Wooden #Setsuna Concept Car Is a Work of Art [Auto Styling News]

Toyota's Setsuna concept is made of wood. It's therefore a ridiculous concept, right? Well...

The Setsuna defies the notion that cars should only be seen as industrial products loaded with the latest technologies. 

Toyota says this unique wooden roadster was conceived to embody the affection owners grow to feel for their cars, and to show how cars continue to change and offer new value as they are taken care of with love over time.

Traditional Japanese techniques such as okuriari and kusabi were used so that the wood could be joined without nails or screws. Okuriari, which allows the exterior panels to be fitted and taken off without using any nails, not only increases the strength of joints but also makes it possible to make partial changes to dovetailing and mortise joints if the fastenings have worn down. 

This means it's possible to continue using the car without additional processing of the main body. In joints of the frame, split tenons are fastened to through tenons that have been pushed through several parts to hold the frame together. 

The Setsuna's body is composed of 86 handmade panels. Considerable thought was given to the design and creation of each panel from the outset, and each of these panels will develop and change differently as the car ages. Eventually, when repairs become necessary, individual panels can be replaced rather than needing to replace the entire body.

Small details, like the beautifully crafted wooden mirrors, really make this a work of art as much as a design study. The lacquer finish used on parts of the vehicle has been carefully applied by hand. To bring out the grain of the wood, wipe-lacquering has been used for the door mirrors, seats, steering wheel, and body banding lines. 

Rather than normal lacquer, which is applied in layers, this method involves repeatedly applying lacquer to the surface and wiping it to set the lacquer along the grain of the wood, creating a combined texture from the wood grain and the lacquer. The intensity and color will change with use over time, becoming even more beautiful and evoking a completely unique impression at different moments spread out in time.

4th-Gen #Lincoln Navigator Concept Goes Big, Sprouts X-Wings [Auto Styling News]

This March, Lincoln Motor Company released its fourth iteration of the Navigator - a vehicle it launched in 1997 that gave rise to all other SUVs.

That seems very long ago, and Lincoln is now playing catch-up to many others in the class, notably Cadillac's Escalade.

But just ahead of the North American Auto Show last month, it released it's fourth generation concept, hoping that "going big" (literally) would have an impact. Visually: it's "mission accomplished."

Featuring massive, gull-wing doors, gargantuan 20+ inch pinwheel-style wheels, and a grand-staircase step ladder entrance to both front and back seats simultaneously, the Navigator looks more like a small house - or a subway car, or a yacht - than a vehicle meant for the road.

But that's all part of the calculation. One can see a CEO as well as a rapper entering and exiting this thing with style and panache, with paparazzi all the while snapping away.

Is all of this practical? Of course not. It's extremely easy to discount the enormous gull-wing doors and the three-step entrance as the stuff of car show concept fantasy-land. The doors, which expose both front and back occupants to the elements - not to mention the aforementioned paparazzi - every time they're opened for exit or entrance, are flawed as as a design element.

That said, in the era of the Tesla X, which successfully integrated them into a PRODUCTION vehicle (and solved the problem of scuffing up the neighboring car each time they're opened) one cannot discount the idea that they'll see actual daylight. One designer, in fact, noted that the doors alone could cause Chinese millionaires (a target audience for this vehicle) to throw heaps of cash at Lincoln. So there's that. In fact, the entire "over-the-topness" of the design may be attributable to the Chinese market, which goes wild for such extravagant-looking beasts.

Other than these striking design elements, one sees a Range Rover pedigree in the long, sleek horizontal design language of the side panels - unsurprising given the past connection between the companies until Rover's sale to Tata in 2008.

I'd note the more than passing resemblance also to the Ford Flex in its side architecture - that is, if anyone knew what I was talking about, since the Flex is a non-advertised red-headed stepchild over at Ford, apparently.

The front grille and lamps deserve notice here, as well, since they're vastly improved and far more elegant than in previous generations. The grille features a massive, but gently rounded, trapezoid with mesh and a lighted ornament in its center that is elegant, impressive and would be unmistakable for any other vehicle on the road. The headlamps are huge - befitting the entire concept, and don't offend, though one could say they somewhat resemble styles one could see on any other model. Hyundai comes to mind. Still, they are deserving of respect, straddling this grille and pointing to non-functioning air intakes that contribute mightily to the horizontal-ness of the design.

Despite this blog's obsession with exterior styling, one must take a moment to note that the rear door panel (which sadly resembles too much a Toyota) opens up  to a built-in closet of sorts, where the driver can put his suits, shoes and brief case in a rather elaborate set-up.

All rear seats feature wide-screen TVs and the blond wood and leather are amazingly attractive and are clearly a step up from any other American SUV - or they will be, if they make it past the bean-counters.

