I really like that. Is the Bentley Continental GT becoming something like Porsche's 911 in that it will be a slowly evolving conservative mainstay of the brand? Effectively their flagship design that has become synonymous with their brand, even if they have other cars at higher points that get marketed as the flagship? All the best, Andrew.
Considering that design/car have been around since 2003 speaks volumes. To me, it continues to look good, although this latest iteration may be a bit overt for myself. However to your point, they’ve carried that design language for almost 20 yrs, and they still turn heads on the street.
Cool photos of the ‘art’ of clay modeling https://www.themakersfieldguide.com/blog/2018/8/28/clay-modeling-in-automotive-design-and-industrial-design
I agree clay is here to stay. Only a genius can visualize what look like random lines like these: Image Unavailable, Please Login As this in reality: Image Unavailable, Please Login
FoMoCo 'styling' in the '60's. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2020/09/20/plans-and-ideas-that-will-surprise-and-amaze-an-early-sixties-look-at-fords-styling-center?refer=news&utm_source=edaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-09-20&fbclid=IwAR3dpzjGWgPeh8-nTYEhfgh-F-zCQlBX66FdnFRl-D3xsa83n65XVF4zVgs VIDEO Plans and ideas that will surprise and amaze - an early Sixties look at Ford's Styling Center By Daniel Strohl on Sep 20th, 2020 at 8:00 am Image Unavailable, Please Login In This Article Category: Featured posts Make: Ford With the news that the Ford Product Development Center - along with its rotunda styling dome and open-air courtyard - faces the wrecking ball, we thought we'd go in search of more video of that institution and came up with a couple vintage behind-the-scenes glimpses of what went on there in the Sixties. The first, a circa 1961 Ford adaptation of the Jack Douglas television series "The Secret Door," is unique in that it shows us a few steps in the development of an advanced styling project (the highlight, a car called the Astrion, is a bit of a mystery - it doesn't appear in the Farrells' comprehensive book on Ford concepts and showcars) and also gives far more credit to the clay modelers who worked on that project than to the designers who sketched it. In the video it also looks like we get a shot of Alex Tremulis demonstrating the Gyron's gyroscopic stabilizer system, some footage of the Futura going through testing, and plenty of reminders that Ford was serious about keeping a lid on its design process. The second comes as part of a more wide-ranging 1969 video, "A Car Is Born," in which Ford leads us through the process of a car's development. We get the Dinoc-over-clay money shot, sure, but we also see a lot (I mean a lot) of computer tapes used for product planning, some crash testing, and we hear plenty about how Ford was trying to be a good corporate citizen.
^^^. I would urge everyone to visit Greenfield Village that was cited in The Secret Door video. It is one place I would like to see again. So many things having wheels to be seen in the museum. https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/greenfield-village/
Car Design News about the new design language from Hyundai Tucson. The new Tucson features aggressive geometric patterns that could become a Hyundai trait Hyundai has unveiled its new Tucson digitally. The latest generation of company’s best selling SUV has a fresh look, particularly on the outside, and is inspired by the Vision T concept that was shown at 2019 AutoMobility LA. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login 1/2 SHOW CAPTION The new Tucson is both wider and longer (20mm and 15mm respectively) than its predeccesor, resulting in more room for passengers and a larger boot. Its appearance is dominated by the sharp lines that puncture the body work. Instead of drawing and sketching these exterior shapes, the design team used software to create geometric algorithms, resulting in what the OEM describes as ”unprecedented, bold design aesthetics.” A fearsome grille with a 'parametric jewel' design spreads across the front end. LEDs sit behind, and when on, react with half-mirror technology to provide a unique effect. This is mimicked at the rear, with the full-width light strip featuring triangular shapes that are only visible when lit. Image Unavailable, Please Login Hyundai Tucson 'parametric jewel' grille design lends the car a fearsome look The interior of the Tucson isn’t as startling as the exterior, but there are several key design points. The instrument display panel has been lowered and the gauge cluster has been simplified in order to achieve a minimalist feel. A new 10.25-inch touchscreen sits flush in the centre console, and chrome ridges on the dash sweep around from the doors to envelop the front passenger and driver. Lighting also plays a key role in the interior. LED strips are present in the lower pockets of the doors, the two side pockets of the centre fascia, the door map pocket and the wireless charging pad. There are 64 configurations available with 10 levels of brightness. Image Unavailable, Please Login Inside the Hyundai Tucson The Tucson marks the first model in Hyundai’s portfolio to use a number of technologies designed to make the user experience more comfortable, such as ’Multi-Air Mode’. When activated, air is dispersed to the newly added multi-air slots in the front as well as the normal air vents, resulting in a "more pleasant indoor environment with more gentle air flow." It also comes with 'Rear Sleeping Mode', allowing the front passengers to listen to their selected audio without the same audio being transmitted to the rear speakers. Hyundai has been pushing hard to evolve its design language. The Prophecy concept, which was shown back in March, gave us a glimpse into the company's spectacular plans for the future, and the 2021 Elantra, also shown in March, was the most dramatic yet. The latter also featured the same 'parametric jewel' grille and sharp lines down the side, suggesting it could be a strong theme for more models to come. Previous Next Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I like it right now as it is refreshing but wonder if it will become rapidly dated as others may copy it. It's sort of like the old adage: "The first horse to the trough gets the biggest gulp." Hyundai has staked out the best and most tasteful treatments leaving the less desirable areas for competitors if they want to avoid being mistaken for a Hyundai.
Disagree. Gimmicky and the sides are awkward. And, they have abandoned their 'signature' grille shape.
