Tag Archives: Design

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Santa Claus after a night of hard work.

Sure, you might think that dear old Santa Claus is just some jolly gift giver. But look closer, and it’s hard not to be impressed.

This is a guy who runs a major distribution operation at the North Pole, a privately held enterprise that procures goods year ‘round, listens to customers and fulfills their requests in one short night. And you thought Amazon Prime was quick? Yeah, right.

And just try parallel parking eight reindeer and a sleigh without any automated driver assist systems. Good luck. 

But it begs the question, what does this much beloved, highly placed, international executive drive? No one really knows, but here are some possibilities.

Jeep Grand Wagoneer - by castle
The new Grand Wagoneer is powered by a 6.4-liter V-8 putting out 471 horsepower, making it a great daily driver

Jeep Grand Wagoneer: Given Santa’s advancing years, his comfort is a priority. But there’s work to be done, so ol’ Saint Nick needs a lot of utility and the ability to go anywhere at any time no matter what the weather. Few vehicles do it as well as the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, especially on unimproved roads.

Santa values the Grand Wagoneer’s Quadra-Drive II with active low range, rear electronic limited slip differential, terrain management system, its 48:1 crawl ratio, and ability to ford up to 24 inches of water yet tow 10,000 pounds. Yet its cabin possesses artisan-levels of craftsmanship, something unexpected yet welcome.

But it’s more than capability or its opulent interior. This is one high-tech sled, with a full 45 inches of video screens on the instrument panel. And having such a large vehicle at the North Pole is comforting when driving in bleak weather and Rudolph is playing reindeer games.

Ford F-150 hybrid powering Texas home 2020
The Ford F-150 Hybrid is good source of power should it go out at the North Pole.

Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid: Eight reindeer eating lots of Reindeer Chow leads to a lot of — ahem — mess to clean up. A pickup makes for the perfect polar workhorse, especially the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid.

Its twin-turbocharged and intercooled 3.5-liter overhead-cam V-6 mated to an electric motor that generates 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of torque and returns an EPA-rated of 24 mpg. And it can tow 12,700 pounds, enough to haul a trailer with all eight reindeer and their chow. It also boasts an integrated generator, with 7.2 kilowatts of power, enough to help power key appliances when the power goes out.

And when Santa needs his truck to be his office, there’s a 400-watt outlet for running office equipment, and a center armrest that converts to a flat work surface, with a storage bin beneath it large to hang file folders. And the front seats fold flat to create a bed that’s perfect for the quick nap away from Mrs. Claus. Ho, ho, ho. 

The new Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid can travel up to 30 miles in electric-only mode, and carry a whole pack of elves.

Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid: When you need to move a mess of elves, few vehicles can handle it with the aplomb of the 2022 Chrysler. Sure, Santa needs a minivan to schlep his staff, and the Pacifica proves the ideal solution. There’s more legroom than many full-size SUVs, and abundant cargo space.

To keep them all occupied, there’s Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and for 2022, Amazon Fire TV streaming for rear-seat passengers. Powering the Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid is the corporate 3.6-liter double-overhead cam V-6, albeit modified for hybrid duties, working in concert with two electric motors to deliver 260 horsepower to the front wheels.

It run 33 miles solely on electric power, enough to quickly pop across town. And the EPA says that you can save $800 annually in fuel costs compared to the standard Pacifica minivan.

Mrs. Claus loves the Genesis GV80’s understated opulence

Genesis GV80: The lavish GV80 is an all-new model for Genesis, one that guarantees Santa’s other half will be wearing the latest in bold automotive fashion, and enjoy the latest in seamless technology including all-wheel drive.

Mrs. Claus loves the extensive suite of driver-assistance safety features and helpful technology such as the head-up display and a huge 14.5-inch touchscreen. The quilted leather upholstery, and rear seats that adjust with heated and cooled cushions seem positively lavish.

