sure to cause quite a stir whereever they drive. The latest front bumper design is gorgeous, but the silver-painted grille shroud is very cheesy. We’d recommend the gloss black choice, which nicely blends into the deep carbon sills and the huge diffuser out back. 2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE Project 7   …

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LARTE Design INFINITI QX70 Is Mad-Fast, Mad-Sexy SUV Upgrade Program

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As shown by the extremely yummy LARTE Design Infiniti QX60 and QX80 overhauls, Larte Design has a vision for the ideal muscle truck of the future. And that vision can be applied to any of today’s three largest Infiniti SUVs to create a Porsche Cayenne, Brabus Benz and BMW X5 M chasers from Japan. Perhaps the most striking upgrades of all come to the already-sporty QX70 crossover, which now wears the stance and footwear package of a true autobahn muscle truck. Like the QX80 upgrades, the LARTE Design program for the QX70 comes in three levels of madness: LR1, LR2 …

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2015 Lexus RC-F Ultra Sexy in Red – Flawless Animations + 122 Photos

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Updated 8.17.14 with 122 Pebble Beach photos. Lexus is the official vehicle of the Pebble Beach golf courses and the Lodge hotel – so a few delicious RC Coupes were on hand this week for the big concours. The RC-F is absolutely unreal in person. It looks like it wants to rip down from its shown stand and do a huge smokey burn-out. This is a supercoupe that out-muscles supercars. Previous: The hottest Lexus since the LFA has just landed in America: the RC F coupe takes all the race-ready V8 power and rear-drive performance from the previous IS F, …

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LARTE Design INFINITI QX60 Is Completely Transformed into Gorgeous Performance SUV

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If you liked the LARTE Design makeover of the Qx80 – brace yourself for what the LARTE team has done with the QX60 and the QX70! The QX60 is perhaps the most transformed and benefits the most from such a deep and thorough style overhaul. The QX60 is actually deeply slinky and sexy in person, but is let down a bit on the coolness stakes with small wheels and chrome galore. The LARTE Design QX60 package fits the new QX60 and QX60 hybrid, as well as the previous JX35 from Infiniti. Great stuff. Especially eager to see those low-beam projectors …

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LARTE Design Arrives in California! INFINITI QX80 Customs Are Scary-Cool With 3 Levels of Upgade Kits Offered 51

LARTE Design Arrives in USA With Scary-Cool INFINITI QX80 Upgrades

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America, please meet LARTE Design. It is pronounced like “Bart,” but with an L. Larte. LARTE Design, meet America. This exciting new automotive upgrade house in California brings all the bad-ass appeal of a Brabus Mercedes-Benz or KAHN Range Rover — but with its own unique design aesthetic and a fleet of upgrades for the often-overlooked INFINITI SUV range. The designs of the Infiniti QX80 and its siblings are clearly high-quality and highly sophisticated in their appeal and aesthetics – right from the factory. 2014 INFINITI QX80 (stock) But what they might lack is a big hit of testosterone. A …

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2015 Hennessey Venom F5 Seeks Real 290MPH VMax Via New V8TT, Active Aero and Low-Drag Design

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Exciting time to be in the hypercar business! Here is the first look at Hennessey’s upcoming Venom GT successor. 2015 Hennessey Venom F5   Hennessey ® Venom F5 ™ Hennessey Venom F5: The Next Generation With the fury of a Texas tornado, 290 mph is within reach August 4, 2014—For immediate release Sealy, Texas—Here at last, the Venom F5, successor to the Venom GT. If you remember from Meteorology 101, the Fujita scale pegs the strongest tornado as an F5, with winds of 261 to 318 mph, so it’s a fitting name for this next-generation Venom that’s the very definition …

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Canned Hypercar Debrief – 2010 JAGUAR C-X75 Is Too Sexy For Its Turbines

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Too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan? Just kidding. Despite the jokey “I’m too sexy” headline, the Jaguar C-X75 really could do no wrong when it debuted in Paris in 2010. It was a design so captivating that they painted it a dull beige – and people still went absolutely mad for it. As you can see in the difference between the 2010 Paris announcement at the bottom, and the production announcement in 2011 directly below — the car had a rough gestation period. The initial gas turbine hybrid technology was no-where near production feasible, and the truly jet-age …

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Amazing 1971 Alfa-Romeo Caimano and 1976 Alfa-Romeo Navajo Concepts