All-in-all, this is a grand and notable concept that deserves some respect for "going big."

Staving off the fears of bankruptcy and oblivion that haunted it just a few years back, A Detroit News article notes that Ford has committed funds to the Ford Kentucky truck plant that will build the next Navigator, has signed a four-year contract there with unions.

Not that recessions can't change everything, but the Navigator and other Lincoln models are clearly stepping up their game and are making an effort to keep Lincoln Motor Company in business for the short-term, anyway. They're betting the farm on the Chinese buying enough of these land yachts to keep the Lincoln brand afloat. And they just might.

More photos, from the Lincoln Motors site: http://www.lincoln.com/navigator-concept/

2016 #Jaguar XF Gets Nicer Curves [Auto Styling News]

The Jaguar XF was never an ugly duckling by any stretch. But it's clearly outgrown a bit of an early, somewhat awkward phase to become a true beauty.

This is the second generation of the car, which was totally new in 2009, and had a mild refreshing in 2011. Previous exteriors for the XF (2009-2011) actually looked far more generic and arguably less beautiful than this iteration. Or to be blunt, if you squinted at the '09 model, you might have seen bits and pieces of other cars, cobbled together. And it was jarring. Have a look:

The 2009 XF - or is it a Lexus? Or a Volvo? Or a BMW?

It had a clearly Volvo-like grille, seemingly had borrowed 1990s-era rounded Chrysler parts bin headlights, had a side that overly-resembled a Lexus, and even sported a BMW-style "Hofmeister kink" rear-quarter window. These companies must have been VERY flattered by all the imitation.

Much like the early KIAs and Hyundais, this first edition of the model seemed so unsure of itself, that it looked like it had stolen visual cues from other cars. Yes, it's odd comparing Jags to these "lesser" vehicles, but since Jaguar left England, it's looked like the dog's breakfast; this model in particular. And it's a well-deserved criticism.

Thankfully, this 2016 model actually seems far more evolved, and has a bit of its own DNA now, and its identity crisis seems like it's over.

The headlights - which were refreshed in 2011 - look even less bulgy, less round, and over all, more beautiful and sleeker. They are available in an all-LED version featuring daytime running lights. I like the new lower bumper work on the front as well, which looks racy.

The front section extends forward, as if the Jaguar is about to pounce. With the grille jutting out in this way, it gives the entire car a distinctive feel.

The grille itself is more upright, and wider than before, which is far more elegant and erases any comparison with the Volvo's grille. To add this feature, the entire grille and headlamp area of the hood is clearly and visibly chopped off from the rest of the hood in a separate piece of sheet metal. (This shows up more in white and lighter colors, it seems. Darker colors, like this examples here, don't reflect it as much.)

Some reviewers have noted that in an accident, that piece, if it alone is damaged, would be far cheaper to replace. But if you can afford the $57k to $65k price tag of the regular or Premium edition of the XF, then perhaps that's not as much of an issue as if you were forced to pay $2,000 to replace the bumper of a Hyundai.

The side seems much less of a Lexus-thief than before, and a bit more rounded, especially at the rear, which is a hint at tradition. The leaping Jag - missing from some earlier models, to the consternation of longtime Jag buyers - is good to see as a fixture on this XF, as it was before.

The wheelbase has actually been stretched in  this model, giving it more interior room, though the entire car is shorter by less than an inch. That interior, it goes without saying, is sumptuous, with wood and leather galore, great leg-room (thanks to that wheelbase stretch) and many technical bells and whistles - though perhaps too many as pricey "add-on" packages. $300 for an in-car Wi-Fi package is certainly affordable, but when Chevy is offering it for free in a $25k car, it's hard to see why it's an add-on HERE.

The BMW hat tip on the side window also is thankfully gone, with a luscious curved rear panel window in its place, assuring us that yes,  this is a Jaguar. The side vent behind the front wheel is more elegant, and smaller, metallic, and completely horizontal, replacing the earlier one, which was paint-colored, clunky and entirely vertical.

The rear features a dual exhaust, gorgeous lamps and the leaping Jaguar, which adds character and tradition. Though one must say that the overall design looks a bit Toyota-like. A rounder rear window would go a long way towards making this a more traditional Jaguar look, from behind at least.

Overall, the XF has grown up, and has grown into a personality of its own, rather than imitating others. That's a good sign for those who are longtime admirers of the prancing Jag, and may even convince more of them to plunk down 57-65 large for a true luxury car.

Mini Recycles Old Plymouth Concept

Mini is shopping a "pickup truck" concept of the Mini Paceman that had me thinking of a previous concept. See if you notice the similarities.

In 1995, Plymouth shopped around a very similar, but perhaps more feminine, baby pick-up called the Plymouth Backpack based on what would become the Dodge Neon.

