Monday, 12 May 2008 |
The MINI Chateau, based on the MINI Clubman S, made its world debut at
the recent Top Marques show in Monaco. It will be limited to just 12
units and radiates exclusivity and luxury with its wood trims and a
miniature, shock-absorbent wine cellar (room for 6 bottles and
chalices) in the trunk.
The MINI Chateau is painted in
changeable pearly brown, matched with sandy/gold metallic paint for the
roof, bumpers and some details. But what really stands out, is the use
of precious wood, both on the inside and outside of the car. Inside
Aznom fitted the upholstery with gaucho leather and Alcantara to create
a warm, vintage atmosphere.
The car rides on 18-inch TSW 'Pace'
alloy wheels wrapped in 205/40 Yokohama S-Drive rubber. The Mini
Chateau’s 12 limited-edition exclusive samples will each display a
numbered label with the name of the lucky owner. By Tuija Seipell.
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Friday, 04 April 2008 |
  The annual Detroit Auto Show serves as a platform for American automobile manufacturers, specifically, to flex their muscles, so-to-speak – and this year the Chrysler Corporation did just that. Dodge unveiled three models of the Challenger that will be available in 2009: the SE (3.5 liter V6, 250 hp), the R/T (5.7 liter HEMI V8, 370 hp) and the SRT8 (6.1 liter HEMI V8, 425 hp).
Originally hitting the streets in 1970 at the dawning of a new generation of design in automobile manufacturing, the Challenger was one of the original American muscle cars (along with the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro). Power and steel were king, gritty, dirt solid performance ruled over clear smooth edges and lavish aesthetics. The auto industry in Detroit was destined to enter its glory days.
Now, almost 40 years later, the auto industry, especially in Detroit is facing more than a handful of obstacles – including attempting to recover from an arguably failed race to build the largest petrol-guzzling trucks on the market. Compact and fuel-efficient has been all the latest rage – but what about performance? Based on the model chosen, Dodge almost guarantees blood-pumping sensation. The SE model doesn’t come with racing stripes and spoilers like its two bigger brothers, and the less sporty version only has a single exhaust pipe in the rear, rather than duel pipes on the more powerful models.
Dodge believes a retro-styled coupe can deliver exactly what auto enthusiasts are seeking in the three Challenger models: a varying array of performance options and features including voice-activated MyGIG Multimedia and UConnect systems, Remote Start with Keyless Go and five-speed manual models get the Hill Start Assist. Time to kick up some dirt – driving’s about to get messy again! By Andrew J Wiener
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Monday, 31 March 2008 |
We've often wondered how certain high-end brands manage to maintain
their global exclusivity especially as the number of millionaires and
billionaires continues to skyrocket. Drive down prominent streets in
Beverly Hills, Dubai, London and you're certain to pass more than a
handful designer Italian and German sportscars. Chances are the valet
parker at your local Ritz Carlton will have sat behind the steering
wheel of cars totaling more money than most of us could only dream of
making in a lifetime.
Thankfully the expert minds at Ferrari have devised a plan nearly
guaranteeing you'll have a difficult time parallel parking between the
same Ferraris your neighbours are driving around town. Ferrari
customers are undoubtedly accustomed to getting what they want out of
their cars, but now the ability to add personalisation has become
paramount - and here's all you need to know:
Book a trip to the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy where you will
meet with a consultant in a special dedicated atelier area. Rivaling a personal fitting by Valentino for the Oscars, your
consultant will welcome you to the new One-To-One Personalisation
Program where you will design your own Ferrari 612 Scaglietti,
accessory by accessory, detail by detail.
The front-engined rear-wheel drive flagship Ferrari 612 Scaglietti is
the only two-door four-seater in the line. The 612 is available with
Ferrari's SuperFast gearbox that allows a driver to shift the paddle
shifters located on the steering column in an astonishing 100
milliseconds. Whilst shiftting away, the V12 is capable of reaching top
speed of 320 kph.
The new model comes complete with an electrochromic panoramic roof that
covers the length of the top of the cabin. With a turn of a knob, the
entire ceiling changes from opaque to translucent, instantly adjusting
the level of sunlight that may penetrate the interior.
OK, so we’ll admit that Ferraris are not quite as common as we make
them sound, but we’re also sure it’s refreshing for some of you to know
that with the assistance of a personal design consultant, you can soon
be cruising the streets in a truly unique Ferrari. By Andrew J Wiener
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
One of our favourite auto magazines, the ever-stylish Intersection
(think of it as I-D for car buffs), has always made its mission to
mix man and machine, art and design and all things culture into their
its of the automotive world. Its latest project is no exception In an
aim to portray cars as more of a reflection of the
human race then simply a way to get from A to B, Intersection asked 6
different fashion designers from 6 different cities to create a
car cover that represents their individual fashion styles.
The designers were chosen for their conceptual yet sensual, witty
approach and because they each represent the city they're based
in. From the real-size print by Parisian Martin Margiela to
the mammoth box of Sydney's Ksubi, each piece offers a perspective true
to the designer's style and method, while also portraying an aspect of the car's personality.