I'm with @Tcar on this one. The interior is actually quite nice (apart from the steering wheel), but the awkward doors and weird body lines are really off-putting for the exterior. From the side, it looks like a much smaller car wearing an extreme body kit that doesn't suit it over the top of its existing panels. All the best, Andrew.
The body side is flat out awful. Completely lacking in continuity. I find it appalling that this abomination got through the internal approval process.
I agree (but maybe not as strongly). When I saw this car at the LA Autoshow last year, it was not attracting much attention and I thought it was one of those failed showcars that they made and then bailed on, but just showed it to have more stuff in their booth.
And just when I thought I’d seen everything............ Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Yikes! It's the reincarnated ghost of Chris Bangle. The good news is they still have a ways to go to fully step up their game! Image Unavailable, Please Login
Peter DeL/AutoExtremist comment: We could have posted a bunch of pictures and provided more details, but these things are so relentlessly ugly that We. Just. Don't. Care. -PMD
Nice article about a close designer friend of mine. https://www.motorcities.org/story-of-the-week/?fbclid=IwAR2Sv6UjiDmEStR2ZS6Sp7ofkjKF5Kor-YUE52_rCFBRc8pul-vKaJ8lDBQ Tom Peters Shaped Great Designs for General Motors By Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher Images Courtesy of General Motors Media Archives Published 9.23.2020 Image Unavailable, Please Login Tom Peters in front of the GM Tech Center (GM Media Archives) This is a story about a gifted and talented individual named Tom Peters. His story is a fascinating one. Peters was a great auto designer and style leader. He is someone that I have always respected as an automotive historian. I always have known him as very approachable and always willing to answer questions regarding automotive designs. Image Unavailable, Please Login 1986 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Show Car (GM Media Archives) Peters worked for over 35 years at General Motors, contributing to many great projects including the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevy Camaro, Cadillac XLR, the Corvette Indy show car, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, and many others. Upon his retirement, he left behind a great legacy and portfolio of automotive designs. I would consider him one of the top ten General Motors designers of all time. Image Unavailable, Please Login A Tom Peters design sketch 12 87 (GM Media Archives) After graduating from Art Center College of Design in California, he was offered a position with General Motors’ design staff in 1980. During his career, it was the late Charles Jordan, along with Jerry Palmer, who brought Peters onto the Corvette team as a designer. Peter’s life had come full circle. When he was in high school and riding a bus, he noticed a 1963 Corvette Stingray for the first time. “The door opened, and it was the local rich kid,” Peters said. “We just stopped in our tracks and stared at this amazing car as his dad drove off. Often, we waited outside for the chance to see it again.” Image Unavailable, Please Login 1988 Pontiac Banshee Concept illustration by Tom Peters (GM Media Archives) Peters had other automotive themes that he admired. For example, the artistic influences of the late Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who inspired many teenagers with his great artistic illustrations. Many kids at his era were influenced by Roth’s cartoons with monsters and characters driving wild hot rods. Image Unavailable, Please Login GM continued to involve Peters in more and more exciting projects. One of his first assignments at the GM Technical Center was working on a Corvette mid-engine concept using a Lotus Indy engine. As the project moved ahead, he remembered that first time he saw that young kid open the door of that 1963 split window Corvette with fond memories. Image Unavailable, Please Login 2009 Chevy Corvette Stingray Concept used in the Transformers movie (GM Media Archives) Peters later became chief of his advance studio. He would also later enter a competition organized by Jordan, who had challenged three design studios to create their own version of the next generation Corvette. Peters was excited to share his passion and design ideas. After the contest had ended, the models were brought out to the Air Force base for final approval by Jordan, and John Cafaro’s design team was selected as the winners. Peters had offered a great looking model as well, and GM designers said his model was very fluid with spectacular form development. Image Unavailable, Please Login Tom Peters with the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette (GM Media Archives) Peters later became the lead for the exterior design of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup and the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, two great looking designs that many consumers really enjoyed and admired. Image Unavailable, Please Login An image of Tom Peters 2019 GM inductee (GM Media Archives) In 2013, Peters was presented with a lifetime achievement award from his alma mater, the Art Center College of Design, for his outstanding history with General Motors. Former GM vice president of design Ed Welburn said this of Peters: “Tom’s has had an impressive career … let’s not forget that he has plenty more to do in the years to come as a valued member of the GM Global Design Team.” In 2019, Peters was inducted in the prestigious “Corvette Hall of Fame.” Image Unavailable, Please Login 2020 Corvette C8 in yellow (GM Media Archives) In conclusion, Tom Peters had a great career with General Motors that is recognized by many in the automotive community. From the Corvette C6 to a Corvette Stingray used in the “Transformers” movie that debuted in 2007, we have been inspired by his great talent. Peters, was one of the best. Bibliography Hinchliffe, Mark. “Corvette Stingray in Transformer Movie.” 2007 Cars Guide. Maxton, Jack. “Tom Peters of GM Earns Lifetime Achievement Award.” April 10, 2014. 2019 Corvette Hall of Fame - Tom Peters. Art Center College of Design. “GM Designer Tom Peters Earns Lifetime Achievement Award.” October 29, 2013.
I knew Tom Peters while we were at Art Center. He was about a year or so behind me but event then we knew he was really good. Wish they had also credited Tom with the Chevy Beretta. It may not have been a great car but it was a very well design and one could see Tom's talent in the renderings used in Car Styling. A bit of correction on how the California Stingray proposal is mentioned in the article; the one that Tom's studio put into the Corvette competition. It absolutely was what Jordan wanted as the selection. Unfortunately the ultimate decision was done during the retirement of Jordan and the installation of Wayne Cherry; a time of much bitterness.
