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Swedish design firm crafts Beach Cruiser fit for The Hamptons

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Specialty, Luxury

2012 Gray Design Strand Craft Limousine Beach Cruiser

2012 Gray Design Strand Craft Limousine Beach Cruiser – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Strand Craft Limousine Beach Cruiser is designed to shuttle the super-wealthy from luxury suites to their favorite resort’s pristine beaches in as much comfort and style as money can buy. Cooked up by Swedish firm Gray Design, the Beach Cruiser is powered by a 6.0-liter, 400 horsepower Chevrolet V8 pushing grunt to all four wheels, so guests never have to wait too long before hitting the sand.

Inside, Gray Design decked the Strand Craft out with the last word in luxury appointments. The upholstery is Alcantara set off with brushed aluminum and chrome accents on the dash and console. Watchmaker Breitling, famed for its relationship with Bentley, handled the instrumentation, while Swarovski Crystal accents take the opulence to obscene levels.

The Beach Cruiser’s stereo is a 15-speaker 1100-watt Naim audio system, which Gray Design says keeps sound quality optimal even with the limo’s canvas roof open. Strand Craft is mum on what this super shuttle will retail for, but you know what they say…

Gallery: 2012 Gray Design Strand Craft Limousine Beach Cruiser

2012 Gray Design Strand Craft Limousine Beach Cruiser

[Source: Gray Design, Strand Craft]

Continue reading Swedish design firm crafts Beach Cruiser fit for The Hamptons

Swedish design firm crafts Beach Cruiser fit for The Hamptons originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Apr 2011 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volvo rolls out exclusive C30 Black Design for Italy… does it look better? [w/poll]

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Volvo, Design/Style

2011 Volvo C30 Black Design

2011 Volvo C30 Black Design – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Volvo C30 is a bit of a divisive design. Some love the radical P1800ES-inspired hatch, while others find it awkward. But maybe the brand’s latest special edition can help.

Called the C30 Black Design, it’s limited exclusively to the Italian market and to just 600 examples. What sets it apart is the application of a 3M carbon-look film to the roof, pillars, grille surround and wing mirrors. There’s also 17-inch matte black wheels (upgradable to 18-inchers) and a specially trimmed interior with individualized dedication plaque.

Italian buyers can choose between the 115-horsepower D2 or 150-hp D3 turbo-diesel engines, or a 145-hp 2.0-liter gasoline four, and specify theirs in white, gray or orange. The question is, does the faux-carbon trim make the C30 look better or worse? Cast your vote in our poll below after looking over the gallery.

View Poll

Gallery: 2011 Volvo C30 Black Design

[Source: OmniAuto.it (translated)]

Volvo rolls out exclusive C30 Black Design for Italy… does it look better? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Followup: Kia design head “caves” to Korean influence with Naimo concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Kia, Misc. Auto Shows, Electric

naimo concept

Kia Naimo EV concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Korean-made cars of the 1990s and early 2000s looked very… Korean. Not exactly a bad thing, mind you, but it’s tough to sell vehicles around the globe that cater to a specific region of the world. That’s likely one of the reasons why Kia hired former Audi designer Peter Schreyer to inject some much needed style into its lineup.

Schreyer tells Automotive News that there is no “Koreaness” about the Kia lineup, adding “to be honest, we don’t want the cars to look Korean.” A quick look at the 2011 Optima and you can see Schreyer is succeeding, but what about the Naimo EV concept? AN tells us that the jade color is reminiscent of Celadon-style pottery. The interior is covered in Korean oak. Schreyer tells AN that, at least in this case, the Korean factor is strong, adding it has design cues inspired by art specific to that country.

While the Naimo concept is a definite change of pace versus the rest of the Kia lineup, we’re thinking the little concept doesn’t mean to reveal a new styling direction. The show car was, after all, designed with the Seoul Motor Show in mind. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with playing to the home crowd.

Gallery: Kia Naimo Concept

Kia Naimo Concept

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Followup: Kia design head “caves” to Korean influence with Naimo concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Sedan, Hyundai, Misc. Auto Shows, Design/Style

Hyundai Blue2 Concept

Hyundai Blue2 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai is revealing its new Blue2 fuel-cell concept car at this week’s Seoul Motor Show – a vehicle that the automaker hopes will help it gain “early leadership of the FCEV market.” Does this mean that a production version of the Blue2 (pronounced: “Blue square”) is on its way? It’s hard to say right now, but if Hyundai does bring some sort of fuel-cell vehicle to market, we hope it looks a lot like this stunning concept.

