Car Design News takes a look at the news that may have gone under the radar this week, including the latest from Renault, Lucid and Get Lost
Bentley employs AI to achieve leather perfection
Aiming to heighten the craftsmanship and sustainability of the brand’s vehicles as part of Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy, the AI-powered Hide Inspection system has been revealed.
The system will assess and select only the best leather to use, detecting tiny imperfections that the human eye would not see.
It’s important to note that the AI Hide Inspector does not replace the skills of Bentley’s craftspeople, instead, it allows the team to concentrate on the human-like elements such as the hand-sewn detailing.
Bentley has calculated that 135.7kg of CO2 emissions will be saved by utilising this system. We don’t envy whoever worked out the maths on that one.
Full release here.
BASF releases new ImagePlus colour feature
Through a cloud-based platform named Refinity, BASF Coatings has revealed a new digital colour experience for the refinishing industry.
Refinity uses colour scanning technology called ImagePlus to accurately colour match a vehicle, taking five measurements in 30 seconds. The platform has access to the industry’s larger colour database for precise colour matching and therefore minimises paint waste.
Full release here.
Get Lost unveils Project Safari
Forget everything you thought you knew about the Lotus Elise. Project Safari, the debut vehicle from Get Lost, takes the featherweight icon and flings it down the gravel track – creatively, of course.
Founded by automotive photographer George ‘GFWilliams’ Williams, Get Lost reimagines the S1 Elise from the ground up as a design-led, rally-capable and all-terrain adventure vehicle.
While the car’s DNA is unmistakable, every element has been rethought. Alongside the smooth curves of the original Elise, Project Safari features sharp bespoke rectangular headlights as a contrast. The roof scope is a stand-out design feature, combining form and function.
The interior is equally as intriguing, with seats trimmed in leather and tweed because nothing says off-road rebel like raiding your grandfather’s wardrobe.
Full release here.
Jeep reveals the Convoy concept
As a love letter to Jeep’s truck lineage, the brand has revealed the Jeep Convoy Concept.
Inspiration has clearly been taken from the Gladiator Mojave as well as the original J-Series trucks, with its distinctive J-truck nose.
Matte Ghost Ops paint, canvas half-doors and 40-inch Krawler boots see modern meet military chic and the distressed interior brown leather seats reinforce the utilitarian charm.
Full release here.
Lucid introduces the 2026 Gravity Grand Touring
The 2026 Gravity Grand Touring is a full-size, three-row EV comprising sleek surfaces, dramatic proportions and a tech-rich interior.
The exterior is a masterclass in how to design a clean and athletic vehicle, with the 2026 vehicle flaunting a long silhouette that stretches over short overhands and a cab-rearward stance.
Of course, like every new car on the market, a lightbar stretches across the width and muscular haunches nod to its impressive up to 828hp performance.
The floating 34-inch 6K OLED display anchors the new Clearview Cockpit, while sharp lines give the cabin a modernist vibe – think Bauhaus as opposed to backseat chaos.
Full release here.
Renault reinvents the eco-family car
Renault has revealed more details on the Renault Embléme, also known as the ‘laboratory on wheels’. It’s clear that Renault is diving into a new design era where decarbonisation doesn’t come at the cost of desirability.
Developed by Ampere, it builds on the Scenic Vision concept with a full life-cycle decarbonisation strategy – aiming for a 90% CO2 reduction compared to 2019 benchmarks.
Nothing escapes scrutiny: 50% of materials are recycled, nearly all are recyclable and production emissions are cut by 70%.
The interior also adopts an eco-approach, with natural fibres and pineapple leather throughout.
The exterior is razor-sharp, with active aero fins and a rear diffuser borrowed from F1 tech, alongside slim 22-inch wheels and near-solid alloys sculpted for minimal drag.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the Embléme, previously seen as a concept at the 2024 Paris Motor Show.
Full release here.
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