And when it comes to indulgence, the same can be said of its performance, thanks to its 375-hp twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. It’s a sweet ride for the missus.

Mercedes-Maybach S 680: A night on the town calls for a righteous ride, one that’s appropriate of Santa’s station. Is there another executive shuttle to match the technology, ability and finely crafted interior of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class? The Maybach trim level turns up the luxury to 11, while retaining the sort of convenience features essential to older drivers.

When all the gifts have been delivered, and every stocking stuffed, Santa enjoys a good rip behind the wheel of the Mazda MX-5 Miata.

One such feature, Night View Assist Plus, ensures the driver doesn’t hit any wildlife. ANd its quilted leather and hushed ambience, makes every ride a special occasion. And let’s not forget its 6.0-liter twin-turbo V-12; it propels this massive Merc to 60 in just 4.4 seconds. And considering how much Santa has given others, this bit of indulgence is worth it.

Mazda MX-5 Miata: The stockings are stuffed, the presents placed under the tree, and now it’s Miller time. Even Santa needs to let his hair down to enjoy a few ho, ho, hos in warm weather.

You can almost see him zipping around Palm Springs in the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It’s a modern-day classic with great looks, light weight and crisp handling.

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Who would have thought you could make the Rolls-Royce Ghost look so sinister?

Rolls-Royce revealed a new addition to the Rolls-Royce Ghost line-up in Miami Thursday — the Black Badge — during a North America dealer meeting that saw about 100 retailers meet with the automaker’s top executives. 

The automaker revealed the new model to dealers at the Mad nightclub in the hip and trendy Wynnewood section of Miami, and will do the same for customers later this week.

“We just felt this was very Black Badge,” said Richard Carter, director of communications for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “It’s very, noir; It’s very alternative; and that’s the essence of Black Badge.”

The Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge expands a line-up that began with the Wraith coupe, followed by the Phantom sedan in 2016, the Dawn cabriolet in 2017 and the Cullinan SUV in 2019. The murdered-out Black Badge models now account for more than 27% of Rolls-Royce sales worldwide, including 40% of Cullinan sales.

The darker side of opulence

To realize the Ghost Black Badge’s menacing demeanor, the company uses 100 pounds of the industry’s darkest black paint. The Spirit of Ecstasy and Pantheon Grille are darkened using a chrome electrolyte applied during chrome plating. The new model wears exclusive 21-inch wheels with as many as 44 layers of carbon fiber.

The 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge can be had in more that 44,000 different hues, although most Black Badge customers choose black.

As you’d expect, interior components are darkened including air vents and the wood veneer, along with Black Badge badging and other unique interior touches, although clients are free to specify any number of colors and trim to be used on the car’s interior.

Engineers also contributed, fitting larger air springs to alleviate body roll during assertive cornering. There’s also roughly 29 additional horsepower and a revised transmission to make the Black Badge a bit more athletic. They also reduced brake pedal travel.

A quick turn behind the wheel of pre-production prototypes revealed a car that can be driven more aggressively than your average Ghost. Grip is impressive while cornering, staying firmly planted despite some noticeable body roll. Body motions never become excessive, and rebound over bumps is very well controlled. Yet its agility doesn’t come at the expense of the brand’s legendary comfort.

An idea born in Beverly Hills

The idea of Black Badge occurred in 2014 in Beverly Hills.

“This whole notion of the alter ego of Rolls Royce, the slightly noir, naughty, edgy side of Rolls Royce is something that we were thinking about. We were looking at ways and means of lowering the age profile of our brand,” Carter said.

The Pantheon Grille and Spirit of Ecstasy also receive the Black Badge treatment.

At the time, the brand had one model, the Phantom, and an average buyer’s age of 57. “We were selling one model to a dying set of customers, and there was no future in that,” he said.

