Car Design News looks at some of the design stories that may have gone under the radar over the past week. Read on for the latest from Audi, Koenigsegg and more…
Much of the news from the past week or so came during the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and you can see our round-up of the show here. In the interest of avoiding duplication, here is a brief round-up of what’s gone on elsewhere in the industry.
A4 no more
Three decades after its original launch, Audi’s A4 has been absorbed within the A5 model range, now sold as the A5 Saloon. The family now includes the A5 and S5 in both saloon and Avant variants, all of which feature a sharp new look led by – as expected – distinctive daytime running lights.
Full release here.
Time for Tourbillon
Bugatti is not the only hypercar brand to adopt the horological term Tourbillon, with Koenigsegg sharing news of its fancy new gearbox in an exclusive customer-spec Gemera. The Light Speed Tourbillon Transmission (LSTT) is an evolution of that found in the Jesko, and founder Christian von Koenigsegg says ‘Tourbillon’ was added ”as this mechanism represents the automotive equivalent of a high-end Swiss watch and is simply beautiful.” Another niche crossover of design and engineering, then.
Full release here.
MG HS SUV
Celebrating its centenary in style with the GTS concept – an evolution of the Cyberster – the Chinese brand has been carving a decent spot in the UK where MG has its roots. The HS SUV has been a top-ten seller here and the new model will aim to build on that success with a “striking” exterior refresh.
Full release here.
Take note, NISMO
Anything NISMO is bound to get the automotive juices flowing, and the latest model to bear the hallowed moniker is the Aura, a premium compact car with four-wheel drive and all the aesthetic enhancements you would hope to see. It will be available to Japanese customers only, for now.
Full release here.
Wafting along
Lucid says its latest generation of the Air will be the most energy-efficiency production car ever. Due in 2025, it will achieve 5.0 miles per kilowatt hour of energy and a record 146 MPGe EPA rating. Hear more on EV design more broadly from design boss Derek Jenkins here.
Full release here.
Ocean’s 3,321 – a tough watch
In a filing with the Delawere Bankruptcy Court, it has been revealed that Fisker has managed to sell off its remaining inventory after going bust last month. The buyer is New York state-based American Lease LLC – now the proud owner of 3,321 Oceans, bought for a total purchase price of up to US$46.25m. It is a sad end to what was an exciting story led by one of the rare examples of a designer-led manufacturer.
No comments yet