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So many supercar concepts, so little time! These two really cool ideas that did not get made into production models. The Caimano is based on the small, rear-drive Alfasud platform – but with one key difference: the windshield is part of a one-piece canopy door that hinges upward — just like the coolest concepts seen from Ferrari in the 512 series. The Navajo, on the other hand, is crisp to the extreme. With a huge wing in back that makes it look more like a stunt airplane than a sports car. 1971 Alfa-Romeo Caimano       1976 Alfa-Romeo Navajo …

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Concept Flashback – 1988 Peugeot OXIA Is T16 Mid-Engine Road Racer

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    This car doubtlessly inspired the ONYX’s name and chassis layout, as well as perhaps the idea of previewing a new grille and nose on a hypercar before production hatchbacks. Pretty striking propoertions on the OXIA to this day, especially the hugely flared front and rear wheel-arches versus the trim cabin. This one is also more of an authentic hypercar – with 205 and 405 T16 rally-car running-gear under the rear canopy. Peugeot OXIA

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Concept Flashback – 2012 Peugeot ONYX Is Mixed-Media Hypercar Delight

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The mixed-media description applies inside and out for the 2012 ONYX hypercar concept. It is a wonderful design, enhanced by the contrast flat-black and copper exterior. Inside, recyled news-print forms its padded surfaces. Try not to spill that Evian, or the cabin will become a chowder bowl… The ONYX hypercar design study did mosey up the Goodwood Hill in 2013 – but otherwise is a fantasy car only. There are wires hanging from its undercarriage in several photos. But if this is what it takes to get rid of the giant-mouth Peugeot production cars, so be it! Peugeot ONYX

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Design Talent Showcase – Jan Rosenthal 2023 Rolls-Royce Concept Wins Official RCA Contest

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This is an oldie but a goodie. Not so old – 2012 — and previewing a Rolls-Royce for 2023. So it is a bit of Days of Future Past. Forgiveness Please if you have seen this already! Royal College of Art students submitted ideas for a 2023 Rolls-Royce back in 2012, with the winning design selected by Rolls-Royce executive leadership and designers themselves. The winning study is shown here in all its magnificence. Jan Rosenthal is the artist and elegantly combines many disparate ideas into one glamor-soaked luxury car. It is a four-door coupe with a SUV ride height. Very …

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QOROS Design Analysis – Qoros9 and Flagship Concepts Preview Exciting Future Models

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QOROS is the German-led Chinese car firm that could change global perceptions about Chinese vehicles through sheer strength of engineering. The firm aims to deliver the best of European safety, handling, styling and quality standards to an affordable-produced model for the first time. Headed by Gert Hildebrand as design chief, Qoros is on firm footing to bring his MINI Cooper design expertise to all sorts of new segments. Here is Hildebrand with the Qoros Flagship model discussed below. QOROS Design Analysis – Qoros9 and Flagship Concepts Preview Exciting Future Models After many false starts by other brands, the Qoros 3 …

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FOSTLA.de Shows Artful Porsche 911 GT3 Foil Wrap Design and Execution

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In the old days, changing a car’s color was only possible in one method: a full respray. This is not a good route for high-performance and high-dollar luxury machines for many reasons. Most of which comes down to the quality of body-shop paint versus factory paint. We have all seen a sad repainted car a few years last – dull, fading on the roof and hood from the sun, and sometimes even with bits of the original color shining through the poor-quality paintjob. In addition, much of the exterior on the car has to be disassembled to do a paintjob …

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Updated – 2014 Nissan Sports Sedan Concept Is Almost-Exact 2015 MAXIMA 4DSC!

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Updated 7.8.14 New photos and two new colors, white and titanium grey. Changed the color from orange on the computer, because the orange it a little overpowering. Without the bright autoshow color, the car looks … EVEN BETTER! Very, very promising indeed.   Previous update: Just updated this article with all the 2015 4DSC concept photos; sans the previous burnt photo error =] i think all the designers use Macs — and all the rest of us use PCs… ? ANYWAY Next Maxima is set to be just 0.3-inches taller than the GT-R. But will a manual box join the …

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Atlanta Dream Cars – 1951 General Motors LeSabre XP-8 Struck Gold With Yank Tank Ethos of 1950s

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I usually formulate a rough outline of what I want to say about a car while cropping and straightening out the photos beforehand. In the case of this 1951 LeSabre, I wish you could have seen my face recoil in horror at all the tacky, gaudy details on this car up close. Thus, my theory was initially that the LeSabre showed General Motors the good and the bad of design. The good is that it can excite you in ways that will open wallets and checkbooks by the millions. The bad is that certain elements would need to be explained …