The car that each cover is modelled on is the Alfa Brera that will now
be parading at events from New York to London, Tokyo to Sydney, Paris to
Berlin, and finally back to Milan where she will be showing off her
exclusive new clothes. If this approach proves popular, look out for a
couture-covered car on a street near you. By Brendan McKnight
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Wednesday, 13 February 2008 |
Inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, US$1.5 million Lamborghini Reventón
was unveiled. If numbers mean anything to you – the new supercar is
powered by a 650hp 6.5L V12 engine, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just
3.4 seconds and has a maximum speed of over 340 km/h. The
Lamborghini design team used the technical base of their Murcielago
LP640, compressed it and then amped it up. As with other current
models, the Reventón is defined through its sharp edges, smooth
surfaces and aerodynamic lines. Tempted as you may be, put away
your cheque books and credit cards, all twenty models that will be
manufactured are taken as the Lamborghini brand reinforces its
legendary status. By Andrew J Wiener
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Thursday, 24 January 2008 |
In an attempt to revolutionise the process of car design, David Hilton, founder of Motorcity Europe,
along with C2P Automotive, created the MC1 Supercar in just three
months. Hilton, who spent much of the formative part of his career
working for Ford, believes the MC1 will be production-ready by 2011, if
he finds the right client. Presently, the mid-engine, V10-powered
supercar has no set identity or branding. We’re willing to bet a
recognisable logo will soon sit neatly within its grill.
By quickly translating computer-based design into engineering,
Motorcity Europe achieved a radically different approach to supercar
design in regard to its proportions and manufacturing processes. While
certain aspects of the exterior appear entirely futuristic from nearly
every angle, the MC1 looks like one of those cars we always dreamed we
could afford. Fortunately, all anyone can see right now is the outside
– the interior will be ready this spring. By Andrew J Wiener
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Monday, 21 January 2008 |
To celebrate the 3rd annual PARK(ing) Day, San Francisco based art collective Rebar decided to take things a little further, with their pedal-powered park on wheels; the Parkcycle.
This one-day global event encourages artists, activists and everyday
citizens to temporarily transform parking spots into "PARK(ing)"
spaces: temporary public parks. This time around an astounding 180
parks in 47 cities were created.
"The process of rethinking the ways streets are used is an important
first step in making permanent changes in our cities to improve the
quality of urban human habitat," says John Bela, cofounder of Rebar.
The Parkcycle, which can be cycled by a team of three, but enjoyed by
many more on it's 7m lawn, features a 5m tall tree and solar charged
battery which run's the cycles breaks.
With a top speed of 5mph, it is hardy going to get a yellow jersey in
the Tour de France, but makes for an incredibly scenic picnic. By Brendan McKnight
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Monday, 10 December 2007 |
For those of us who strive to practice environmentally sustainability,
yet refuse to sacrifice our German-engineered automobile, Mercedes-Benz
Accessories GmbH along with ADP Engineering GmbH, a top German cycle
manufacturer, have combined forces to create a Folding Bike – the
newest addition to the highly exclusive Mercedes-Benz Bike Collection.
The Folding Bike is everything one would expect from Mercedes-Benz –
yet remains an acceptable option for navigating any urban environment.
A patented mechanism allows the bike to be folding effortlessly in a
two-step process. A quick-release lever near the seat brings the front
and rear wheel together, and a second lever above the front wheel
allows the handlebars to pivot down. At its most compact, the bike
measures 800 x 800 x 260 millimetres – and may easily be placed in the
boot of a car or stored in a garage or apartment. Even the rear cargo
rack can be used when the bike is folded, and the seven litre Teflon
pannier can be accessed.
As with any Mercedes-engineered product, the Folding Bike’s suspension
system between the aluminium alloy frame ensures the rider will stay
comfortable on nearly any surface. The urban cyclist may navigate
through the city shifting through five gears whilst remaining safe with
highly efficient brake discs. By Andrew J Wiener.
See also Eco Yamaha
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Wednesday, 22 August 2007 |
For most of us, buying an old campervan normally
involved some sort of cash-in-hand deal with a man called Stig and the
crushing reality that the reason why a car costs only $100 is because
it doesn’t have an engine.
For mega-brands like
Adidas however, buying an old Volkswagen presents a unique sales
opportunity. The label’s new skateboard clothing range will be marketed
via this old jalopy that has been customised with prints inspired by
skating legend Mark Gonzales. The ‘Kombi’ will cruise the streets
of Sao Paulo with its custom interior throughout August, before it goes
on tour to promote the new range. By Matt Hussey
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Berlin is one of the world’s most creative cities and now you can get your way around a lot more easily. Don’t bother with the public transport system (even though its good), rent your own little buggie style karts, which surprisingly, you are able to drive legally on the roads alongside real cars. The mini size makes them easy to maneuver and parking is a breeze. Not to mention the fun factor – it’s like one big game of dodgem cars for grown ups. Rent them at kart4you.de
By BillY T
Tel. 0800 - 750 751 0
Meinekestrasse 12, 10719 Berlin.