At the time, the company was about to release the first-generation Ghost, followed by its two-door spinoff, the Wraith, both of which would attract younger buyers. But the company needed more. They were searching for an idea, but hadn’t settled on anything yet.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, chief executive officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, was waiting for a car to pick him up at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills when a murdered-out Phantom Coupe pulled up. Ötvös was stunned, and asked the owner why he modified his Phantom.

“He told me over the weekend, that he wants to be a different kind of character,” Ötvös said. “For some of the week, he is friendly and nice. But over the weekend, he wants to be something different. He enjoyed playing a different role; how he was dressed, looked and talked.” 

A couple weeks later, Ötvös had similar experiences particularly in the United States, particularly in California. This led to the creation of Black Badge at a time where murdered-out cars weren’t mainstream.

A surprising success

The Ghost Black Badge is revealed for the first time at the Mad nightclub in Miami.

Initially, executives expected Black Badge models to have a 10%-15% take rate. But they were mistaken. It turned out to be a stunning success, with a far higher take rate. Currently, Black Badge represents 40% of Cullinan sales. Black Badge, along with new models like Ghost, Wraith and Cullinan, have brought the average Rolls-Royce buyer’s age down to 43, quite a large drop in a little less than a decade. 

“We are even younger than Mini as a brand in the BMW Group,” Ötvös said, who then explained that the type of wealthy car buyer has changed. 

“When you look into ultra-high net worth individuals, those people who are our target group worldwide, they became younger and younger over time because the way to generate wealth is very, very different from what it used to be 15-to-20 years ago.”

Rolls-Royce sees its Black Badge line as one that appeals to iconoclasts, a type of buyer that the brand has always attracted, particularly during the pre-World War II years, when all coachwork was custom built.

“Black Badge was the most instrumental piece we had in an all-new brand strategy to massively decrease the average age and illuminate the brand in a significant way,” Ötvös said. 

Mission accomplished.

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Kia pulled the wraps off the 2023 Sportage Wednesday. More precisely, it lifted the covers off the U.S. version of its popular subcompact crossover — and it revealed relatively few changes from the South Korean version of the Sportage introduced earlier this year.

2023 Kia Sportage - driving
Kia carries over its “Opposites United” design language for the 2023 Sportage.

And that means the American crossover will retain the distinctive new “Opposites United” design language which takes the 2023 Kia Sportage in a very different visual direction from the outgoing model.

The new model is larger than the old SUV, features a tauter, more sporty look, with a broader “Tiger Nose” grille and new boomerang-shaped running lights, to start with. It also picks up some of the design cues found in the carmaker’s new EV6 battery-electric vehicle, most notably the rear liftgate.

More trim levels for 2023

If anything, even more versions of the Sportage will be available in 2023, from the base LX to the Sporty X-Line and upscale SX-Prestige. Kia is adding all-new, “off-road ready” Sportage X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims, and a GT-Line is expected. There will be a hybrid version, as well, though Kia said details won’t be released until “a later date.”

2023 Kia Sportage - driving side
Kia expanded the Sportage line-up for the new model year to six trim levels.

“While Kia moves purposefully toward electrification, we are further strengthening the Sportage line-up by adding a variety of options suited for all different kinds of customers,” said Sean Yoon, president and CEO, Kia America, Kia North America. “The tremendous success formula of our current stable of SUVs has been infused into every ounce of the new Sportage, transforming it into a leader of the pack with its cutting-edge design, adventurous capability and desirable in-car technology.”

The latest-generation Sportage shifts to the same N3 platform as the bigger Sorento, and grows a full 7.1 inches in overall length, even though the wheelbase has been stretched just 3.4 inches. Kia claims the ute now offers segment-leading rear cargo space and best-in-class rear cargo capacity of 39.6 cubic feet. The 2023 Sportage also adopts a dual-level rear cargo floor.

More technology

2023 Kia Sportage - interior
The SUV now offers a panoramic curved display that pairs a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.