As a long-time fan of the Backpack, I must say the Paceman version is more "butch" and does look better.

10 Great Mini-UTEs Reviewed

The world of small SUVs are proliferating throughout every brand.

We've selected a few Mini-Utes and arbitrarily selected those that are 160-180" in length, meaning micro-minis and land barges don't count in this match-up.

Remember this is Auto STYLING News, not auto performance news, so regardless of how powerful it is under the hood (and most of these ARE quite powerful) looks, at least here, matter more.

Prices are listed here are for 2013 list prices, but bear in mind, as later model year SUVs are rolling out, you may be able to snap these up for far less coin!

We'll rate each from between one and four stars, with four being the best "lookers" of the bunch. The list is alphabetical.

*** BMW X1 175" $30,650

The branding here is excellent. One recognizes it instantly as a BMW with its kidney-shaped grille, BMW badging, and Hoffmeister kink (which BMW created) in the third window, which nonetheless doesn't obscure the driver's view - a common problem in this category, as we'll see in the other reviews. Overall a very well-wrought vehicle, though one could quibble with such a long hood length.


*** Buick Encore 168" $24,200

This is GM's Cute-Ute for the Buick brand. Some fans of this brand may not want to buy a tiny version of the venerable Buick name, but others may want to pare down and get away from the Dinosaurs that GM's rivals are portrayed as in the car's ads. The proportions are a bit Mini Cooper-like and that will scare some away, and rear visibility seems obscured a bit by a very large C-pillar, but overall a very nice design.

**** Ford Escape 178" $22,470

This is a home-run for Ford, with beautifully proportioned front-end that isn't overpowered by the upper or lower grille nor the size of the headlamps - a common error on cars these days. The lines flow nicely over the roof with "Sportage-style" rails and a nice Reverse-Hoffmeister kink that shows up on many other Sport Utes but seems to really complement the lines here.

*** Hyundai Tuscon 173" $19,245

The Tuscon has gone from a bland vehicle to a stand-out in just a few years, and this is a beautifully designed Sport Ute. The front grille, bisected with a curved bar and a small Hyundai badge, is well integrated with the short hood, which radically sweeps upward to the windscreen, giving the car a feeling of swift movement. Head lights are complimented by appropriately-sized fog lamps here. The only issue may be with visibility in the rear, with the tiny third window framed with a perhaps too-large rear panel. Still, the overall look is fantastic and is clearly identified as a Hyundai.


*** Kia Sportage 175" $19,000

The Sportage has always looked nice and so does this version. One might say this one is a bit chunky though, with a high hood, large grille and high door sills that create a "Concept Car" style greenhouse. The head and rear lights are well proportions. Though the extremely large C-Pillars must create visibility issues. Among the cheapest of the bunch reviewed here, the KIA is well worth a look.

*** Mazda CX-5 179" 21,195

The longer, shark-like hood and grille treatment that Mazda recently adopted for its entire line-up is incredibly attractive and suits its image as an innovative brand. The way the head lamps merge into the grille, with an apparent downward force, is also well done. The Reverse-Hoffmeister is present here, creating a bit of an odd shape behind it. The tail lamps are large and mimic the head lamps' style and size.

**** Mercedes-Benz GLK 178" $37,090

Riding high and with a huge greenhouse, this Mercedes is clearly a luxury brand and is unmistakably a Mercedes Benz. It's also got a Benz price tag, so it had better be worth it! The large but well proportioned grille sports the company tri-star, and the aggressive lines moving across the doors give it a sense of style and speed even while standing still. The functional roof rack adds character and an outdoorsy feel to the car, and small C-pillars in the rear give it heft but not sight-line problems for the driver.


*** Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 169" $19,170

The "Shark-like" appearance of the Outlander has offended and shocked some auto reviewers but its just that aggressiveness that gives it character and oomph. The slightly sloping side lines (shown well in this almost matte black photo) are nicely done, and it's clear that visibility isn't an issue with this Mini-SUV, either. The grille is better than the rather prissy one on the ghastly, clunky 2014 Outlander.





**** Toyota RAV4 180" $23,300

The RAV4 underwent a redesign in 2013, and it remains a very attractive vehicle - among the pioneers of the Sport-Ute style. The front end is clean and crisp, as expected from a Toyota. The greenhouse looks large and the Reverse-Hoffmeister side window is nicely done and causes less alarm than in other cars by the delicate curvature of the roofline, which, along with the rising door sills, means that visibility remains acceptable. The tail lights floating away from the rear of the car are as interesting as they are innovative.

** VW Tiguan 174" $22,995

The Tiguan, like all VWs, is an acquired taste. The snout is rather aggressive and unpleasant, while the rest of the body is oddly malformed and seems to be the creation of a committee within VW. There does appear to be great visibility from the greenhouse, however, and the lines are clean and it's certainly consistent with the brand.

