Batmobile Design Competition: WINNER!Batmobile Design Competition: WINNER! Congratulations to Paul Denton for winning the Batmobile Design Competition!  Paul's rendering, seen above, captures that "bad ass" feel of the Dark Knight: it's moody, menacing, and full of drama. ...

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CDF's Batmobile Design ContestCDF's Batmobile Design Contest CarDesignFetish knows that you like cool cars.  We also know that you like to sketch cool cars.  What happens when you put the two together?  A really cool design contest, that's what! We're...

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Dwayne Vance: Design and Render Vehicles Online Course (March 3)Dwayne Vance: Design and Render Vehicles Online Course... Superstar Designer/Artist (and friend of CDF) Dwayne Vance is hosting an online class for rendering vehicles in Photoshop and Painter.  This Thursday, March 3rd at 2PM EST (11PST) Dwayne will be hosting...

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Sketch P*rn: February EditionSketch P*rn: February Edition February is over, and that means more awesome sketches were released in the month.  Point your eyeballs here for great digital work from Volkswagen, pencil sketches from Renault, sketches over photos...

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How to Make Cute CarsHow to Make Cute Cars Cars that share the general traits of a baby’s face trigger the ‘Isn’t it cute’ response in consumers. The Fiat 500 is the latest in a long line of "cute cars."  So what is it about cars...

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Does A Name Really Matter?

Category : Big 3, Business, Fetishing, Production Car

Getting a name right for a product is a crucial detail for effective marketing.  At least I think so, but maybe it isn’t.  Chevrolet just announced that the next Aveo will be called Sonic.  Maybe I am wrong but that doesn’t seem to be a move in the right direction.  I agree the Aveo name was non-repairable but c’mon, Sonic?

Small cars are trying to make a come back by creating a perception that they are not cheap little econo boxes.  When you hear the word Sonic you immediately think of two things…look above.  Cheap fast food and a game character targeted to six year olds does not paint a good image for someone coming out of college and ready to build their life up.  Maybe high schoolers will like it since they work there, but Sonic does not pay enough for them to actually buy the car.

I guess if the price is right and the fuel economy is there people will still buy it regardless.  But I don’t see many buyers aspiring to say Hey, Check out my Sonic…..

Polishing a Turd

Category : Big 3, Crit, Fetishing, Production Car

Polishing a Turd is a common expression in design school.  This happens when you try and do a hot rendering over a horrible drawing.  You can’t cover up a bad structure with a pretty covering.  I think everyone will agree the Jeep Compass is a turd of a design.  Well Jeep has been doing some polishing.  This new refresh is a much needed improvment, but there is still a ways to go…

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Jeep Patriot Is… the Old Cherokee

Category : Big 3, Design, Fetishing, Production Car

Jeep is doing all the right things refreshing their line up.  The new Wranglers interior is far better than then the old and now the Patriot is following along.  What I want to point out on the Patriots’ refresh is the best use of body cladding ever.  Yes body cladding.  Remember it used to be the only way to differentiate vehicles between brands.  Well hit the jump and see why the Patriot is becoming the modern day Cherokee.

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Buick Regal Sports Tourer On the Way?

Category : Autoshows, Big 3, Fetishing, News, Production Car

Well maybe it is and maybe not, but one thing is for sure. I have seen the better looking Opel Insignia Sports Tourer driving around a lot lately. Not just the same one over and over again either. All different colors in a variety of locations. This usually means one thing,  its coming.  I won’t be surprised if it shows up at this years Detroit Auto Show.  Station wagons Sports Tourers have been a tough sell in the states but I think Americans are beginning to unknowingly cave in to the idea. I will leave the rest of that theory for a later post.  Pictured above is the bulked up Regal GS version which better make it if GM plans to liven up Buick.

More pics after the jump of the tamer version…

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Ford Edge Lineage

Category : Big 3, Design, Fetishing, Production Car

I recently attended a car show and came a cross a 50′s Ford Pickup and while looking at the front end it hit me – It’s the new Ford Edge.  Many people are on the fence with this extravagant front end.  But you can see here that there is a history for it and it does look great on the road.  The new Edge just began arriving on Michigan lots last week.  Now you can tell people why the grill looks the way it does.

Ford Start Concept

Category : Autoshows, Big 3, Concept Car, Crit, Fetishing

At this years Ward’s Auto Interior Conference held in Dearborn the other day J Mays was the key note speaker and brought a little something special to our shores.  The Ford Start Concept was on hand for the first time in the states after its debut at the Beijing Auto Show a few weeks ago.  This concept would definitely give Mini and the Fiat 500 a run for their money.  Look past the fuzzy cell phone pics and hit the jump for some fetish thoughts.

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Volt in White

Category : Big 3, Fetishing, Production Car

The Volt is getting ever so close to the real thing.  Here it is parked at a GM engineers house waiting to be plugged in.  I must say the car is starting to grow on me.  The styling is nothing ground breaking but it does have a fresh proportion on the road.  It is also quite refreshing to see it in a different color.  Only a few more months to go until the GM “Savior” is released…..

9 Reasons to Buy a Ford Raptor

Category : Big 3, Fetishing, Production Car

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is usually known for ruining your day after you see what your car is worth, but shown in the video below is a lighter side of KBB.  They had the awesome chance to push the new Baja ready truck to its limits.  There are few, well probably no vehicles promoted to go balls to the wall and become airborn like the new Ford F-150 Raptor.  This truck is a great example of letting an OEM go and build what they want.  It is quickly becoming clear that customers want it too.  The Raptor is flying off dealer lots and Ford is even adding a new body style to the line with an extra set of doors.

With the lifestyle truck image fading away this is exactly the kind of product needed to remind people what a blast and how capable a truck can be.  My only hope is that the Raptor’s success will spur a few other new entries to the market, such as….

Dodge Ram Power Wagon (redo please)

Chevrolet Z71 (for real)

Hummer H3T

Jeep Gladiator Concept

Thank you Ford for creating new and exciting products.  So what’s next?

[video via Autoblog, Kelley Blue Book]

Chrysler, Domestic or Foreign?

Category : Big 3, Business, Fetishing

There has been a long debate about what constitutes an American made car.  Is it the fact that the headquarters is based in the U.S., or that the vehicle is built in the U.S.?  Most people say it is where the profits go in the end.  Others say it is the plant that matters. The plant workers put the money back into the economy sustaining employment.  This can be argued for hours with a loyal “American” buyer.  Honestly I am not sure what to believe.  For Ford and GM this debate will remain forever, but Chrysler is now owned by an Italian company Fiat.  So have the headquarters moved to there as well?

Could this have a negative impact on Chrysler or will the general public not even realize that Chrysler is technically not a domestic brand anymore?  I am just curious because I have not really seen any statements on the matter.  The truth is that the auto world is global and nothing is made 100% anywhere.  Most of our “domestics” are made in Canada and Mexico.  You don’t see those countries having the same unemployment issues as us.  Maybe we Americans should build our American cars.

So what do you think, does it matter that Chrysler is now Italian?

Detroit Auto Show Rumors

Category : Autoshows, Big 3, Business, Concept Car, Design, Fetishing, Production Car

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.