Archive for the ‘Designers’ Category
You have to pay for all that gold.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Dec.07, 2018
Nissan is celebrating 50 years of the GT-R with a special edition model: the GT-R50.
Nissan has traditionally billed the GT-R as an “affordable supercar,” the price tag for a 2019 model starting at $99,990. But if you’re interested in the special edition 50th anniversary model that the Japanese automaker has now confirmed for production, beware that you’ll have to add another zero at the end of that sticker price.
First revealed last June in concept form, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign will move right up there with some of the more expensive supercars on the market at a price tag starting 990,000 euros, the automaker says – a figure that, at current exchange rates works out to a cool $1,129,498.92.
News You Can Trust!
“The car’s exterior is virtually unchanged from the prototype first shown in July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England,” notes a company release detailing its collaboration with Turin, Italy-based Italdesign. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Nissan GT-R50, 50th anniversary edition of GT-R, ItalDesign news, Nissan GT-R, Nissan supercar news, Nissan teams with ItalDesign, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Nissan sports car, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Designers, Europe, Markets, NAFTA, Nissan, Personalities, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Super Cars, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Quirky crossover now available in a variety of distinct forms.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.30, 2018
Kia now boasts six versions of the Soul crossover for 2020, including the new GT model.
Consider it food for the Soul: Kia has introduced six distinct new flavors of its quirky Soul crossover.
The car that showed us boxy can be beautiful will be back in an all-new form next year and Kia hopes to increase its appeal by adding new versions, including the GT and X-Line, while improving the appeal of the Kia Soul EV by boosting range and speeding up its charging system.
The Last Word!
“The Soul has been a massive success since its introduction, establishing itself as an automotive icon with its fun-loving character and eccentric style,” said Orth Hedrick, product planning chief for Kia Motors America. “Even with a new generation of competitors crowding the marketplace, the all-new Soul will once again prove to be a tough contender, with its unparalleled style and impressive level of technology and customization options.” (more…)
Tags: 2020 Kia Soul, Kia Soul GT, Kia Soul X-Line, Kia expands Soul line-up, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, kia news, kia soul, kia soul ev, michael strong, more Kia Souls, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, EVs, Europe, Kia, Los Angeles, Markets, Monthly Results, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, U.S./North America | No Comments »
3-Row, 8-seater is next in a wave of utes coming from Korea.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.29, 2018
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade give the company an eight-passenger SUV to compete with the big boys.
Hyundai is racing to make up for lost time. The Korean carmaker has been slow to embrace the rapid transformation of the American market, motorists by the millions switching from cars to light truck. But it is launching its third new SUV of the year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade, which goes on sale next summer, is the biggest SUV the carmaker has ever offered – with three-row seating for up to eight adults. It’s also the most lavishly equipped, with an outsized array of creature comforts and safety features that could surprise anyone who still thinks of Hyundai as an economy brand.
Auto Show News!
With even more to come, “There’s no question about it. We’re in the SUV game big time,” said Brian Smith, Hyundai’s U.S. chief operating officer, during the debut of the Palisade at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai sport-utility, Hyundai's new big ute, Palisade sport-ute, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, hyundai la auto show, hyundai news, los angeles international auto show, new Hyundai ute, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Designers, Executives, Hyundai, Los Angeles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Third Audi EV will also be one of its fastest cars ever.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.28, 2018
Actor and Audi fan Robert Downey Jr., left, and designer Marc Lichte, pull the covers off the new Audi e-tron GT sports car in Los Angeles.
We got a hint of what Audi has in mind as it launches its first performance electric car earlier this week with some intentionally blurry images of the upcoming e-tron GT. Now, the automaker has put the battery-electric sports car into sharp focus with the help of the “Iron Man,” actor Robert Downey Jr.
A serious Audi fan himself, Downey paired up with designer Marc Lichte to lift the covers off the e-tron GT during a media sneak peek in downtown Los Angeles ahead of the car’s formal debut at the L.A. Auto Show.
Global News!
“I’ve been having an extramarital affair for a decade – with a brand,” the actor joked, as he and the designer smiled for photographers gathered at the invitation-only event. (more…)
Tags: Audi e-trong GT, Audi's second EV, Robert Downey Jr. unveils e-tron GT, TheDetroitBureau.com., audi la auto show, audi news, auto news, new Audi battery-electric sports car, new Audi sporsts car, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Audi, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Celebrities, China, Designers, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Los Angeles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, South America, Sports Cars, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Autonomous Travel Suites put hotel rooms on wheels using an app.
by Michael Strong on Nov.21, 2018
Designed by Toronto architect Steven Lee, the Autonomous Travel Suite is a self-driving hotel room.
Americans are traveling U.S. roadways with greater frequency than ever, setting new records for miles traveled each of the last three years. Automakers, looking to make those safer miles, are furiously working to develop the first fully autonomous vehicle.
The idea of a fully autonomous car is appealing. Tell the vehicle where you want to go, and then get comfortable with a book, watch a movie or even take a nap. Set it and forget it, if you will.
Insight!
While that may seem like the next greatest thing, it’s not. That distinction belongs to the Autonomous Travel Suite (ATS). (more…)
Tags: ATS, Autonomous Travel Suite, Radical Innovation Award 2018, Steven Lee Aprillli Designs, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, autonomous hotel suite, hotel room on wheels, michael strong, self-driving hotel, self-driving hotel room, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, China, Concept Cars, Designers, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Fuel Cell, Hybrids, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Safety, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
New model gets a combined range of 300 miles.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Nov.13, 2018
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell combines two technologies to help mitigate worries about running out fuel.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell is designed to help motorists address one of the biggest problems facing alternative powertrain technology: a lack of infrastructure.
