Sam Livingston, senior tutor in vehicle design at the Royal College of Art recently stated ‘We are seeing a return to the prominence of aerodynamics, and the aerodynamic look, to both deliver and visually convey efficiency.” This was the initiative behind Aero-Ace, a collaborative design project, just completed with Bentley - the objective being to explore a new aerodynamic design direction for the luxury marque. Second year RCA students were asked to identify a new vehicle direction for Bentley that would appeal to the ecologically conscious consumer.
Aided by specialist EXA evaluation software PowerFlow, their two-dimensional design proposals for a conceptual coupé needed to embrace aerodynamics in order to both reduce energy consumption and form part of a future Bentley design aesthetic. The 11 participating students came up with very different proposals, with aero performance results ranging from CD 0.167 to 0.35. Livingstone notes: ‘There are no two that are thematically similar despite all being large Bentley coupés.’ The degree to which aerodynamics plays a role depends on the marque, although Livingston has noticed a growing trend in considering aero performance at the early stages of design.
The winner will be announced on 4 February and will spend six months working at Bentley.
View the rest of the proposals after the jump (more…)
Yup you read it right! It’s the 2017 Alfa Romeo Executive Fastback Saloon by designer Jacob McMurry. McMurry designed this eye candy to compliment the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in Alfa Romeo’s return to the North American market prior to the Fiat/Chrysler partnership. In this project, inspiration’s drawn from Carnevale di Venezia, aka the Carnival of Venice.
All glass roof, smart glass panels. These smart panels have the ability to go all opaque or transparent, which helps when you want to speed off from law enforcement. Lines drawn directly from Italy, drawing inspiration again from the 2900B Type 35 racers of the 1930’s.
What’s underneath the hood? Diesel V8 with rear wheel drive, optional bio-diesel conversion. (more…)
As one of the most prolific and affluent automobile brands to ever exist, and giving car enthusiasts variations of the best racing vehicles and consumer rides, it comes as great sadness to hear the new below.
“A joint effort between Mercedes-Benz and its erstwhile Formula One racing partner McLaren, the SLR spawned five variants: the original coupe and roadster, the 722 coupe and roadster and the Stirling Moss edition… not to mention a racing version or two. Over the course of its five-year production run, more than 2,000 examples were built, making the SLR one of the most prolific supercars in automotive history. As the final examples of the Stirling Moss roll out of the McLaren factory in Woking, its parents are going their separate ways: Mercedes has sold its stake back to McLaren, acquired its own F1 team, and each has produced its own successor: the SLS AMG and the MP4-12C.
So with its production run drawing to a close, we can’t help but wonder how will history remember the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. As the purest embodiment of the Gran Turismo? A fitting tribute to the original 300 SLR that dominated racing in the Fifties? The flawed result of a conflict of interests? Or perhaps as the roadgoing product of one of the most intriguing partnerships in automotive history? Read through the history lesson in the press release after the jump and peruse the gallery of high-resolution images below and you’ll get Daimler’s perspective. We invite you to share yours in the comments section below.” Via Autoblog
How many parts are used to build the exterior of a vehicle? Better yet, How would a car look if it were built using just one (recurring) piece?
Anne Forschner, a 24 year-old German woman who graduated with a Transportation Design degree from the prestigious Pforzheim University in July of this year, answered both questions for this specific project. The first answer is 260. That is the number identical, movable and exchangeable parts found on the exterior surface.
Like fish scales - which answers the second question. They open up and close to act like air brakes. At the same time they are also photovoltaic. For those of you scratching your heads, this simply means they produce a voltage when exposed to light, in this case sunlight. So they would follow the sun when the car is parked. The coolest aspect of this design (in my opinion) is that twelve of the pieces acting like wheel covers get sucked inside and form turbine-like shapes when the vehicle moves off.
Nonetheless, as tough as the Lovos looks outside, the project team assures that the inside is a complete contrast made with soft and “comfortable” materials. Now let’s see if this bad boy even makes it to production.
Kia got together with a group of talented people to celebrate Music, Design, Film, and the Entrepreneur Spirit and they call it The Soul Collective. Jeff Staple is one of the creative minds involved with the project and designed the ‘Rain Camo’ which will be on display during a ten-city tour. The ‘Rain Camo’ is designed on a silver body. The concept is a digital military camo used in rainy conditions. A disruptive pattern that really plays tricks on the eyes whether driven through sun or rain. The rain camo pattern is also embedded with Staple branding. (more…)
The New York Times automobile section has had a good run of interesting design related pieces in the last few weeks. The latest runs down a series of models from 1959, highlighting that great ’50s hallmark, the tail fin. Cadillac’s, Mercury’s, and all the other classics of the American road are represented. Check it all here.
Why should you?… 2 words. Phantom Bespoke. Rolls-Royce unveiled a limited edition (another set of words that will change our mind) Phantom Bespoke collection for the Middle East. The extremely exclusive luxury sedan can be customized by Rolls-Royce’s design service or just ordered directly in this unique Arizona Sun and English White two-tone paint scheme.
The vehicle shown features a Créme Light and Saddle Tan two-tone interior, hand-knotted silk rugs, and moccasin carpets. In other words you will be driving this bad boy in silk under wear… nothing more, nothing less. Other design touches include (but are not limited to) “mother of Pearl” wood inlays and silver dhow (an Arab sailboat) accent on the door trim and from passenger dash.
However, I’m moving tomorrow. I know this is short notice, but what do you expect. Only 6 of these babies are being made. I want first dibs. (more…)
Here is the promotional clip of the all new Rolls-Royce mini (aka, more affordable) Phantom… The Rolls-Royce Ghost. Product Manager Dan Balmer takes us through a quick ride in the super luxury car. Balmer cant take the grin off his face as he talks us through the Ghost’s features, especially how it produces Super Car figures with a much more comfortable ride.
The Ghost will make its debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Enjoy.
Now that I can once again feel my fingers and am fully conscious, I present to you the Ferrari Enzo XX package by Edo. The XX package features new steel cylinders, camshafts, pistons, valve springs, and Titan connecting rods for a full engine makeover. Edo also adds new oil (as if you’ll drive it that much), cooling piston pipes, a sport air filter, new exhaust manifold, an air-ram system, a high performance clutch, and new oil pump.
The company also throws in a carbon-ceramic braking system, carbon fiber air intake, new fuel cooling system, and Michelin high performance tires. However one of the most interesting changes is a stainless steal sport catalytic converter that features two different exhaust notes which are controlled via a dash-mounted switch.
Thanks to all the new goodies, the Enzo XX produces an estimated 800 hp and 780 Nm of torque. Now if that doesn’t say F**k the Police… I don’t know what does. Top speed estimated at 236 mph, 0-62 at 3.2 seconds, 0-124 mph at 9 seconds. (more…)
GM is set to unveil a 2-seater, 2-wheeled urban electric prototype in NY (just mentioning that GM is planning to unveil anything seems surreal at the moment). GM and Segway are partners in this project, and the way they describe the P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Vehicle) is “a two-seater, two-wheeled electric vehicle that moves people around in urban space, quickly, quietly, and cleanly”. Although I have nothing against the noisy, crowded and polluted streets of my beloved city…the concept sounds refreshing.
The P.U.M.A will has a range of 35 mph (56 km), and will carry two or more passengers (depending on future seat configurations). Lets see how it goes. The last thing I need is a P.U.M.A crash to stall my morning commute. (more…)