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Design Talent Showcase – ElTony Brings Sensual, Elemental Fire and Water to YOUR Car Wallpapers

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Design Talent Showcase – El-Tony.com Wallpapers Few things on Earth are as powerful as Fire and Water. Together with Earth and Wind — they can even combine forces to make…. Captain Planet! But back down in the real world, El-Tony.com brings the heat and the rain the virtually any image. His designs are somewhat tribal, somewhat fantasy, and something geometric all in one. By adding these amazing graphics, Tony Kokhan‘s art can make any photo or image explode off your wall – and into your dreams. Cars are any easy and pleasurable bit of eye-candy, but anything is possible for …

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Concept Flashback – 2008 Lamborghini Estoque – Binned In Favor of SUV, But Design Influences Huracan Dramatically

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The Lamborghini Estoque from Paris 2008 created a flurry of media attention and even compelled some eager buyers to put down deposits on the car during the great auto show. Over the next year and a half, Lamborghini evaluated the concept’s production feasibility in detail – bouncing volume and pricing business plans back and forth to the Volkswagen Group board, exploring Panamera collaborations for the platform, and even building out a long-term front-engine GT car plan to accompany this gorgeous four-door to Lamborghini dealerships. This last bit – with a front-engine coupe and cabrio joining the business plan – made …

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KAHN Design Upgrades – 2010-2014 Porsche Panamera Super Sport Wide Track

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Kahn Design shows great initiative in cosmetic and aesthetic upgrades for dozens of models – but does its most swift business in Land Rover and Range Rover parts. By showcasing these full car upgrades, Kahn offers owners of the respective model almost a full catalog to browse. Every piece shown on these full cars is sold individually as well, making for quite the compelling rolling demo. The Porsche Panamera is on the dock this week, looking stellar with a Kahn  Design Super Sport Wide Track styling overhaul. The super sedan was once a rare sight on US roads, but is …

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2005 Ferrari Pininfarina Crowd-Sourced Design Contest Is Gift That Keeps on Giving

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2005 Ferrari Pininfarina Crowd-Sourced Design Contest Is Gift That Keeps on Giving You know your brand has reached top-level icon status when you can ask the world to give your their best ideas, to possibly be used without credit, free of charge. That is exactly what Ferrari and styling lead Pininfarina did in 2005 to solicit ideas for a new hypercar flagship – something along the lines of the Enzo 2.0, or what we now know as LaFerrari eight years later in present-day. Do you recall the 2005 Ferrari and Pininfarina design contest? It was big news at the time …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Is Rocket Nose and Tailfin Bliss

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This 1959 Cadillac Cyclone is really a light-hearted take on the dream cars ethos. Here is a car with giant nose cones like a rocket, tail fins as well as aileron side stabilizers out back. Hidden lamps are so far from prominence that they slink under the hood nearly a foot behind the black rocket-bra-like protrusions ahead of the machine itself. Sexiness was key to this shape, which also has tail-lamps in a bright machined shroud — looking like they could also blast out hot propellent as they light up red under braking. 1959 Cadillac Cyclone XP-74 Of course, there …

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Ford Vision Gran Turismo May Recall the 1996 INDIGO Open-Wheel Supercar Concept

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The Vision Gran Turismo debuts are coming fast and furious lately – with more than a dozen still to come. The Ford preview is especially intriguing because: a) it is unlike the others in recalling a Formula 3 car’s open suspension and open-wheel layout b) Ford makes nothing like this for the road, and probably would not dare to either. Not since the Plymouth Prowler and its V6 AutoStick ate all of our dreams. No open-wheel sports-car concept has even been prominent lately, sadly. Sure, there is the Nissan Bladeglider and Caterham is available in the US from Superformance — …

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Concept Flashback – 1991 Audi Quattro Spyder Provides Clean, Modern Design Roadmap for Struggling Brand

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Before Audi was one of the biggest and most-impressive growth stories in premium car sales, there were years and years in the doldrums. Decades, one might even say, if you count the unreliable rotary-engined Audi’s that tarnished the marque in the 1970s in Europe. In America, ever a cash cow for all three German luxury brands,  the Consumer Reports unintended acceleration debacle combined with high prices and few models to see sales dip to just a few hundred units — total — by 1991. More than lavish concept cars as a prize or reward for a job well done — …