The new Sportage design is more muscular outside, and more upscale inside. The SUV now offers a panoramic curved display that pairs a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Angular air vents add to the technical feel of the instrument panel. The asymmetric center console places buttons closer to the driver and now features a new rotary e-shifter.

Other technical upgrades includes a first-time WiFi hotspot that can connect to as many as five devices simultaneously, and a navigation system that, depending upon model, can keep maps up-to-date using over-the-air updates. The cloud-based system is able to revise routing on the fly, as well. The infotainment system now can be programmed by voice, touch or with a new touchpad. And it features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The seats now feature real stitching and, for higher grades, adopt vegan “leather” surfaces.

Bigger, more fuel-efficient engine

Under the hood, the 2023 Kia Sorento gains a new 2.5-liter inline-4 powertrain. It’s tentatively rated at 187 horsepower. It will be available in either front- or all-wheel drive the AWD models gaining 1.5 inches of ground clearance. Despite the increase in the overall size of the 2023 Sportage and the boost in engine output, Kia said it is anticipating an 8% increase in EPA-rated mileage. It currently gets up to 26 mpg Combined.

2023 Kia Sportage - driving rear 3-4
Under the hood, the 2023 Kia Sorento gains a new 2.5-liter inline-4 powertrain.

“The available Active AWD system uses electro-hydraulic coupling with center-locking differential to actively distribute power between front and rear wheels depending on road and driving conditions,” Kia noted in a release.

The X-Line and X-Pro add off-road-oriented details, including larger wheels, unique bumpers, a roof rack and on the Pro, LED foglamps and an optional two-tone roof.

Increased safety tech

The new Sportage will add several advanced driver assistance systems, including optional features such as 360-degree Surround View Monitor with 3D View and live feed Blind-Spot View Monitor.

Most versions of the new 2023 Kia Sportage will be assembled at the automaker’s plant in West Point, Georgia.

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The new Audi skysphere concept takes the idea of a “convertible” to new extremes.

Audi skysphere concept front on road
Audi’s skysphere concept is the first of three concepts coming from the German brand.

The first of three cutting-edge prototypes the German automaker plans to reveal in the months ahead, skysphere explores the extent to which autonomous and electric drive technologies will transform the auto industry.

The long, low roadster’s roof can retract, but that’s just the start. It can even change its wheelbase at the touch of a button. And, when you get tired of putting the skysphere through its paces, the steering wheel and pedals tuck away, transforming the cabin into a luxurious lounge on wheels.

“New technologies like electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving gave us the opportunity to create an experience that goes way beyond the one that typical roadsters offer today,” said design project manager Gael Buzyn.

Audi skysphere concept rear on road
Audi’s skysphere concept is an all-electric roadster with Level 4 autonomous capability.

A fondness for extreme machines

Audi has had a fondness for unusual concepts and has been taking advantage of the way electric propulsion opens up vehicle designs. With batteries and motors mounted under the load floor, freeing up space normally devoted to the engine compartment, all sorts of things can happen.

In the case of skysphere, the show car retains classic roadster proportions, Audi officials saying they were strongly influenced by the Horch 835, one of the most celebrated German luxury vehicles of the 1930s. Horch was one of the four brands that eventually became Audi. (Horch, in German, means the same thing as Audi, in Latin. In English it’s “to hear.”)

Audi skysphere concept with driver controls
The Audi skysphere concept can act as a performance machine for the driver or …

The design is far from retro, however. About the only visual connections to Audi’s prestigious past comes in the form of skysphere’s suicide-style doors and 23-inch wire-style wheels — and even here, it’s a rather abstract link.

A retractable roof and a platform that can stretch up to 10 inches

Like any good roadster, the two-door’s roof retracts. But here’s where Audi engineers pulled off a neat bit of magic. As a roadster, skysphere measures about 194 inches in length. And, with its low-mounted two-part battery pack and motors, it should be capable of scooting nimbly around corners.

Audi skysphere concept sans driver controls
… switch to full autonomous mode where the driver controls retract for comfort.