The Korean automaker calls the Blue2’s exterior design philosophy ‘Intersected Flow,’ incorporating both innovative and dynamic design elements. Will Intersected Flow’s tenets replace Fluidic Sculpture as the surface language of choice at Hyundai? We’re not sure, but we like the wraparound-style greenhouse combined with a flat, slightly slanted roof (Saab 9-5, anyone?), and we’re surprisingly fond of the glossy black strip that runs from the bottom of the C-pillar all the way back to the bottom of the front wheel well. Hyundai has executed some exceptional production designs as of late, but this is the first concept that we’ve fallen for from the brand in some time. Notice the LED screen panels at the front and rear – they display messages about the vehicle’s condition. Like many new concepts, conventional door mirrors have been replaced with cameras, and the car even features a welcome system that recognizes the driver and automatically opens the door.

The big news for the Blue2 is its hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, which delivers a stack power of about 120 horsepower and will return about 34.9 kilometers per liter – that’s 82.1 miles per gallon when converted to the U.S. cycle. The Blue2 is fitted with low-rolling-resistance tires and uses an extremely aerodynamic shape in an effort to reduce drag to aid overall efficiency.

Things are just as high-tech inside the cabin, where the Blue2 uses a combined center cluster and fascia, using an organic LED monitor and ultra-light tempered glass to display vital information. There are even seat-mounted entertainment holders that house things like Apple iPad tablets and other tablet devises, as well.

Follow the jump for Hyundai’s official release, and be sure to see the shapely concept for yourself in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Hyundai Blue2 Concept

Hyundai Blue2 Concept

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul

Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inden Design lays its hands on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2011 Inden Design Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2011 Inden Design Mercedes-Benz S-Class – Click above for high-res image gallery

Inden Design has gotten its greasy tuner mitts all over the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S-Class and come up with a luxury sedan for your dark side. The S-Class is no slouch when it comes to being big and impressive, but Inden takes the intimidation to Don Corleone levels with its treatment of the big Merc.

On the outside, Inden added side sills, new front and rear spoilers and 20×10.5-inch wheels front and rear. The tuner sealed the look with a matte-grey film covering in lieu of new paint. Inden also added a new sport exhaust, bringing horsepower up to 420, and killed the Vmax limiter. Keeping everything planted is a sport suspension, lowering the car by 50 mm, and a set of S600 six-piston caliper brakes up front and four-piston clamps out back.

The interior got treated to two-tone leather on the seats, dash and door panels, and the headliner and A, B and C pillars got the Alcantara treatment. To keep everything as modern as possible, Inden threw out the old wood trim and replaced it with carbon fiber. Read all about it in the press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 INDEN Design Mercedes-Benz S-Class

2011 INDEN Design Mercedes-Benz S-Class

[Source: Inden Design]

Continue reading Inden Design lays its hands on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

Inden Design lays its hands on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panzani Design goes all Deathstar with Jaguar S-Type Vintage GT

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Jaguar

Panzani Design Jaguar S-Type Vintage GT

Panzani Design Jaguar S-Type Vintage GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

For better or worse, nothing is quite as divisive as modern Jaguar design. The current XF is controversial enough in its own right, but the S-Type that came before was even more so. With its pinched grille and comically retro lines, the S-Type was the very antithesis of the model that followed. So how about making the old girl even more of a love-it or hate-it affair? Not an easy task, but Panzani Design has clearly risen to the challenge.

Reaching back a few years to when the S-Type was still around, the Italian tuner has given the retro Jag saloon such up-to-date features as 20-inch wheels mounted on a track widened by 10 centimeters and enormously flared arches to accommodate them. There’s also a new front bumper with integrated LEDs, a carbon fiber hood with vents, mesh lamp covers, side skirts, spoiler, diffuser, little round mirrors and what looks to be a very intricately crafted interior.

The result is all decked out in matte gray and called the Vintage GT. It may not be your cup of tea, but it’s worth a second glance, so check it out in the gallery below for all the angles.