And Five others...

** Fiat 500L 167" $18,000 - Larger than the other Fiat.
** Ford C-MAX 174" $25,200 - A cute Ute that looks like a Fiesta on steroids.
** Mini Cooper Countryman 162" $22,000 - Larger than the other Mini.
* Nissan Juke 162" $20,280 - If you can stand the crazy lights, buy this one. Otherwise, wait until they're gone on the 2014 version.
** Subaru XV Crosstrek 175" $21,995 - A car on stilts. Interesting tail lights. Otherwise, not interesting.

The Amazing Rolls-Royce Wraith: Set for Production in 2015

The amazing Rolls-Royce Wraith convertible concept is going to production by 2015, according to multiple sources who said Rolls-Royce chief Torsten Müller-Ötvös had signed off on the model. The lushly produced "Official" video above shows how this shorter Rolls will likely appear, and it's extremely tantalizing.

The suicide doors, which undoubtedly alone weigh in at a ton or more, are slathered with leather, as is the entire interior, which will likely have literally millions of available permutations for a true bespoke/custom look, as is available for all Rolls orders.

The grille and lamps are squared off and are incredibly imposing, as they are on other models, like the Phantom Drophead Coupé, on which it's clearly based. The fast-back styling of the coupe are what really set this apart from the larger models currently in production. Care is taken not to sharply curve downwards in the rear quarter panel, but the D-Pillar is large and a bit bulky. While nicely rendered, as expected, this will clearly be a line-of-sight issue that will hinder visibility, but likely to be well handled by rear cameras, which are included on car makes far less expensive than this. Expect more top-of-the-line cameras here than on a Hollywood set.

The entire daylight opening in the greenhouse is extremely limiting, which, while stylish, is going to be a problem for owners who are daily drivers. Or their chauffeurs.

The trunk is likely to be ginormous, large enough for several golf bags or a huge assortment of custom luggage for the annual Hamptons holiday.

The entire rear, including the tail lamps, clearly define it as a Rolls, and its clear the heritage of the design was of paramount concern here. The entire design language and down-road graphic is instantly recognizable, and isn't a severe or radical departure for Rolls, and that's a very important and crucial decision, since the brand's customer base is conservative and loyal. Best not to stir things up with extreme and bizarre styling that will rankle the 1% who can afford this new iteration of a classic brand.

As a side note about the video's "plot," I love how the guy blows right by the beautiful woman in the video, rather than picking her up! As if to day "This car is enough for me, babe!"

Does New Blood at BMW Styling Houses Signal New Styling Approaches?

Since August 1, BMW has cleaned house a bit and has hired some new talent in its design houses. It's obviously too early to tell if this signals a MAJOR shift in design focus for the brand - which (with Bangle) saw major shifts in the past intended to shake up BMW's styling (again, with varying success, one can argue.)

But these relatively young designers seem to have the right background - and perhaps the "right stuff" - to send the brand at least a jolt and perhaps bring some really beautiful cars to market.

Auto Styling News wishes them the best of luck!

The new talent includes:

Adrian van Hooydonk, who runs BMW Group Design, which embraces all the Group’s brands, and is thus responsible for design at BMW, BMW i, BMW Motorrad and MINI, as well as Rolls-Royce. The various design studios, Advanced Design, design research, design strategy and DesignworksUSA all fall within his jurisdiction.

BMW Design
In the BMW Design Team led by Karim Habib, Domagoj Dukec has taken over as head of Exterior Design, Oliver Heilmer as head of Interior Design and Martina Starke as head of Colour and Material Design.

Domagoj Dukec, 38, the new head of Exterior Design, was born in Frankfurt and has worked in the Exterior Design BMW Automobiles team since 2010. He was responsible for designing the Concept Active Tourer.

Oliver Heilmer, 39, replaces Marc Girard as head of Interior Design. The Munich native has been part of the Interior Design BMW Automobiles team since 2000 and was responsible for the design of the BMW 5 Series, among other assignments. Marc Girard, 43, will assume management of Automobile Design at DesignworksUSA, a 100% subsidiary of the BMW Group.

Martina Starke, 42, is head of Colour and Material Design. The qualified textile designer joined the BMW Group in 2001 and her responsibilities have included Colour and Material Design for the larger series cars as well as for BMW Individual.
 
MINI Design
The MINI Design team led by Anders Warming welcomed Christopher Weil, 38, as its new head of Exterior Design. A Bavarian by birth, he has worked as a designer for the BMW Group since 2000, most recently for Automotive Design at BMW Group DesignworksUSA. Marcus Syring, 49, leaves his post as head of Exterior Design to join Rolls-Royce. Oliver Sieghart remains responsible for Interior Design and Annette Baumeister for Colour and Material Design.