The show car uses a single electric motor that punches out 623 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque through the rear wheels. Audi claims that will launch the roughly 4,000 pound skysphere from 0-60 in just 4 seconds.

But when you’ve had your fun and now want to go for a comfortable cruise, skysphere transforms into a mobile lounge. The wheelbase stretches by nearly a foot, to 204 inches, nose-to-tail, as body and frame components pull apart. At the same time, the traditional driver controls vanish, the prototype now operating at Level 4 autonomy. That means it can go anywhere, anytime, without ever needing a driver’s intervention.

Digital reality

Audi skysphere concept top
The Audi skysphere concept is a low-slung roadster designed completely digitally.

Skysphere was developed digitally at Audi’s advance research facility in California. But it bears the imprint of Marc Lichte, the brand’s global design director. He’s a fan of minimalism — at least when it comes to traditional knobs and switches, and the new concept goes well beyond what we’re seeing with Audi’s latest production models. The instrument panel is, essentially, a pillar-to-pillar, 56-inch video display, with an additional touchscreen at the front of the center console, as well as by your fingertips on the doors’ armrests.

Audi has been teasing the arrival of the skysphere for several weeks and formally released these images today. The concept will arrive in solid form at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance next weekend.

It’s just the start, however, with Audi saying its part of a trio of concepts, set to be followed by the “Audi grandsphere, and, coming in 2022, Audi urbansphere.” These collective will serve as the brand’s “showcase (for) its vision of progressive luxury. In the process, Audi is creating a vehicle experience that goes far beyond the purpose of merely spending time in a car to get from point A to point B, and even far beyond the driving experience itself.”

It might be easy to dismiss the skysphere as just a fanciful fantasy in chrome, but Audi leaves us wondering just how much it might influence the brand’s future products. “A vehicle like the Audi skysphere concept,” it says in a statement, “will become a platform for experiences that expand horizons beyond the mere ride in just a few years.”

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Santa Cruz

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz has finally seen the light of day. It was about time, given all the fuzzy photos and hype prior to dropping today. More like a dull thud than a big bang, but here it is.

Santa Cruz

Hyundai describes the Santa Cruz as groundbreaking, and that may be so. Tabbed a sport adventure vehicle, it’s meant for urban consumers who want to be outdoors. They just can’t bring themselves to live where Uber Eats and Doordash can’t deliver.

Santa Cruz

We’ve just cut through its entire reason for being. Maybe the trick grille with hidden lights that can only be seen when it’s lit is the Santa Cruz’s signature. It could also be the voluminous hood and wheel arches, the latter armor-like. We should be much more enamored than we are, but ‘designed in California’ isn’t that big a deal.

Santa Cruz

There’s a 2.5-liter, in-line four-banger with direct-injection, 190 horsepower, and 180 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s hooked to an eight-speed auto transmission, mostly for efficiency. Then there’s a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, with 275+ HP, and 310+ lb-ft of torque. The turbo’s mated to an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters, presumably to help with responsiveness. Both drivetrains are connected to HTRAC, Hyundai’s all-wheel-drive system. Until we have the opportunity to get a Santa Cruz out in nasty weather, it’s there to make you think you’ll be okay in snow or on ice. A Sport setting provides more torque to the rear wheels, though not enough to get the Cruzer in the next “Fast And The Furious” installment.

Santa Cruz

The Santa Cruz is, in a pickup truck sort of way, meant to do more than it should. Take towing for example. The normally-aspirated four-cylinder has a 3,500-pound rating, and the Turbo model? It gets a 5,000-pound rating.

Santa Cruz

How much praise can be heaped on the interior? Design teams focus on the number of cupholders, part of the selection process.

Santa Cruz

The center stack’s home to the infotainment screen, and an optional digital cluster. Makes you think you’re better informed.

Santa Cruz

Stubby’s what the Santa Cruz is. There’s early registration in late April for sales that start this summer. The line forms to the left.