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JAGUAR Special Operations To Build F-TYPE Project 7 Speedster! 3.8s to 60MPH, 575HP, 250 Copies Max

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JAGUAR Special Operations To Build F-TYPE Project 7 UPDATE1 JAGUAR Special Operations Will Build 250 Project 7 F-TYPE Speedsters What a thrilling announcement! Jaguar Special Operations has revealed that it is hard at work finalizing a production version of the Project 7 F-TYPE — and will produce 250 of them for sale around the world. This includes the US — or North America at least — but will have some revisions to the design to meet cabrio safety rules. This might mean a taller windshield, but the final US design remains secret. Performance figures are out of the bag though: …

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Update1 – Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo Is Mid-Engine Hyper Exotic With 800HP V12TT

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UPDATE1 – High-Res Photos from Aston Martin now included. But first… the name.  DP? Ferrari has the FF — which we all are sure does not mean anything in sex slang. But now we have the DP? What is next in the hypercar naming lexicon?   A perfect example of wanting what we cannot have this morning from Aston Martin. The DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo broke cover today at Goodwood showing ultra-modern proportions and a mid-engine hypercar design study. Of course, Aston is famous for many things. But mid-engine cars? Not really one of those things….! But even so, many …

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2014 Nissan NC2020 VGT In 12 New Photos Ahead of Goodwood Display Tomorrow

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  Update2 – June 26, 2014 The concept model of the spell-binding Nissan NC2020 Vision Gran Turismo is set for display this weekend at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed. Being up close and personal with the NC2020 VGT will be a visual feast for showgoers, to be sure! Ahead of seeing the NC2020 out in the sun of Lord March’s estate, Nissan has released another photo set of the car for those of us who are thousands of miles from Goodwood. Hopefully some real photos of the machine in the sunlight, on the grass from Nissan in the next …

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Update1 – 2015 Ford Focus Tech and Design Refresh Adds 8-Inch Nav, EcoBoost Triple + LED Accents

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Hot off the presses!  Initial thoughts? Much improved! The dark trims really make the sedan’s nose much more appealing. This dark trim is available on the five-door as well – in either SE Appearance package or the SE Sport (or the SE EcoBoost!) pack, which goes even darker for the wheels to gloss black. The specs are below.   2015 Ford Focus – TIRES AND WHEELS S  15-in. steel wi th silver painted cover, 195/65R15 all-season BSW SE  16-in. painted al uminum, 215/55R16 all-season BSW SE SFE Package  16-in. painted al uminum, 215/55R16 LRR all-season BSW SE Sport Package SE …

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Prediction: Bumblebee Chevrolet Camaro Gone After Transformers 4 RoboTrumble + Info About 1967 Z/28 and Nicola Peltz

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Who would have thought that Bumblebee would outlast almost all the other actors, cars, trucks and bots in the Transformers films when the first move debuted the new Camaro to global excitement in 2007? Transformers 4: Age of Extinction is in theaters on June 27th – starring not one Camaro, but two. Both the revised and upgraded 2014 Camaro concept as well as a a 1967 Camaro Z/28 will appear in the film, which stars Mark Wahlberg (catchphrase: ‘huh!? wha? what’s happening?’ or ‘say hi to your mother for me.’) and a new roster of supporting actors that includes neither …

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2015 Audi A8 Limps In With Same Old-Man Design, But Adds FWD, Hybrid and TDI Flavors for USA

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An early debut of the 2015 A8 would seem to jeopardize sales of the current 2014 A8 and S8 – but the changes are mostly tech and powertrain-based. A very evolutionary styling A8 makeover on the 2015 models will go unnoticed by most observers, keeping the 2014 cars relevant. Here are the image galleries of the 2015 Audi A8 TDI, TFSI, Hybrid and W12 LWB models. See if you can tell them apart!  (Hint: it is not easy, but the grilles and tailpipes are the best clues.) 2015 Audi A8 – LEDetails 2015 Audi A8L W12 2015 Audi A8 Hybrid

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Porsche Design Tower Miami – Watch Sharks From Your 50th-Floor Balcony Pool!

