Well, it’s about time Alfa Romeo revived this legendary name. Alpha-numeric names and two syllable words just don’t evoke the same grace or emotion that a name like Giulietta does. Let’s have a look at the design behind the name; the latest in a slew of great themes from the cross-and-snake brigade.
Design Analysis – Alfa Romeo Giulietta
On March - 11 - 2010
CDF on the RoundAbout Show
On March - 8 - 2010
CDF made an appearance on the latest episode (#26, if you’re keeping track) of the RoundAbout show, a podcast about cars, car culture, and news. The gang at RoAb approaches automotive news from a more light-hearted, entertaining angle, so when we were asked to appear on this week’s episode speaking about the “unique” automotive design at the recent Geneva Motor Show we couldn’t say no.
Have a listen, or the Sbarro concept car will come and get you.
The Geneva Motor Show reminded us that just as “less is more,” the inverse is just as, if not more true: more is definitely less. Aston Martin takes a tiny Toyota iQ and decks it out in full luxury garb and yet: somehow worse. Mansory adheres flashy pieces of golden chrome to a blue Rolls-Royce and creates a monstrosity. And the Sbarro Autobau is an abomination worse than Pontiac could have ever dreamed. Plus researchers come up with an ingenious solution to identifying potholes as asphalt disintegrates in our Blind Spot, and our Stupid Car Trick is a vomit-inducing exercise as a 15-year-old gets a brand new Camaro SS.
Click here to visit the main page (with video!) or play the audio below.
Play RoundAbout Episode 26
Download MP3 | 
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Featuring: Colin Bird, Zach Bowman, Dali Dimovski, Eric Trytko
Design Analysis – 2010 Saab 9-5
On February - 13 - 2010
When I heard Saab would be “winding down”, the first thing that popped into my head was the new 9-5. All that work. All that development. For nothing? Surely, someone would step in and save the day. Thanks to some last-minute heroics and a lot of money, that someone turned out to be Spyker.
Viscom 101 – Mercedes-Benz Sculpture
On February - 1 - 2010
And the Eyes on Design Award for Best Silver Car Reference goes to…
Design Analysis – Audi A8
On January - 24 - 2010
Yesterday I opened my 401k statement, and it was actually in positive territory. Double digits at that. Am I going to run out tomorrow and make a down-payment on a premium luxury car? No. But as a designer, it’s vital to be in tune with the wants and desires of customers at all levels — regardless of your own financial sensibilities. With that in mind, let’s have a look at the new A8, a product that is sure to satisfy the wants and desires of the premium luxury car buyer.
Design Analysis – GMC Granite
On January - 22 - 2010
When I hear GMC’s tagline Professional Grade, the first thing that comes to my mind is the ubiquitous Bunn coffeemaker – the kind that you see in restaurants and bars. Solid, metallic and built to last, these machines and others like them have a cachet all their own. The sort of cachet that makes you think, “Well, if it’s good enough for professional needs, it’s good enough for me.” Other brands are forging ahead on a similar path, such as Maytag. Their Performance Series of appliances are sold under the banner Commercial Technology, drawing attention to the heavy duty springs and belts “under the hood”. So with this context in mind, what will GMC’s Professional Grade aesthetic look like going forward?
Hopefully, the answer to this question is found in the GMC Granite. Styled in GM’s California studio and fabricated in Michigan, this ‘urban utility vehicle’ won the coveted Eyes On Design award for concept vehicles. As an instructor at the College for Creative Studies, I constantly preach to my students that car design is all about two key ingredients: proportions and detailing. The Granite is a great example of a theme that gets these two ingredients right – inside and out.
Detroit Auto Show Rumors
On January - 21 - 2010
With all of the industry events during the preview of NAIAS you get to hear a lot of rumors from a variety of people. Some true and some not but all interesting. Here is our run down of some interesting tid bits picked up off the floor when the drinks ran out.
Buick Regal GS – High potential of making it to production. Really no reason not to since it is made as an Opel.
Chevrolet Aveo RS – Looked great at the show, but production form changes the front clip, lighting details, and the size wheels. I saw this version at GM’s Technology Event in the fall and it needs help. No RS version is going to create a lot of bad press for the new Aveo.