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Tuesday, 05 June 2007 |
Mazda’s current design philosophy is moving in decidedly Zen-like
circles. Like a child throwing pebbles into a mirror-still pool of
water, the Japanese brand cast the diametrically different Sassou,
Senku and Kauri concepts far out into the design community in 2005/6
and waited to see which way the ripples would take them.
From these three focal points an inward momentum was created, an
inexorable circular movement towards a production car bearing a
completely new Mazda design language. That car, hints Mazda North
America’s Design Director Franz von Holzhausen, will appear in
pre-production form at the company’s home auto show in Tokyo later this
year.
“It’s like a concentric circle,” explains the soft-spoken
California-based designer. “With the Sassou, Senku and Kabura we struck
out in a bunch of different directions, but eventually we’re going to
land in the middle at something that you can go into the showroom and
buy.” For the moment, however, they’re still circling the outer reaches
of a design philosophy that Holzhausen has dubbed ‘flow’, or Nagare in
Japanese.
At the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, this new form language
physically manifested itself in the first of a troika of striking new
concepts: the Nagare. A radical grand tourer for the year 2020 designed
by Mazda’s studio in Irvine, California, Nagare borrows the most
successful elements from its three conceptual forebears and translates
them into what Holzhausen describes as a ‘concept of a concept car’.
“Flow is the study of how nature expresses motion. If you look at a
desert landscape, it appears as if the air is moving across the sand
even though you can’t see it. That’s what we wanted to create: a way of
introducing ideas of texture and motion into the surface language,”
explains the Pontiac Solstice designer. “That’s the thing: it’s not
just a stuck-on detail or a clichéd road stance. We’ve got a lot of
freedom to explore this.”
The most striking thing about the Nagare’s design is the deep etch
lines that run along the car’s flanks. They converge, fading as they
go, to an invisible point above the rear wheelarches before re-emerging
and fanning out to form filigree-like strands of orange light that make
up the rear light clusters. Like ripples on a sand dune, they create a
sense of air moving across the vehicle, of unseen motion – a theme
picked up by the twisted lines that form the headlamps. Sidewinder
trails are what come immediately to mind.
The Nagare, says Holzhausen, was just the first expression of flow. For
the Detroit show in January, the Irivine studio team distilled this
idea into a deliberately more feasible and down-to-earth form: the 2010
Ryuga sports car concept. Again, deep etch lines dominate the overall
look, and the Senku-inspired shark’s head nose and sidewinder lights
remain. But the feel is less extreme, especially inside where the
Nagare’s diamond-pattern seat configuration gives way to a more
conventional 2+2 layout. “It’s still about motion,” insists Holzhausen,
“but in a much more calm and quiet way. Like a Japanese rock garden.”
Meanwhile, the Geneva show will debut an even more grounded expression
of the philosophy, this time designed by the company’s studio in
Frankfurt, Germany. Something equally exploratory but more believable,
promises Franz. “As radical, as avant-garde, as these cars feel now, by
the time we get elements and themes into the finished car two years
from now, people will be like ‘yeah, we’ve seen this. It’s a Mazda’.”
Personally, I doubt people will be so blasé. While parent company
Ford’s European arm continues to talk in a loud voice about its Kinetic
Design philosophy and expressing ‘energy in motion’, Holzhausen has
found a way of actually translating this into something you and I can
touch, and hopefully buy. Interestingly, the US-born designer says that
the roots of this can be traced back to Spring 2006 edition of
Intersection, the one with the Colani concept on the cover: “I saw that
car, the way it was shot from above with those organic, flowing shapes,
and said ‘that’s the kind of car we need to build’. All my recent
concepts have sprung from that point.” By Euan Sey. Exclusive online extract from Intersection Magazine.
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Thursday, 17 May 2007 |
How much fun can you have around a product as un-fun as a radiator? Lots, apparently. Just check the Jaga Radiator Factory website. From the amazing chocolate sculptures at Zona Tortona Design 07 in Milan to massive desert art at Burning Man
to the latest Jaga Experience: The Jaga Experience Truck, Jaga is
really taking the concept of product promotion to another world.
Built on a Mercedes Actros platform, and designed by Arne Quinze
the truck looks somewhat like a milk truck that’s about to become a
massive light fixture. Inside, a VIP lounge with white leather
furnishings by Moroso,
a projections room, kitchen and shower will take care of your comfort.
Quinze designs furniture for Moroso in addition to designing under his
own label. He’s known for example, for his first collection, Primary
Pouf, of 1999 that still sells more than 15,000 pieces annually.
Through the Experience Truck’s 182 windows, the magic of the multicolor
LED lighting system (of one mile of LED strips) creates an
ever-changing collage. A Dolby surround sound system inside and 4000
Watts of Bose sound power outside guarantee that your ears will have an
experience, too. To find out what goes on inside the truck, you just
need to leave your computer screen and go where it is (in Milan at the
moment) and have a Jaga Experience. By Tuija Seipell
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