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There are hundreds of exquisite elements of this fantasy high-rise from Porsche Design, including its marquee feature: car elevators that bring residents up to their floor in the car. Car elevators are actually nothing new – but this system of laser-guided wheel holders ensures everything is safe before heading upwards to your floor. Upon arrival at your unit, the system will know to put the car in nose-first or tail-first. It is deposited onto the floor on the in-unit garages, and completes the lift. Quick Specs: Porsche Design Tower Miami. Total height: 650 feet (198 metres) Total diameter: 131 feet …

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2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer Shows Potential of Crisp, Lean and Aggressive Design in 40 Colors

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2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer Shows Potential of Crisp, Lean and Aggressive Design in 40 Colors We’re huge fans of the ZENVO ST1 here at Car-Revs-Daily. The ST1’s design is amazing – clean and pure but quite aggressive and obviously exotic from all angles. With pricing at or above a million dollars, the ZENVO team is of course open to custom orders. With that in mind, we took to Photoshop to imagine the ST1 in some classic and ultra-modern hypercar colors. It really looks outstanding in all the yellows and a few of the neon greens. 2014 ZENVO ST1 Colorizer   …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Is Aero Convertible Coupe

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I can hear your thoughts right now, saying… “How is that giant brick of a car an aero coupe?” It really is. Versus its contemporaries, the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt was quite innovative in many ways — mostly having to do with shrouding and aero-smoothing any turbulence-inducing surfaces. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt – INNOVATIONS — This meant the entire front grille of the 1930s Chrysler Airflow had to go, in favor of a mouth-breather setup wherein the engine gets its cooling air from below the front bumper. 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt — Shrouding also extended to the headlamps, where were one of the …

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2.9s, 233MPH 2014 ZENVO ST1 Lands in USA With Stunning Design and Huge Power

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One of the most desirable and shockingly raw hypercars of 2014? Definitely the Zenvo ST1 – with its huge mid-mounted V8 both turbocharged and supercharged to deliver 650-horsepower in Wet settings, 850-HP in Sport and the full 1104 horsepower in the Race settings. All to just the back wheels. No hybrid power assistance like the big 3 hypercars of this year – just raw adrenaline through a seven-speed paddle-shift automatic. Out back traction is managed by racing-wide tires and a locking Torsen limited-slip-differential. This is a car for people tired of the washed-out and watered-down class of hybrid hypercar. People …

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2013 BMW R90S Concept Celebrates 40 Years of the R90 and 90 Years Making Bikes

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This BMW Concept 90 is the 2013 incarnation of a raw new BMW aesthetic that might be coming to two wheels near you. Shown at the same Villa d’Este Concours that the 2014 BMW Concept Roadster appeared, these two make an interesting counterpoint to the modern designs employed by BMW motorcycles today. Overall, the Concept R90S is delightful. It evokes the best days of Bonneville high-speed runs on the salt flats, beach-side California glamour, and beauty in the details. It also makes the rider a much more critical part of the mechanical and aero package. This Concept Ninety really is …

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Best Luxury Wheels – Kahn Design RS600, RS and Cosworth Alloys

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Wheels are the only aftermarket upgrade that can improve a car’s style, handling, and resale value in one fell swoop.   The reasons for upgrading are therefore clear: a much cooler and more unique appearance for any car, at any price. New wheels will almost always look amazing, especially in a +1 or +2 jump in diameter. Here are a few quick facts to consider about new wheels: — OEM wheels are significantly stronger than most aftermarket products – in terms of long-term pothole resistance as well as the paint finish, etc. Best of Awards – Luxury Wheels – Kahn …

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Concept Flashback: 2012 Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force

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The Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-force concept from Los Angeles 2012 deserves a fresh look, despite its ridiculous name. As part of the annual LA design challenge, the Ener-G truck seemed a bit too whimsical to ever see production. But could times be changing? The Galendewagen must be made until 2017 (I believe) based on a supply agreement with the German government. While keeping production lines open, the luxury G63 AMG is a consistent superstar for the brand. Even if only a few hundred are sold per year – the margins on a $150,000 SUV offer plenty of leverage to keep G-wagon fans …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1970 Ferrari 512S Modulo by Pininfarina

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As wild as Ferrari production cars are – you might notice that the brand releases almost no pure concept cars. Why? Because people want to buy them off the auto show floor! And so Ferrari must be exceptionally careful about what they show the public, especially if the car itself is too wild to ever be sold. One of the great concept Ferrari’s of all time is the 512 S Modulo. It takes the same ultra-aerodynamic goals as the Lancia Stratos HF Zero to an altogether different conclusion. But while the Lancia Stratos HF Zero looked vaguely production-feasible, this 512 …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1953 Firebird I XP-21 By General Motors