[Images: Hyundai]

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GR Supra

Toyota’s 2021 GR Supra Sport Top unveiling, a part of their SEMA custom vehicle builds, ensures that Toyota’s performance concepts continue to catch the attention of fans of the brand, along with the automotive aftermarket.

Toyota‘s two-wave release plan began with four builds revealed in its SEMA360 Showcase in November. SEMA360 was the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) online virtual trade show, a means of connecting the automotive aftermarket industry during the pandemic, which made the traditional SEMA trade show held each year in Las Vegas impossible.

“Wave one whetted Toyota fans’ appetite with four creations – a bold, hand-painted GR Supra, two GR Supra drift cars, and an overland-ready Tacoma pickup,” said Ed Laukes, group vice president – Toyota Division Marketing. “But we saved the best for last, and we’re proud to show off our latest creation, the 2021 GR Supra Sport Top, with some additional content.”

GR Supra

The new 2021 GR Supra Sport Top concept is a follow up to the 2020 GR Supra Heritage Edition that debuted at Toyota’s 2019 SEMA Show display, exciting Supra fans with its visual and performance upgrades that harkened back to the Mark IV Supra of the late ‘90s.

GR SupraInspired by the response to last year’s GR Supra Heritage Edition, Toyota decided to build a companion. Removing part of the GR Supra’s structure and the roof to create a tribute to removable-top Supras of the past, the team had to reinforce the frame’s structural rigidity. The now-removable roof is comprised of two composite panels that can be stored in the trunk. However, unlike a T-top car, there’s no center bar. As a sibling to the GR Supra Heritage Edition, the Sport Top delivers styling cues like the Mark IV-inspired wing and round taillights.  At the same time, it has a profile all its own.

GR Supra

Making an encore appearance as an inspiration for this year’s GR Supra Sport Top, the 2020 GR Supra Heritage Edition returns in time for the second wave of content. The 500-plus horsepower sports car is painted in Re-Entry Red, with retro-inspired custom headlights, taillights, and a Mark IV-style rear wing. Upgrades such as bigger brakes, tuned engine, turbocharger, and ECU, and its custom front and rear suspension ensure its performance equals that of its appearance.

It’s good to see that at Toyota going places fast still counts.

[Images: Toyota]

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A Spanish Instagram account seemingly leaked photos of an uncovered next-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class late Tuesday, showing off the flagship’s new face and caboose and revealing something far more noteworthy: a screen-heavy cockpit that throws tradition to the wind.

Not that the previous S-Class’ cabin was overly festooned with traditional buttons or dials. Still, the new layout takes cockpit digitization to the next level, placing a massive touchscreen where the center stack should be, and adding an expansive digital gauge display ahead of the steering wheel. It’s this feature (which is paired with a secondary screen further up the dash) that comes across as awkward, given that the screen stands alone, rather than ensconcing itself in a traditional housing.

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Unlike the Widescreen Cockpit of the new A-Class, the separate screens seen here provide less of a cohesive look. Aside from that, the dash itself aims for futuristic and minimalist. Compare with the current-gen S-Class below:

Moving back outside, the front fascia of the W223 is blunter, more upright than the angled front ends of current and past S-Classes. Lower air openings grow in size, as does, seemingly, the grille. Some online pundits pointed out the fascia’s vague resemblance to the pre-refresh Genesis G90 — a connection this writer couldn’t help but notice, either.

CocheSpias/Instagram

Out back, the taillights move to a horizontal alignment, adopting a pinched design reminiscent of the CLS-Class (and, to some eyes, the Lexus ES). Details about the car’s bodyside sculpting will have to wait.

Expected to debut officially late this year, going on sale as a 2021 or 2022 model, the next-generation S-Class is believed to source its power from a mild-hybrid inline-six or an obligatory V8.

[Images: CocheSpias/Instagram, Daimler AG]