“As head of BMW Group Design I’m very proud of the wealth of talent in my team.  I am convinced that through this restructuring we have given a significant boost to design in the individual brand studios and will continue to shape the future of BMW Group Design with success,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

The Very Un-Mercedes S-Class Coupe Concept Car

The just-released Mercedes S-Class Coupe concept car is pretty stylish. But is it Mercedes ENOUGH?

This vehicle looks very feminine, which I suppose will make it a top seller among American real estate agents, but not so much among men, which apparently wouldn't be its target audience.

Take away the first two feet of the front end - or maybe just the Mercedes three-point logo - and one would be at a loss to identify the model. That's never good branding.

The back looks like every American and Japanese car on the road.The front end has a nice grille and logo, but the huge "lip" that surrounds the jutting nose is just odd. The greenhouse is very Mazda-like. I love Mazdas but not on a Mercedes.

Let's hope they do some more work on the tail and greenhouse to make this a more recognizable Mercedes before (and if) this ever hits the road.

BMW and Pininfarina Create the Beautiful The Gran Lusso Coupé Concept

BMW has teamed up with Pininfarina, the legendary Italian design house, to produce the gorgeous BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé concept, which may or not preview styling cues for the new BMW 8 Series.

The two time-honored companies unveiled the outcome of their first collaboration at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 earlier this week. Hopefully, it will be the start of a long collaboration.

“The appeal of this collaboration with Pininfarina is that you get another, very different and special angle on facets like luxury and exclusivity,” says Karim Habib, Head of BMW Design. “The Italian company, after all, has always been a byword for these criteria in particular, demonstrating time and again its keen sensitivity and exceptional finesse in these areas. In Pininfarina we have found the ideal partner to lend shape to this vehicle concept.”

“The result of this cooperative venture is far greater than the sum of its parts,” says Fabio Filippini, Head of Design at Pininfarina. “When two such tradition-rich and experienced brands join forces to turn a vision into reality, something utterly new and exciting emerges. From start to finish, this project was defined by a mutual respect for the identity of the other company.”

EXTERIOR REVIEW:

As swoopy and slippery as an Italian supermodel, this gorgeous vehicle has several readily apparent and highly distinctive features, starting with an over-sized BMW-standard kidney-shaped grille. On some cars this would be controversial (think of the latest Lexus models or every recent Audi) but this has a certain elegance and it's balanced by the large hood and the wide stance of the vehicle.

Next are the headlamps, which look razor sharp, thin and aggressive as hell. The lower bumpers and flat air-intake tend to give it a grimacing and fierce look, as they wrap into a KIA-like bow-tie, though like everything on this car, they are overlarge, so the comparison is perhaps unfair, and is only a passing resemblance.

The side is described by the companies as "a powerfully present silhouette" on which the convex taperings on the side, "add a dynamic elegance and give the body a tautly athletic shape." One cannot argue with this description.

The side mirrors look as though they are being held by the outstretched arms of a metallic being, or aluminum mailboxes, if one wishes to be unkind, but we don't, because they are entirely consistent with the design, and add to the elegance.

The "matt-sheen embellishment" behind the wheels feature the Pininfarina name, and the V12 labeling behind the trademark Hoffmeister Kink towards the rear of the vehicle shows that the car does, in fact, have an awesome engine (or one is planned, at any rate. Again, we'll see if this sees production.)

The rear tail lamps sweep across the trunk like a snake, the head of which curves downward like it's about to strike the rear wheel, or curl up in the wheel well, at least. They are entirely consistent with current design, but taken to the next level, and given the Italian panache one would expect.

Overall, this design study is worthy of both companies, and is consistent with historical BMW styling - enough so that it, if it is influential enough within the company, should lead designers towards something quite beautiful if it does indeed presage the new 8-Series when it finally bows sometime in the next 2-5 years. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long to see something like this on the road.

Photos: BMW Group

Pinterest contest picks Buick Encore colors

Mashable highlights a contest by Buick to pick the interior and exterior colors for its newly redesigned 2013 Encore luxury car:

Following a call from nine influential design, fashion and food bloggers to create Pinterest boards speaking to their personal style and passions, the company unveiled the winning pinner on Wednesday night at the New York Auto Show.

The "Pinterest to Dashboard" contest is a part of an effort to connect with a younger audience and show a different, more playful side of the brand.

The top collection came from a Pennsylvania-based bed and breakfast owner Michael Wurm Jr. — who has nearly four million followers on Pinterest. His boards, which featured sea foam-colored tones and beach scenes, were picked as the inspiration for new color palates, textures and design features in the existing car.

Perhaps coincidentally, the colors fall within the family history of Buick, reminiscent of the sea foam blue/green shades prevalent in the late 1950s and early 1960s (and even later eras) especially the sea foam blue interior. (see examples below.) It's even possible that this color was even original to Buicks of a bygone era, and they pulled out the color sticks to match it.

