Category Archives: design and styling

Queen Elizabeth II’s Mulsanne Added to Bentley Collection

Bentley Motors today said that the most recent addition to its Heritage Collection is a custom 2020 Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, the final example of the Mulsanne handcrafted at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe. It previously resided with the Royal household. It was commissioned by the late Queen, in Barnato paint with a Twine and Cumbrian Green interior. Continue reading

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Annals of Marketing – Nissan Z Nismo Sleepwear?

Athletic street wear designer Daniel Patrick has collaborated with Nissan to launch a limited line of performance-oriented sleepwear, Nissan said today. The  so-called Fast Asleep capsule collection takes inspiration it’s said from NISMO, Nissan’s in-house motorsports and performance division. During … Continue reading

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First Look – 2024 Ford Mustang GT California Special

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) today revealed the 2024 Ford Mustang GT California Special, saying that it adopts modern style as a classic package returns. It will be offered on the 2024 Mustang GT Premium fastback coupe and convertible models, using visual cues of the 1968 original .The California Special package adds $1995 to the price of a Mustang GT Premium and is available in Coupe (~$47,015) and Convertible (~$56,999) body styles with either the six-speed manual gearbox or the optional 10-speed automatic transmission. Continue reading

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First Look – 2024 Honda Ridgeline Pickup

Ridgeline of course continues with its unibody construction that includes fully boxed frame members and an independent rear suspension. Here the age-old pickup truck debate about American versus Japanese designs continues. “The unique design and sophisticated chassis deliver a high level of driving refinement and responsive handling no traditional body-on-frame competitor can match, while supporting an impressive 1583-pound payload capacity. Ridgeline can also tow as much as 5000 pounds, which is more than enough for many boats, campers or ‘toy’ trailers that serve as the key to adventure for many customers,” Honda said. Continue reading

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Urban Automotive Custom Rolls-Royce Ghost at SEMA

Urban Automotive, a customizer of luxury automotive brands, showed its Rolls-Royce Ghost on Milltek Corporation stand at SEMA 2023. It has carbon fiber styling “upgrades, now distributed in the USA officially and exclusively by Milltek as Urban Automotive USA.” Continue reading

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Ford Performance Parts, Packages – Mustang, Bronco, Ranger

Ford Performance Parts (NYSE: F) is showing what it calls “concept packages” today at the SEMA Show that will be available to customers starting in 2024. They were created in response to customer feedback, Ford said. The packages will be available via the Ford Performance Parts website or through a dealer accessory counter. Pricing for each package will be revealed nearer each package’s on-sale date, while either a Ford dealer or ASE-certified shop can perform the installation. Continue reading

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Toyota Shows Mid-Size EV Pickup Truck

“Next-generation mid-size pickup truck concept, with a monocoque body delivering high durability to create a practical yet stylish BEV. The rear of the cabin links boldly with the deck to accommodate diverse user preferences, supporting a wide range of mobility lifestyles, including outdoor activities. BEV quietness is accompanied by packaging with a low center of gravity for superior handling stability and ride comfort,” said Toyota. Continue reading

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CALTY Design Reveals Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser

CALTY Design Research, the American base of Toyota’s global design network (NYSE:TM), marked five decades of creation today by revealing the Toyota Baby Lunar Cruiser. The BLC concept has so-called adaptive technology and heritage design cues from the original FJ40 … Continue reading

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Bentley Motors Unveils the Belonging Bentayga

Bentley Motors today revealed the ‘Belonging Bentayga.’ This is  a hand painted Alpine Green Bentayga Hybrid with different skylines and well-known buildings from all across the world, such as New York, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Venice, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Each side of the car depicts a different continent. The art piece that displays 29 different landmarks is drawn from memory by Stephen Wiltshire* MBE, a British architectural artist and autistic savant, who is known for his ability to draw a landscape after seeing it just once. Continue reading

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Automotive Designer Peter Horbury Passes

Peter was charismatic and among the most influential UK automotive designers. He joined Lotus in 2021, the culmination of a career which had lasted nearly half a century, and which saw him design some of the world’s most significant and pioneering cars. Prior to joining Lotus, Peter was Executive Vice-President of Design for the Geely Group, overseeing the design for a huge portfolio of vehicles for its many brands. He had previously held senior global positions at Ford, Volvo and Chrysler. Continue reading

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German Surfing Culture?

“To reduce drag and stabilize the board, patented attachments known as aero edges were added to the front and back of the board,” said Marcus Schmelz, Project Manager at Porsche Engineering. “We know this principle from automobiles: here, too, tear-off edges are defined, for example through the use of spoilers. They reduce air turbulence, making the car more stable and aerodynamic at high speeds.” Continue reading

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First Look – 2024 Ford Ranger Pickup

The design of Ranger is defined by distinctive grilles and front-end appearances for XL, XLT and Lariat models. The Ford C-clamp headlight treatment and strong shoulder lines down the sides incorporate bigger wheel arches The rear end mirrors the front with C-clamp tail-lamps, with “RANGER” stamped across the tailgate. We guess it’s up to you to know if you’re coming or going. Continue reading

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Lancia Pu+Ra HPE – Concept Car or Furniture?

“Today Lancia presents Lancia Pu+Ra HPE, the brand vision for the next 10 years that takes the brand into the era of electric mobility and sums up our way of conceiving and experiencing the car. Starting with the new Ypsilon, our cars of the future will be inspired by the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE,” said Luca Napolitano, CEO of the Lancia brand. Continue reading

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New Mercedes-Benz GLB Mild Hybrid Shown in Europe

In Stuttgart today Mercedes Benz released European photos of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLB mild hybrid that will appear in US showrooms later in 2023. Basically it’s a freshening of the compact SUV with a redesigned front bumper and contoured side graphics. There are now new full-LED headlights and taillights, along with a range of expanded options, including two additional wheel designs in 18- and 20-inch sizes and new Starling Blue Metallic paint. Continue reading

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Kodlin Customizes a BMW R 18 B Motorcycle

For the first time, Fred Kodlin has customize a BMW together with his son Len – the BMW R 18 B. Kodlin is of considerable reputation in certain Harley-Davidson circles. Since the 1990s, his custom bikes have won various Daytona shows – say, Rats Hole and Boardwalk – regularly. A native German, he was the first non-US citizen to be inducted into the Sturgis Hall of Fame. Continue reading

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