#automotive-design

#automotive-design

Cars and watches share a lot in common; the biggest intersection point is, of course, design. Inspired by the automotive brilliance of Zagato, the Chopard Lab One concept watch is a fine example of what I mean. This collaborative watch from Chopard and Zagato is a manifestation of automotive thinking realized in a wrist-sized form factor, highlighting structure, lightness, and engineering - the three main stakes of the Italian coachbuilding brand, founded by Ugo Zagato in 1919.

Its design is characterized by a single, powerful line that runs from the sharp nose to the abrupt tail, creating a sense of forward motion even at a standstill. The body is a collection of interconnected trapezoids and clean angles, forming a cohesive whole that is both brutally simple and endlessly complex. This was a car designed as a piece of kinetic sculpture, an object whose form was so powerful it became a cultural touchstone for an entire generation.

Created as part of an ambitious aerodynamic experiment, the 1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7 quickly came to be seen as the most visually arresting and conceptually daring of the three Berlina Aerodinamica Tecnica studies. Conceived by Franco Scaglione for Bertone, it represented a moment when imagination and science moved in perfect synchrony. First unveiled at the Turin Motor Show, the B.A.T. 7 startled audiences with a form unlike anything on the road at the time.

Revolutionary Aerodynamic Design Redefines Sedan Architecture The ninth-generation A6 fundamentally reimagines traditional sedan proportions through advanced computational fluid dynamics. Sweeping window curves flow elegantly from front side windows into the fixed rear glass without interruption. Wide tracks and distinctive quattro blisters emerge powerfully from the shoulder areas to create visual drama. Active grille shutters automatically close at highway speeds to minimize wind resistance through the engine bay. Three-dimensionally modeled air curtains positioned beneath the headlights channel airflow smoothly around the vehicle body.

Fashion design and automobile design share more commonalities than you might think. Both juggle modernity and a huge amount of heritage, and luxury is often hugely important pursuit for designers in both sectors. So it was perhaps only a matter of time until the two collided. Timed to coincide with London Fashion Week, Audi has revealed 'Audi Couture', a print ad imagining Audi parts laid flat as a dressmaking pattern (which, to my eye, has more than a hint of 'Transformers' to it).

Back in 2023 at Art Basel Miami Beach, Lamborghini celebrated sixty years with the unveiling of the Revuelto Opera Unica, a hand-painted one-off that blurred the line between design and fine art. I had the privilege of sitting down one on one with Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini's Director of Design, walking through the details of the Revuelto in person. Seeing the car through his eyes, hearing him describe the vision and the countless hours poured into its creation,

August has been an excellent month for automotive design. We witnessed concepts that made us question everything we thought we knew about getting around. From delivery scooters that borrowed tech straight from Hollywood camera crews to hypercars that looked like they'd been beamed down from 2040, designers threw caution to the wind and delivered some mind-bending ideas that somehow felt both completely insane and totally inevitable.

The CX concept takes everything we know about Corvette design and cranks it up to science fiction levels. Its proportions look like they were designed by someone who grew up playing Gran Turismo rather than studying traditional automotive history.

The exhibition takes the chance to showcase the wedge‑car design movement that emerged as a stray from the curvaceous, chrome-laden styling of earlier eras, visibly favoring a futuristic aesthetic instead of the typical aerodynamic-focused production.

The BMW 328 Hommage stands as one of the most compelling concept cars to emerge from Bavaria's design studios, marking a thoughtful translation of 1930s racing purity into modern carbon fiber reality.

The Buick Electra Orbit features a space-age aesthetic with proportions resembling jet aircraft and classic Buick designs, highlighted by a low front section and wide central body.

The BMW iX may be one of the ugliest cars on sale, but underneath that ugly wrapper lies quite a lovely electric car. The beaver-toothed front end and tragic proportions are hiding an interior that's almost architectural in its ambiance, paired with a driving experience that's sharper than some sports-oriented models from other brands.

The MCPURA builds on the MC20's proven platform but offers much more than just a refresh, including serious performance and aggressive styling.

In addition to the new sound, the shape of the 6 N is obviously quite a bit different than that of the SUV-silhouette of the Ioniq 5. Being a sedan means having a trunk, and on that trunk is a mighty large wing with a dramatic curving profile to match the sculpted edges at the rear of the 6 N.

"While it seemed like manufacturers had cup holders figured out, manufacturers are struggling to keep up with being able to accommodate all the different shapes and sizes [of containers] that are increasingly available."

The Final Edition carries exclusive enhancements both in design and performance. It's more than just a facelift-this is a hand-built statement.

The Peralta S makes you wonder why every other exotic car needs so many creases, vents, and visual noise when you could just build a perfect geometric statement instead.