While ostensibly the contest sought to reconnect (or connect for the first time) with younger drivers, this may actually help reconnect with OLDER drivers, especially former Buick owners who want to recapture that '60s look and feel that Buick somehow lost over the past few decades.

It would actually go beyond the "interesting" into "awesome" territory if each interior was to be completely customizable to each customer's taste. Of course all cars are, up to a point, but what if the palate was wide and extremely varied? A truly bespoke Buick like this would be a major boost for the Buick division - taking it from ho-hum luxury to bespoke luxury on a Bentley level. Imagine what that would do for the brand.

A quick note on the styling of the vehicle itself, the word "handsome" comes to mind. While surely a small vehicle, the front proportions seem well rounded and properly sized, although some will squint and see a larger version of the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix.

1978 Buick Skylark:

 

 1962 Buick Invicta station wagon:

  1954 Buick Skylark:

The fastest artwork ever - Bugatti Grand Sport Venet

French artist Bernar Venet was recently invited by Bugatti to adorn the Grand Sport with his unique visual idiom.

The stunning result - the one-off Bugatti Grand Sport Venet - draws upon the engineering studies and equations that created Bugatti's mythical performance - the text is seemingly being blown off by the car as it cuts through the wind.

A beautiful synthesis of Bugatti's sculptural beauty and Venet's passion for mathematics and scientific treatises. This unique sculptural work will be on view at the Rubell Family Collection in Miami during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Designed by French artist Bernar Venet, the bespoke model features a two-tone exterior with a dark brown rear end and orange mathematical formulas at the front.

The unique styling carries over to the interior as it has two-tone leather upholstery and special door pads with contrasting orange mathematics. There's also an embroidered Bernar Venet signature and a small metal sculpture between the seats.

Like the standard Grand Sport, the Venet is powered by a quad-turbocharged W16 engine that produces 1001 HP (736 kW) and 1250 Nm (922 lb-ft) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 407 km/h (252 mph).
Source: Bugatti

With the MKZ and New Lincoln Motor Co. Moniker, Ford Crosses its Fingers

Well, it's a brand new day over at Lincoln - or should I say "Lincoln Motor Company" (I'm calling it LiMoCo.) As the video above shows, the Ford subsidiary (since 1922) has just relaunched itself with this new moniker and with the new MKZ as a halo car, which, no question, is a pretty car, based on the Ford Fusion (itself a pretty car.) Hopefully it's one with enough differentiation to justify the higher price tag.

So far, the car, and the company, looks good, though with 90 years of badge engineering - simply changing the badge from "Ford" to "Lincoln" with a few cosmetic changes inside and out - it's a history that breeds skepticism.

The introduction video comes with a slick new website (www.lincoln.com) that's large on graphics and hype but not much else. A hybrid MKZ will be available that gets 45 MPG in both city and highway driving, that's something to crow about. The rest of the fleet getting as low as 17 MPG is not, however. No doubt it all balances out to meet Federal standards, though, just as the Ford fleet does with its hybrid(s) and electric Focuses (Foci?)

The MKZ itself has a lot to recommend it. It's exterior features a slim, tasteful windswept grille and a handsome, though seemingly Dodge Charger-inspired rear lamp assembly. The tiny rear window is attractive and not at all derivative of the BMW "Hofmeister Kink" as so many others have been.

The back window hints at great aerodynamics, and the squared-off dual tailpipes are sufficiently exotic.

The interior features an acceptable level of luxury, with all the right wood and leather in the right places. The placement of the shift buttons (yes, buttons) on the center console are at once eyebrow-lifting and interesting - perhaps even logical. The buttons on the Aston Martin-like center console are flush and polished nicely, and there's no question one is inside a luxury car.

Hopefully, this attractive and serviceably luxurious MKZ and the new re-branding can pull the brand out of the trash bin, where it has been tossed by many dismissive customers for decades now.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish. It will vanquish you.

The 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish is a gorgeous vehicle, there's no doubt about that.

The video below is the official unveiling of the car to the public by the company (though it was also shown earlier this summer.)

The lines and curves - not to mention the extremely powerful and easily recognizable exhaust note! - are uniquely and clearly Aston Martin. If anyone were to criticize, ever so slightly, it would be the tail lamps, which look kind of like cut-outs of lamps, where the tail lamps were supposed to go. (Though close-up, and at night, they do look more spectacular than a first glance would suggest.

That said, these are the kinds of details that grow on you in a car like this. And if Toyota can foist tail lamps onto the millions like they have with the Camry's "comma-shaped" lamps, these will suffice for the few who buy Astons- and these surely are better and more nicely defined.

