BMW designers make waves with new Intermarine 55 motoryacht

Filed under: Etc., BMW, South America, Design/Style, Luxury

Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA

Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA – Click above for high-res image gallery

Head down to the local yacht club and you’re likely to see as many BMWs in the parking lot as anything else. It’s not that Bimmers are any more nautical than any other car, but they seem to attract the same sort of clientele that are drawn to the open water – and they have the means to get there. But over the past few years, the company’s design house has been bridging that gap by dabbling its proverbial toes in the waters of naval architecture (read: boat design).

Following their partnership with the Bavaria shipyard (which has yielded both sail and power boats styled by BMW’s pens), BMW DesignworksUSA has teamed up with Brazilian company Intermarine to launch a new 57-foot cockpit motoryacht.

BMW Designworks USA focused their design of the Intermarine 55 on creating an open environment, emphasizing big windows to let the sunshine in and the occupants see out, as well as an open-plan interior and plenty of deck space for enjoying the good life on the water. Similar to other vessels of this size, the Intermarine 55 features three cabins, two bathrooms and a large salon.

The Intermarine 55 also highlights the expanding business which the German automaker’s American design studio has pursued in Brazil and across South America, most notably in designing Embraer’s business jet cabins, but also branching into a wide variety of disciplines, from medical equipment and metal hardware to computers and cameras. Follow the jump to read all about it, and check it the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA

[Source: BMW]

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BMW designers make waves with new Intermarine 55 motoryacht originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car and Driver grades industry’s car designers [w/poll]

Filed under: Design/Style

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia – Click above to vote in our design poll after the jump

How does one grade automakers on their design skills? Our friends at Car and Driver gave it a shot using the not-so-scientific “eyeball test,” with grades getting bumped up or down based on the use of proven design talent.

C/D graded 20 automakers in all, giving out four As, 11 Bs, two Cs, a D and two grades of incomplete. Ferrari got a top score thanks to the intensely hot-looking 458 Italia. Jaguar/Land Rover also came up big for hits like the new XJ, while more mainstream General Motors and Kia each managed an A thanks to their leaps in design quality.

Volvo and Mazda were each given an incomplete thanks to some very recent changes at the top of their respective design management teams. Toyota/Lexus came up short, receiving the only D of the group, prompting author Phil Patton to ask if there were recalls for dullness. Ouch. Head over to Car and Driver for all the design grades, and follow the jump for a poll on the best designs for a mainline manufacturer.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Continue reading Car and Driver grades industry’s car designers [w/poll]

Car and Driver grades industry’s car designers [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy designers talk about Neiman Marcus edition Camaro Convertible

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Design/Style

Neimen Marcus edition Camaro Convertible

Chevrolet designers discuss the Neiman Marcus Camaro Convertible – Click above to watch video after the jump

The annual Neiman Marcus Christmas book is typically filled with ultra-expensive high-end luxury items and limited-edition vehicles. This year, the Camaro Convertible gets to grace the catalog’s glossy pages. One hundred examples of the Neiman Marcus Camaro Convertible will be offered at the wallet-wilting cost of $75,000 each. The cars all wear a model-exclusive Deep Bordeaux paint scheme and feature the 426-horsepower SS V8 powertrain underneath. The interior features also features special leather trim only available with this low-run droptop. Two of the designers on this project share their motivation in a less-than-two minute clip we have for you after the jump.

If you’re interested in purchasing one of your very own, you had better be ready to pick up your phone at noon on October 19, 2010. If you do happen to be one of the lucky few, your car will be delivered in the spring of 2011.

Gallery: Neiman Marcus Edition Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

[Source: General Motors via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Chevy designers talk about Neiman Marcus edition Camaro Convertible

Video: Chevy designers talk about Neiman Marcus edition Camaro Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Juke film answers the question – What were Nissan designers thinking?

Filed under: Videos, Crossover, Nissan, Design/Style

Nissan Juke with Albaisa

Design inspiration for the Nissan Juke – Click above to watch video after the jump

The 2011 Nissan Juke has what some might call ‘controversial’ styling. It’s downright polarizing. So, where did Nissan pull its inspiration from in order to craft these lines? Alfonso Albaisa is the Vice President of Nissan Design Europe and he’s here to explain exactly why the Juke looks like it does.

Albaisa states that the essence of the Juke “captures the pure life of a 30-something year-old guy.” The vehicle is aimed at a younger demographic of new car buyer and Nissan’s goal was to turn lifestyle elements into design features. The interior is supposed to be reminiscent of a person wearing a wetsuit while the front end is intended to invoke visions of a rally car.

Automotive designers are always entertaining to listen to, and Alfonso Albaisa is no exception. His descriptive language wended its way into our brains giving us a greater appreciation for Nissan’s little sporty crossover. Don’t believe us? Listen to the man in the clip after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Juke: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Nissan via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Juke film answers the question – What were Nissan designers thinking?

Video: Juke film answers the question – What were Nissan designers thinking? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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