The new crossover is the world’s first production vehicle to combine fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid technology in the same vehicle. That means a motorist will be less likely to be stuck somewhere without a source of power.
Product News!
“The innovative plug-in fuel cell drive combines the advantages of both zero-emission drive technologies and, thanks to its intelligent operating strategy, continuously optimizes the use of both energy sources in line with the current operating situation,” Mercedes said in a statement announcing the launch of the new F-Cell, which will officially go on sale in Germany next spring. (more…)
Tags: Mercedes fuel cell hybrid combo, Mercedes hybrid technology, Merceds debuts new GLC F-Cell, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, mercedes fuel cell, mercedes news, new Mercedes "hybrid, new Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Designers, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Executives, Fuel Cell, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
"Build that wall" chant by middle schoolers pushed her into politics.
by Joseph Szczesny on Nov.08, 2018
Former auto designer Mallory McMorrow is now Michigan state senator-elect Mallory McMorrow.
In a first, a car designer is going to the Michigan State Senate in Michigan come January.
“Everybody thinks I’m a lawyer,” said Mallory McMorrow, but her experience as an automotive designer proved useful in striking up conversation as she campaigned across her state Senate District that includes a large portion of suburban Oakland County, just north of Detroit, against a seemingly entrenched incumbent whose father had also served in Congress for 16 years.
Insight!
McMorrow studied industrial and car design at Notre Dame University, and in 2007 she won a design contest that led to a six-month internship while working on high profile projects such as a concept Mazda3. However, she admits, somewhat wistfully, her stint at Mazda was cut short by the Great Recession. (more…)
Tags: Mallory McMorrow, McMorrow Michigan state senate, McMorrow news, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto designer captures state senate seat, auto designer wins election, auto news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Designers, Markets, Mazda, Personalities, Politicians, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Here's our round-up of the coolest, hottest and wackiest concepts to roll into the Las Vegas Convention Center.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.31, 2018
The Honda Rugged Open Air concept.
Trick or Treat? Make that trick and treat, as the annual SEMA Show gets underway in Las Vegas.
Perfectly timed for Halloween, the annual aftermarket event regularly sees the debut of some intriguing concept vehicles from U.S., Asian and European automakers, and this year is no exception.
News You Can Trust!
In fact, there’s a Demon-chaser from Mopar which reveals a 1,000-horsepower crate motor that takes last year’s version of the Hellcat line to new levels. (more…)
Tags: Acura SEMA, Ford SEMA, Kia SEMA, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, automakers flock to SEMA, automakers show off at SEMA, chevy sema, custom cars, dodge sema, honda sema, paul a. eisenstein, sema show, thedetroitbureau, toyota sema
Posted in Acura, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Cadillac, Celebrities, Chevrolet, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, Dodge, Events, Executives, FCA, Ford, GM, Honda, Kia, Markets, Muscle Cars, Nissan, Personalities, Pickups, Racers, Ram, SEMA, SUVs, Sales, Sedans, Toyota, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | Comments Off
Automaker's marketing team hides Easter eggs in promo pictures.
by Michael Strong on Oct.29, 2018
Some Ford's picture promoting the new Ranger pickup feature Easter eggs hidden in the background.
Ford Motor Co. is hyping the Ranger, its new entry in the fast-growing midsize truck segment, with a mix of media focusing on its capability, technology and economy. However, it’s throwing in a few Easter eggs for good measure.
No, not actual dyed eggs, but hidden images within the promotional pictures of the new truck slated to hit dealer showrooms in early 2019.
Dig Deeper!
The pictures have an array of things lurking in the background ranging from the imaginary jackalope to the Loch Ness monster and more. The first two were in the images released during the North American International Auto Show in January and now there are eight total. (more…)
Tags: Ford Easter eggs, Ford Ranger Easter eggs, Ford marketing team, Ranger Easter, Ranger marketing idea, Ranger news, Tesla Easter Eggs, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ford news, ford ranger, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Business, Designers, Executives, FCA, Ford, Markets, Personalities, Pickups, Sales, Tesla, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Autonomous ride-sharing concept would target only the most elite customers.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Oct.04, 2018
Renault designers must have been given the freedom to indulge themselves with the EZ-Ultimo concept shown in Paris.
Only the French could have gone to market with vehicles like the DS9 and the 2CV – the deux chevaux, as it was better known. And only the French could have rolled out some of the wild and crazy concepts that populated this year’s Paris Motor Show.
As the media days wrap up, the public will be treated to the retro-futuristic Peugeot e-Legend concept, as well as the DS E-Tense, an electric supercar. But easily one of the most talked-about cars at an otherwise light Paris show was also one of the strangest, Renault’s EZ-Ultimo, which has alternately been compared to the Batmobile and “a rolling palace.”
Global News!
But the best way to think about this fully driverless prototype is the marriage of a personal jet and a ride-share vehicle – one that is completely autonomous. (more…)
Tags: Renault EZ-Ultimo Concept, Renault EZ-Ultimo driverless concept, Renault continues EZ family of concepts, Renault's over-the-top autonomous concept, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, paris motor show, paul a. eisenstein, renault news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, Concept Cars, Designers, Driverless Vehicles, Europe, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Paris, Personalities, Renault, Ride-Sharing, Technology | Comments Off