The interior of the vehicle is masterfully crafted, and will take your breath away.

Watch this astounding video and see if you fall in love:

Designers Discuss the 2013 Range Rover (video)

In this officially produced video, designers discuss their rationale in re-sculpting the 2013 Range Rover.

It is, of course, a bit over-the-top in their verbal efforts, as usual for these kinds of video productions (especially for luxury vehicles like this.)

And yet... the design does indeed seem to have hit the mark and evokes the "heritage" of the famous British nameplate.

What do you think?

Fisker Atlantic Revealed (video)

The Fisker Atlantic - a smaller range extender car from Fisker - has been officially revealed on the eve of the New York Auto Show. Below is official video that has been released by the company.

Bentley EXP 9F SUV Concept to Be Reworked Before 2015 Debut

The near-universal reaction of the automotive press to the Bentley EXP 9F concept car's unveiling at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show was negative, according to several published reports. So much so, that the company now plans to go back to the drawing board and redesign the company's first SUV.

It's just as well. The thing's a dud.

Not only does it resemble a GMC Acadia from the windscreen back, its proportions are all wrong.

Bentley officials are now privately admitting what everyone is saying - that it made a grievous error in design, or as they put it "too heavy-handed." Quite.

To name one mistake, its headlamps are simply too large and too imposing even for Bentley. In fact, just chopping off the front end of its classic Continental design, giving it a garish face-lifting and huge foglamps, then gluing it onto a GMC Acadia-like SUV is hardly worthy of this luxury brand, which would likely charge up to $180,000 for such a vehicle on the market.

The rear, while not overtly offensive, is a bland combination of a BMW and Japanese Sport-Ute, and other than the nice detail work of the tail lamps, lacks something special in its execution.

Company spokesmen are on the record saying it would be the most expensive SUV ever sold. To do that, and do it profitably (and to meet their 2015 launch date) Bentley must get it right. They are, for now, pushing ahead with plans to send the EXP 9F on a world tour of sorts, starting with the Bejing Auto Show late next month, and also putting it in front of current Bentley owners. But surely,  the jury has been tainted at this point and there will be lots of criticism.

But a word of caution to Bentley Motors: There is also some rumbling that the company believes that a redesign will be less "retro" in its styling. While they may have been a bit too slavish in their devotion to Bentley themes in  this design study, one has to remember the experience of Jaguar.

I believed then, as I still believe, that their XF model was too radical for the brand, and went too far towards a "Japanese" look in order to please American and Western European customers (and Japanese ones as well, of course.) In fact, the first model year of that car looked a lot like a Lexus with horrible 1990s Chrysler headlamps attached to a rather Volvo-like grille. Some of that was fixed in Model Year Two, but going too far away from tradition is always a mistake in a luxury car, in my view. And I suspect that view is shared by many of the older buyers who can afford them.

(photos from the Bentley website)

2013 GMC Acadia haunted by Saturn's Ghost

The folks over at the Car & Driver blog should be commended for their sharp eyes.

Someone there noticed that the 2013 GMC Acadia, debuting at the Chicago Auto Show, bears a startling similarity to the 2008 Saturn Outlook. One could truly say it's a dead-on copy.

Leaving aside the question of why GMC still exists as a brand, it seems that GM has frugally raided the parts bin - so much so, it's an exact replica of the dead car company's former crossover vehicle. (Acadia above, Outlook below, in the photo.)

While we applaud C&D for their sharp eyes as well as GM's frugality in these tough times, alas, we don't believe the new Acadia will sell as well as even the lackluster Saturns, but hey, you've got to give them props for trying something ... new. Well, maybe not.

Morgan 3-Wheeler brings classic style to the road

Car enthusiast Jay Leno test drives the new 3-Wheeler from UK car maker Morgan in the video below.

The car is admittedly beautiful, evoking earlier iterations of the Morgan "kit-car" style. It is a pre-production model, but it's unexplained why it goes veering off the road during Leno's test drive in the UK. The one-seater will reportedly run around $30,000.
Still, it looks comfortable, with classic leather seats and the long nose for which Morgans are well known. The chrome details, especially on the front, are stunning. From the side, one can't help but think the car is from the late 1920s or early 1930s, and the hindquarters look a bit odd to modern eyes, though in a classic way.
The three-wheel design, though unique, is both economical and head-turning, as Leno notes in a rather glowing review in this video. The company is already taking orders for the car, according to a company spokesman in the video.

Be sure to visit the Morgan 3-Wheeler website, where you can design your own Bespoke model with numerous color options for paint and leather seating and trim, as well as some neat decal work that's available. Mine is below, featuring 1940s-evoking decals and classic green and camel leather seating and trim. To save, hit "print screen" on your keyboard. There doesn't seem to be a way to save the design otherwise.

