Car design round-up: Audi China, Bentley’s urban SUV and Morgan in the US

Welcome to this week’s car design round-up. The trend gods have set an SUV theme this time, it seems, and elsewhere there are some brand expansions into foreign markets. Let’s get into it. 

Hyundai Ioniq 9 

The hype-building has started ahead of Hyundai’s new three-row, fully electric SUV, which will be revealed this month. It builds on the Initium concept shown around the same time – also an SUV. The Ioniq 9 features a new ‘Aerosthetic’ design language, “a unique blend of aerodynamic performance and aesthetic appeal” and draws inspiration from “the sleek exteriors and spacious, cozy interiors of boats.”

Other inspiration comes from the diagonal lines of traditional ‘Hanbok’ Korean clothing, and the headlights carry the distinctive Parametric Pixel design found elsewhere in the Ioniq line-up. The designers have been credited on each sketch, too. Other manufacturers, take note. 

Full release here. 

Bentley’s urban SUV

The storied British brand will be launching a new model soon, its first ever urban SUV. But what does that mean, exactly? 

Bentley’s new CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser explained to media yesterday that in the context of Bentley, “an urban SUV means that it is a little more compact, for a Bentley at least, at under five metres in length.” The aim, he added, was essentially “to attract new customers.” 

Touching on the brand’s ambitions for EVs (all-electric by 2035, now) board member Andreas Lehe confirmed a commitment to the core principles of Bentley design but added that various teams were working to produce a suitable replacement to the burble of an ICE. “We are experimenting with sound design,” he explained, “although I can’t say much more as what we are doing, nobody else is… And of course craftsmanship is our main USP, across the interior with wood and hand stitching, but also with our paint finishing.”

Full release here. 

Mercedes-AMG makes its own SUV

Test drives will soon be kicking off for the performance arm’s first in-house SUV. The full-size “off-roader” has been dubbed “Born in Affalterbach” in a nod to AMG headquarters, and is built on the its proprietary AMG.EA electric platform. The first Mercedes SUV to bear the AMG moniker was the ML55 a quarter century ago, but the difference here is that the “entire vehicle architecture” has been designed and built in-house by AMG. Not much else to share for now, beyond this sketch. 

Full release here. 

Mahindra teases SUV ‘Indian Icons’

Two new SUVs will also be revealed in India later this month: the BE 6e & XEV 9e. Both appear to follow the origami-esque design language set out by the earlier BE suite of concepts, of which Car Design News had a sneak preview in 2022. 

See video here. 

Suzuki’s electric Vitara 

Suzuki’s first mass-produced EV, the e VITARA, has been revealed in Milan ahead of a production start in spring 2025 at the Gujarat plant. It builds on the eVX concept shown at the India Auto Expo last year (and later in Japan) and marks the brand’s first global strategic BEV. We are told the design language aims to combine “the advanced feel of a BEV and the robust nature of an SUV.”

Full release here. 

Skoda Kylaq

Also set for an Indian reveal is Skoda’s new compact SUV. It aims to tap the sub-four metre segment, which accounts for around half of all new car sales in the country. The brand says it has been designed in India, for India, and combines a modern aesthetic with robust fundamentals that should withstand harsh driving environments.

Are you still with us – has SUV fatigue set in yet? 

Full release here. 

Audi’s China offensive

In China, Audi has partnered with SAIC for a new sub-brand—AUDI: all capitals, no rings—along with a new sportback concept that previews a very different look. 

Full story here. 

Morgan Plus Four heads West 

Morgan will be bringing a four-wheeler back to the US, and we can only assume it will be lapped up following its nearly two-decade absence from the market. The new Plus Four is a quintessentially British two-seater with a subtle modernisations here and there – the LED light signature for the headlamps and BMW gearshifter the most in-your-face examples.

Elsewhere, it is all about the details: the beautiful knurling of the handbrake, the chrome front grille, sculptural aluminium wingmirrors. It’s good stuff. If you were wondering, Morgan’s chief design officer is Jonathan Wells. 

Full release here. 

Italdesign’s hypercar event 

Elsewhere, something to add to your calendars. We are told that the Quintessenza – a super-long pick-up crossed with a coupé – will take centre stage at the prestigious Hypercar event in Venaria, Turin on 12-13 November, held in the Reggia di Venaria Reale palace.