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If the Dream Cars exhibit at the Atlanta Museum had to be condensed into one machine that can turn grown men and women alike into giddy kids again, it is surely the Firebire I XP-21 by General Motors. The machine’s 1953 roll-out illustrates how fast technology was progressing from thec lose of WWII and into the early 1950s. Where the TASCO is blunt and tall in its profile, the XP-21 looks like it is from another galaxy altogether. Imagine its impact on 1953 Motorama attendees if it can still stop your brain sixty years later! What is it? Why is …

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Atlanta Dream Cars Showcase – 1948 TASCO Shows Propeller-Aircraft Influence Zenith

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The Dream Cars exhibit this summer at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a thrilling ride through automotive history that every car lover will adore. The collection might be far smaller than most auto shows, but the impact of every car will leave your feet cemented to the floor. And your jaw? It will often be on the floor as well. No other recent collection spans the time and space of automotive evolution and design quite as thoroughly. Every car in the collection is marvelous. The TASCO opens the gallery and its design is certainly one that sticks …

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Road Test Review – 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic Sedan Is Speedboat From Heaven

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Have you ever driven a car that was so incredibly outstanding that it made you want to weep? Made you spring out of bed, head into work early — and stay late? Study harder, analyze better, deliver results and achieve excellence among your peers? It is easy to slip into fatalism — saying, “I will never have enough money to own a car like that.” Or, “Without X, Y or Z — owning a car like that is simply an impossible dream, for me.” I am here today with the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG to slap your silly face. The …

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BMW Motorrad Concept Roadster is Boxer Ducati-Fighter for Lake Cuomo

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Here is a new BMW Roadster that is (or, rather: might.. eventually be) not only affordable, but truly bring the road to your brainstem in HD via all five senses. Granted, this boxer twin rumbler it does lack four wheels… but even on two, this is an exciting step for the BMW Motorrad program – bridging the gap between BMW scooters and full sport cycles with a fun and contemporary take on a city roadster. Key parts of the design are deconstructed mechanical pieces, but there are future-tech flashes like the solid-state LED lighting element in front. Overall, the BMW …

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Auto Landmark: Chicago Motor Club Building- Vacant Art Deco Highrise

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How sad is this title? 17 stories of glory, with car elevators and a full drive-up garage system, on prime real estate of Wacker Drive in Chicago? Last we checked, 68 South Water Street was owned by a consortium of flustered real estate investors. Hotel conversion plans have backfired, and there are rumblings that the building … may not be inhabitable. Too bad. Look at this penthouse sun room. Vacant for the last 30 years, at least. Built over 80 years ago, bringing this masterclass in Art Deco architecture up to code seems to be prohibitively expensive at the moment. …

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2014 Cadillac ELR – Design Analysis Plus 65 High-Res, Real-Life Photos

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One of the flip sides of really excellent CGI renderings is that it can become hard to discern what photos are, in fact, photos. Photos taken on location, even digitally, are really the only way to really see what a car’s styling looks like in motion. So while one step forward, another step to the side in some ways. For designers and buyers, a clearer idea of what the finished car looks like will always be a good thing – especially when that car is years away from hitting the streets. All this is multiplied when a car is really …

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2014 Nissan Lannia Concept Shows No Tailpipes – May Preview Next Leaf EV

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Surely, Tom, you must just have meant to say “No tailpipe emissions…?” Nope. No tailpipes whatsoever on this Beijing 2014 concept car from Nissan. It is quite pretty and unique from all sides, and has instant allure and attractiveness. This is all a good sign for Nissan in China, where local teams have played a critical part in the Lannia’s design and development. The only angle that proves this is not a sports car is the rear three-quarter, which brings things back down to Earth with a pretty eco-minded appearance. The lack of tailpipes, overall size match, and EV aspirations …

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2014 BMW Vision Gran Turismo is 550HP Dream M4 CSL Widebody

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What better place to draw inspiration for the new Gran Turismo 6 BMW concept than the 1970s Can-Am CSL cars?  Outstanding. Love it. The only thing missing from this dream is the howling straight-six with almost no exhaust — a bellow yowl from heaven if there ever was one. Reminds us of the Amelia Island 3.0 CSL…. a production car! We can only hope for something so hardcore as a future M4 CSL — but until then, power up that PlayStation… http://www.car-revs-daily.com/2014/03/07/gooding-1972-bmw-3-0-csl-67-high-res-photos-2-turntables/   BMW Group launches race car for Gran Turismo® 6 Munich. A new virtual race car, the BMW …

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