Gallery: Panzani Design Jaguar S-Type Vintage GT

[Source: Panzani Design via Autoblog.nl]

Panzani Design goes all Deathstar with Jaguar S-Type Vintage GT originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bertone shows off Jaguar B99 design sketches, still won’t be built

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Jaguar, Design/Style

Bertone Jaguar B99 Concept

Bertone Jaguar B99 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar already made it clear that it’s not interested in bringing the Bertone B99 Concept to life, but that hasn’t stopped Bertone from unleashing a barrage of images and details related to its mid-sized concept. The firm says that the B99 sports a wheelbase of around 9.1 feet, and that the bodywork would be all hand-formed aluminum. Something tells us that little detail would get the boot if the B99 ever made it to the production line.

According to CarBodyDesign, Bertone specifically wanted to abandon the typical wedge shape predominate among sports sedans in favor of a three-volume look that places the headlights and the taillights on the same plane.

While the interior features an assortment of high-tech goodies, Bertone says that buyers could expect to find an extended-range hybrid system under the hood, complete with twin electric motors and a range-extending internal combustion engine good for a combined 570 horsepower.

Of course, Jaguar would first have to greenlight the project, which doesn’t look to be happening. Ever.

Gallery: Bertone Jaguar B99 Concept

[Source: CarBodyDesign]

Bertone shows off Jaguar B99 design sketches, still won’t be built originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty: First production Singer Design 911

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Luxury

Singer 911

First production Singer 911 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Singer has been so kind as to serve up a load of heart-stopping photos of its very first production 911. You may want to set aside a little personal time for this one. If the perfect lines of this particular machine aren’t enough to get you licking your chops, allow us to remind you that you’re currently eyeballing a host of custom-tailored carbon-fiber body work wrapped around a fully modern Porsche drivetrain. That’s right, kids and kiddies, tucked under that classic skirt is a walloping 410-horsepower 3.82-liter flat six engine.

We’re fairly certain that we’d be happy to perform any number of nefarious acts to call this creation our very own.

Singer has stitched in Brembo stoppers on all four corners along with Bilstein coilovers to put all that power to the pavement, and the interior is laced with the kind of kit that you’d expect from a vehicle with a price tag that knocks on the door of $200,000. Look around the cabin and you’ll see a Heuer chronograph, leather weave seats and an RSR steering wheel, among other goodies.

Trust us. You owe it to yourself to scroll through all 71 photos in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: First Production Singer 911

[Source and Images: Singer]

Pics Aplenty: First production Singer Design 911 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Design/Style

Fabio Filippini

Independent design studios and coachbuilders – the famous Italian ones especially – are still facing tough times, with business waning and designers switching positions like a proverbial game of musical chairs. Pininfarina is among the most storied of them all, and has reportedly named a new design director to lead its activities.

According to reports, the latest man in the hot seat is Fabio Filippini. The Italian graduate of the Milan Politecnico comes to Pininfarina from Renault, where he has served as Vice President of Interior Design since 2008. Over the course of his tenure at the French automaker, Filippini oversaw the design of the latest Megane, was founding director of the satellite Renault Design Paris studio and has lived in France, Japan and Spain.

In his new capacity at Pininfarina, Filippini takes over from Lowie Vermeersch, who left the company late last year, and will report directly to Pininfarina’s CEO Silvio Pietro Angori.

[Source: Car Body Design]

Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next-gen Ford Mustang will have global design input

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ford, Design/Style

2011 Ford Mustang GT

2011 Ford Mustang GT Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Automotive News is reporting that Ford will turn to its global team of designers for the look of the next Mustang. Styling themes will be served up from studios in Australia and Europe as well as other places around the world. Ford says that the practice is now standard operating procedure for most of the automaker’s new products, and that the global design approach was taken on board three years ago. J Mays, the company’s global design chief, and the rest of the vehicle’s design team will then select amongst the proposals for the design that best fits the next-generation Pony Car.

In the past, the company’s U.S. design studio was solely responsible for the vehicle’s image, but Ford has seen plenty of success from soliciting ideas from all over the world. The design of the global Ranger, for example, was submitted by artists in Australia with pointers from the company’s designers in Europe.

Right now, Ford is keeping its lips sealed about when we can expect to see the next-gen Mustang touch down, though Automotive News reports that there’s some indication that the vehicle may be as far off as 2014 or 2015.

Gallery: Review: 2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Next-gen Ford Mustang will have global design input originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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