Ad Writers for the Chrysler 200 Need To Win An Award. The Razzie.

2011 Chrysler 200 Commercial - Why do the headlights have eyebrows?
by Stephen Abbott

“Why do the headlights have eyebrows? Why is the shape of the grille like the shape of the clock? Why do the gauges appear to be floating? Why does it seem like the grille is always smiling? Because the details are everything.”

Seriously? Seriously, Chrysler? This is actually what you’re presenting to the American public as a car commercial in the second decade of the Twenty-First Century?

Very, very sad. And insulting, frankly.

The new Chrysler 200 – for which this nonsense was written and was actually FILMED for a national TV ad – is far from a luxury car. Though, to be fair, it’s far from the worst car Detroit has ever made. Chrysler wins a few awards for those, too, especially the crap they put out in the 1990s. But let’s not go there. This time.

Let’s get back to this ad. Eyebrows? Really?

Okay, when I think of eyebrows on a car’s headlamps, I’m thinking about an Audi. And they do it beautifully. Even though it’s more like eyeliner when they do it. But that doesn’t matter. The LED lights on the A8 gently curve under the large, well-defined and well-designed headlamps, giving the front end at once a sinister and aggressive stance. Combined with a wide, aggressive grille, the Audi A8 looks like, and is, a force to be reckoned with. That’s even before the engine springs to life.

But the 200? It’s grille is admittedly meant to be “always smiling,” so right off the bat, one knows aggression isn’t supposed to be a trait of this vehicle. And the fact that these are happy eyebrows dancing above these plain-Jane headlights further signals that the target market isn’t men, it’s women.

And while it’s just peachy that the ever-grinning grille is shaped EXACTLY like the arguably pretty pearl-backed clock on the dash, I’m sorry, Chrysler, but those gauges do NOT appear to be floating. The ones I have seen, and as we can plainly see in the ad, are plain-Jane gauges. But their ad writers got paid to come up with some dazzling crap to write about this loser of a vehicle, and that’s what they came up with. Thanks, guys, for the 30 seconds of hype.

I could see these poor guys now, huddled midway through an all-nighter, scratching their heads about this bland, boring Blahmobile: “People, people, come on! It’s GOT to have a feature we can blow into something interesting.”

One finally must have said: “Wait, show me those pictures again. Yeah! The grille is kinda shaped like the clock. Let’s mention that!”

“That’s great!” says the head writer in relief. “And let’s throw in Bob’s idea about the grille smiling and Doug’s thing about beautiful eyebrows.”

One wonders: do they want ANY men to buy this car?

Chrysler may want to imply that their car looks like an expensive Bentley with its standard equally expensive Breitling clock inside that also sort of “matches the shape of the grille” but… no.

The ad fails to mention the only pleasant feature of the 200 - its rear. It instantly reminds me of the superbly handsome 2012 Ford Taurus, with its long chrome band that incorporates oval corporate logo. The tail lamps of the new Taurus were borrowed from the Ford Interceptor show car and instantly give it class. But let’s wake from that wet dream back to the nightmare of 200.

I do sympathize with the ad writers’ dilemma of having to “sell” this rather lame “luxury” vehicle, which is the replacement for arguably more beefy and attractive Sebring. That car had, by the late 2000s, begun to sport aggressive headlamps and large, IN YOUR FACE tail lamps, along with punchy, Crossfire-like creases flowing from the windscreen to the attractive front-end grille.

The problem was never with the looks, IMO, though they could have been toned down if that was a problem. The issue was always with the spindly, wimpy engines that were grossly unreliable, sending them by the hundreds of thousands straight into the fleets of Enterprise and National Car Rental lots in sleepy airports across the nation.

A new grille and fancy clock on the 200 is a bland answer to a “does the curtain match the drapes” question that wasn’t being asked by anyone.

Bangle Era finally ending at BMW with elegant M3 styling?

I must say, the new tail lamps of the 2012 BMW M3 are quite beautiful, and a vast improvement over previous models' designs. The "Bangle" era at BMW (named for chief designer Chris Bangle, who is now working in his own firm in Turin, Italy) was extremely controversial.

While the easy-to-spot swoopiness and curvaceous lines on BMWs alienated many traditionalists, one cannot argue that it was successful in raising the company's profile and standards of luxury during his 17-year tenure at BMW. Still, that polarization came at a price, and frankly, my view is that the brand suffered somewhat from it, in the same way other companies suffer when they go too far in the direction of experimentation and away from customer's tastes (the Ford Taurus of the mid-1990s comes to mind, as does the Pontiac Aztek and other follies.)

The new direction of the company, with less flare and more true, sophisticated style - as exhibited in the smart and handsome looking 3 Series - is the right direction for this company. Let's hope they can sustain it and expand upon it.