GMC Granite – This was an actual real concept car created in just 7 months. Many GM designers were not a fan of a small GMC and are not supporting it to well. GM employees seem to be split 50/50 on whether this concept will make it into production. Personally I thought this was Best of Show and would bring many new buyers (myself included) to the brand. This vehicle was a gerat interpretation of a small GMC.
Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep – Busy , busy , busy is all that can be said for team Pentastar. No vehicles at Detroit but 16 new vehicles coming through next year. 11 refreshed and 5 all new. There are 9 new interiors coming out by next year and some have not even been designed yet. Most exciting to me is a new Jeep Wrangler interior coming after next years subtle refresh. I was told I will love it. We will wait and see.
Supposedly Mr. Sergio Marchionne does not like showing vehicles far ahead of actual production. Hence why there were no vehicles in Detroit, nothing is ready to come out. We will not even see the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee until spring when it goes on sale. Could he be bringing the suspense of the old days when you would actually go to the dealership just to watch the cover come off the new car? That would be great and really stick it to us bloggers (not us) who break embargoes early.
Ford – The new Fusion / Mondeo is said to be amazing and will blow away everything out there. Hopefully they grew out of the global growing pains had by the new Focus.
Audi E-Tron – This version of the E-Tron will be the next R4. It has the same proportion of last years VW roadster.
VW New Compact Coupe (NCC)- This will most likely be the new Jetta Coupe, assuming they stick with the Jetta name.
What did you here? If you have any other rumors you heard be sure to add them into the comments section.
Follow CDF Live at NAIAS
On January - 11 - 2010
We’ll be streaming live from the North American International Auto Show all day. Watch the video above and check back often (or follow our tweets at Twitter.com/kewlrats and Twitter.com/cardesignfetish) to see the show floor and the cars first hand!
Head on over to our UStream page to chat live with us as we view the latest cars and concepts!
Autoweek Design Forum
On December - 11 - 2009
The event of the year is fast approaching after its absence during last years NAIAS. This is a great forum for anyone interested in automotive and product design. The theme this year is “Renaissance of Design” and has an eclectic mix of speakers presenting. New for this year is the location. Instead of the crumbling COBO it will be in the same building Harley Earl layed his pencil to paper (yes, designers used actual wood pencils back then) and the new location for future car designers attended College for Creative Studies. Be sure to check it out and after you attend the show stick around for something special CDf will be hosting (details coming soon).
Thursday, January 14, 2010
8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
For 16 years AutoWeek has celebrated the world of design with its annual AutoWeek Design Forum. This year the event, held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), moves to the newly renovated College for Creative Studies A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education in Detroit.
Attracting automotive and design enthusiasts from varied backgrounds – students, car industry professionals, and designers allied to the field – the event recognizes and celebrates design as the ultimate differentiating factor that drives consumers’ interest and purchase decisions.
The Design Forum’s new venue offers attendees a first-hand look at an architectural gem in the brand new A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education. Through a $145 million redevelopment project, the College transformed General Motors’ historic Argonaut Building, located in Detroit’s New Center district, into the Taubman Center.
This year’s Design Forum, themed “Renaissance of Design,” will feature presentations from design professionals in the automotive and non-automotive worlds, followed by afternoon tours of the North American International Auto Show. In addition, the AutoWeek editors will recognize the most notable vehicles of the 2010 show during a presentation of the AutoWeek Editors’ Choice Awards.
More details after the break….
Mini Moke Concept Coming to NAIAS
On December - 11 - 2009
As the Detroit Auto Show nears, news of what is coming is beginning to trickle out. This Mini debut is an interesting and surprising announcement.
The Moke will be more rugged than the upcoming Countryman going on sale as a 2011 model. There is a chance that the production Countryman will also be unveiled at Detroit. Since the Moke will be based off of the Countryman there is a possibility that a production version could be released as early as 2012/2013.
What will the Moke look like?
Perhaps something in between a golf cart and the last gen Wrangler? Open top with a bare essentials interior would fit the theme of this more “off road capable” concept. Knowing Mini this will be an exciting concept and another one I will want to buy.
via Motoring File
