Archive for the ‘Designers’ Category
Carrot-colored 30th Anniversary Edition will start at $35,915.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.08, 2019
Mazda Motors North America President Masahiro Moro introduces the 30th anniversary limited-edition Mazda MX-5 Miata in Chicago.
February in Chicago isn’t normally what you’d call convertible season, but on a cold and blustery morning almost 30 years ago to the day, Mazda took ragtop fans and, indeed, the rest of the auto industry, by surprise with the debut of the original Miata roadster.
While never a major seller, the pint-sized two-seater also known as the MX-5 captured the hearts – and checkbooks – of those who wanted something that put the emphasis on pure driving fun, inspiring a wave of imitations from Mazda’s Japanese, German and U.S. rivals.
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On another cold and blustery day in the Windy City, Mazda pulled the wraps off a special, commemorative edition of the fourth-generation Miata Thursday. And to mark the occasion, it brought to its Chicago Auto Show news conference not only some of the roadster’s most loyal fans, but some of the folks who helped create the little car. (more…)
Tags: Mazda Miata 30th anniversary edition, Mazda creates special edition Miata, Mazda producing more MX-5 Miata aftermarket parts, Miata news, TheDetroitBureau.com., chicago auto show, mazda news, new special edition MX-5 Miata, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocates, Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Chicago, China, Classic Cars, Designers, Europe, Executives, Markets, Mazda, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Truck is back after seven-year hiatus.
by Joseph Szczesny on Feb.08, 2019
Ford and Harley-Davidson are together again with a new Harley-Davidson F-150 for 2019.
Two iconic brands are teaming up again to create a unique product that appeals to customers of both brands with a new version of the popular Harley-Davidson F-150.
“Motorcycle enthusiasts can once again enjoy dramatic Harley-Davidson design cues in the number one selling vehicle in America, the Ford F-150,” said Brad Richards, vice president of design and styling for Harley-Davidson Motor Co.
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“The strong reaction by the public to the concept truck at our anniversary event encouraged us to move the 2019 Harley-Davidson edition Ford F-150 into production. We look forward to fulling the dreams of fans who overwhelmingly asked for this special truck,” he added. (more…)
Tags: Chicago Auto Show 2019, Ford and Harley team up again, Ford and Harley-Davidson pickup truck, Harley F-150 back, Harley-Davidson F-150, TheDetroitBureau.com., Tuscany Motors building Harley F-150s, ford news, harley news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau, truck news
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Business, Chicago, Designers, Executives, Ford, Markets, Personalities, Pickups, Sales, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Retro design, futuristic powertrain; concept to debut in Geneva.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.31, 2019
Volkswagen is bringing a new electric concept to the Geneva Motor Show in March – what's old is new again!
Volkswagen is going back to the future with a ‘60s-tinged concept coming to the Geneva Motor Show in a little more than a month.
The show car is modelled after the classic dune buggies that hit American roads and beaches back in the 1960s and 1970s. But the new iteration offers something very different under the hood – or, more accurately, under the floorboards, the buggy concept making use of the same, modular electric drivetrain that will power an assortment of upcoming Volkswagen products.
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“A buggy is more than a car. It is vibrancy and energy on four wheels,” suggested VW’s global design chief Klaus Bischoff. “These attributes are embodied by the new e-buggy, which demonstrates how a modern, non-retro interpretation of a classic can look and, more than anything else, the emotional bond that electric mobility can create.” (more…)
Tags: TheDetroitBureau.com., VW EV dune buggy, VW Geneva concept car, VW concept dune buggy EV, VW electric vehicle plans, VW's classic dune buggies, Volkswagen Geneva Motor Show, auto news, new Volkswagen EVs, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vw news
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Classic Cars, Concept Cars, Designers, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Executives, Geneva, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, Sales, South America, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | 1 Comment »
More utility vehicles in the works, but don’t expect it to abandon sedans.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.28, 2019
The new Toyota Supra made its street-version debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Toyota will be flooding U.S. showrooms with 19 new models during the next three years, a senior official said last weekend, a list that includes the next-generation Supra, Corolla and Corolla Hybrid.
Expect to see more utility vehicles in the Japanese automaker’s line-up, but don’t expect to see Toyota abandon the passenger car market. If anything, it hopes to pick up some of the slack as its Detroit-based rivals trim back their own sedan and coupe lines.
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“We’re still committed to being a full-line manufacturer, Toyota brand chief Jack Hollis told trade publication Automotive News following a “make meeting” with dealers at the annual National Automobile Dealers Association convention. (more…)
Tags: Lexus product plans, TheDetroitBureau.com., Toyota committed to passenger cars, Toyota offering 19 new products, Toyota offering new utes trucks and cars, Toyota passenger car business, Toyota product news, Toyota vehicle line-up plans, auto news, lexus news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, toyota news
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, Executives, Lexus, Markets, Personalities, Pickups, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Automotive design celebrated at annual event.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jan.18, 2019
Infiniti's QX Inspiration EV concept was the big winner in this year's Eyes on Design competition taking home three awards.
Throughout the course of its 30-year run, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit’s Cobo Center became known as a “designers’ show” because of the large number of concept cars that emerged during the annual press preview.
For 2019, the tradition carried on with the annual “Eyes on Design” Award singling out three vehicles, one from Infiniti, one from Lexus and one from Ford for honors.
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One of the big winners this year was Infiniti, which walked off with honors in three separate categories. (more…)
Tags: 2019 Eyes on Design, Eyes on Design NAIAS, Eyes on Design winners Infiniti Ford Lexus, Infiniti three Eyes on Design awards, NAIAS 2019, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, automotive styling awards, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocates, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Designers, Detroit, Executives, Ford, Infiniti, Lexus, Markets, Personalities, U.S./North America | Comments Off
In an SUV era does it matter?
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.16, 2019
BMW's new flagship model, the 7 Series, is ready to hit the road, borrowing some styling cues from the X7.
In an era of exotic SUVs like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus, do sedans really matter anymore? Can a conventional four-door model still be considered a “flagship?”
That’s a question BMW is trying to answer with the launch of the updated, 2020 7 Series. But it’s takes just one look to recognize which side of the product line-up is influencing the other. With the all-new X7 set to roll into showrooms in short order, it looks like the SUV is setting the tone for the sedan.
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Just one glance at the image shown here and you’ll see what that means. As a midcycle update, there’s a limit to what the Bavarian marque can achieve, since it won’t be able to change the underlying platform for a few years. Nonetheless, you can’t miss the massive new version of the traditional BMW double-kidney grille that looks like it was lifted whole from the new X7. (more…)
Tags: 2020 BMW 7 Series, BMW 7 Series borrows from X7, BMW letting SUVs drive sedan styling, BMW sedan news, BMW's new 7 Series, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, bmw news, new BMW flagship, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, China, Designers, Europe, Executives, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sedans, South America, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Detroit show car hints at expanded line-up of battery-electric vehicles.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Jan.14, 2019
Nissan's IMs concept hits the Detroit Auto Show just after the company rolled out its longest-range Leaf ever.
Barely a week after unveiling the latest – and first truly long-range – version of its Leaf battery-electric vehicle, Nissan is offering a glimpse at where it is “imagining” its future in the form of the all-electric IMs “elevated sports sedan.”
The concept vehicle debuting at the North American International Auto Show pushes the envelope when it comes to three key trends: the shift from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. It also features a pure BEV drivetrain, a technology Nissan promises will dominate its line-up moving forward. The show car also adds autonomous driving capabilities. Add them together and, Nissan suggests, its future models will feature a distinctly different approach to design, as well.
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“Advances in electric vehicle technology and autonomous driving have allowed our designers to break free of the platform and packaging rules that constrain traditional passenger vehicles, to create a completely new type of car,” said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president for design at Nissan. “The IMs explores the limits of sedan design with an approach that elevates the category in both look and functionality.” (more…)
Tags: Detroit Auto Show Nissan, Nissan IMs concept, Nissan NAIAS 2019, Nissan battery-electric concept, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Nissan autonomous concept, nissan news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advertising, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Autonomous Driving, Business, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, Detroit, Driverless Vehicles, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Executives, Markets, Nissan, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
This year's event has some of everything.
by tdb on Jan.14, 2019
This year’s media preview of the North American International Auto Show may be wrapping up, but it had some intriguing — and occasionally surprising — debuts, including a flying car. Check out complete coverage of the 30th anniversary NAIAS on TheDetroitBureau.com. (more…)
Tags: Detroit Auto Show, NAIAS 2019, TheDetroitBureau.com., michael strong, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Celebrities, China, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, Designers, Detroit, Diesel, EVs, Europe, Events, Executives, Hybrids, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Minivans, Muscle Cars, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, Politicians, Product Reveals, SUVs, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Technology, U.S./North America | 1 Comment »
Luxury brand offers just 80 of the limited edition models.
by Michael Strong on Jan.14, 2019
Lincoln is marking the 80th anniversary of its Continental luxury sedan with a glamorous, limited-run Coach Edition.
Although much of this year’s North American International Auto Show is going to be focused on the new truck, the new SUV or the EV, at least one company – Lincoln – remembered to bring some glam to the show.
Ford’s luxury division is commemorating the 80th anniversary of its iconic Continental luxury sedan with a limited-run of Coach Door Edition models, harkening back to when men wore suits and cars were big and had suicide doors.
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Lincoln plans to build 80 of the Continental Coach Door Edition, with center-opening doors – commonly known as suicide doors – Lincoln used back in the 1960s. The limited run specials also get six inches of additional leg room as well as a h “Black Label” interior. (more…)
Tags: Detroit Auto Show, Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition, Lincoln NAIAS 2019, Lincoln suicide doors, Lincoln's 80 Continental, Lincoln's new limited edition sedan, TheDetroitBureau.com., TheDetroitBureaul, auto news, ford news, lincoln news, michael strong, new Lincoln Continental, special edition Continental
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Designers, Detroit, Executives, Infotainment, Lincoln, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Personalities, Sales, Sedans, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | Comments Off
LC F Track Edition may be fastest Lexus ever.
by Michael Strong on Jan.14, 2019
The 2020 Lexus RC F Track edition is at home on the streets or the race track.
Lexus and its parent, Toyota, are running against the wind at this year’s North American International Auto Show by introducing sports cars rather than trucks or EVs. In fact, Lexus basically pushed all of its chips in for the 2019 event with the Lexus RC F and F Track Edition.
This new offering, based off the RC, has been described as a limited edition “track car” that has been developed expressly for enthusiasts.
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“Aside from the LFA, this is the fastest, most powerful vehicle we’ve ever built,” said Bob Carter, executive vice president of sales for Toyota Motor North America. (more…)
Tags: 2020 Lexus RC F, 2020 Lexus RC F Track edition, Lexus NAIAS 2019, Lexus debuts sport models, Lexux RC models, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, lexus news, michael strong, new sporty Lexus offering, new track-ready Lexus RC, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, Designers, Detroit, Executives, Lexus, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Personalities, Sports Cars, U.S./North America | Comments Off
