The request was precise: Renault’s flagship would have to intercept new tastes, a new audience and propose user-friendly tech solutions. ‘That’s how the Rafale was born: our top of the range car is a D-segment coupe SUV with characterful lines that appeals to people who want an important car, but don’t need seven seats: for that we have the Espace, which is the same length but has a different function,’ explains Agneta Dahlgren, EV Design Director at Renault. The designers have focused on a sporty car body, thanks to a roof line that descends quickly to the rear, but the real difference is ..read more

Every respectable Jeep must also have all-wheel drive, and thus, the Jeep Avenger lineup expands with the introduction of a new all-wheel drive variant for the smallest SUV of the brand. Its name is 4xe and it utilizes the same hybrid system already available on the model but adds a second electric motor on the rear axle. Under the hood, there is a 1.2-liter turbo engine producing 136 CV. Despite being a mild-hybrid powertrain, the Jeep Avenger 4xe can still operate in fully electric mode, although only for very short distances. The introduction of all-wheel drive also brings some interest ..read more

BMW presents the Concept Skytop, a convertible with elegant lines unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the annual beauty contest for historic cars and motorbikes held on the shores of Lake Como. The interior and exterior of the concept car feature warm, monochrome colours that blend exclusive materials with traditional craftsmanship. “This concept car has a truly unique and exotic design in the tradition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. “It offers a combination of driving dynamics and elegance at the highest level, comp ..read more

Most frequently, manufacturers choose for new models names recovered by the past, even if there is no obvious connection between the cars that carry them, for a simple marketing strategy. However, this is not the case of new Frontera: this 4,4 meters long B-SUV that Opel has just presented as a replacement for the previous Crossland, is inspired from the famous off-road vehicle of the 90s. That is clearly present in the stylistic development, resulting in a precise connotation for a model born on a flexible platform, very exploited inside the Stellantis group.It is not an off-road vehicle in ..read more

Walter De Silva’s design atelier adopts a new corporate identity and launches a brand new logo. A restyling operation that comes at the same time as the rationalisation of the company’s various entities by the founder, now united under a single heading, with a renewed graphic design that looks to the future. This new strategy is aimed at engaging new customers and partners to make them better appreciate the brand and the skills of the professionals at work. The message behind the brand is that Walter De Silva has never left the design scene. The new corporate identity is a concrete sign of ..read more

Software République, the Renault group’s open innovation ecosystem for smart, safe and sustainable mobility, unveils “U1st Vision” (You First Vision), a technological prototype that proposes its vision of services closer to the citizen, offering easier access to a whole range of proximity services. The ‘U1st Vision’ prototype consists of 2 parts: an autonomous multiservice module (‘pop-up’) on an electric commercial vehicle platform (FlexEVan) bringing together the innovations of the 7 members of Software République and the other partners involved in the project. A variety of services, suc ..read more

Gianni Colonello is the new Head of Lancia Design, a role until now held directly by Jean-Pierre Ploué, Chief Design Officer of Stellantis. Colonello was responsible for Lancia’s Interior Design from 2021 to 2024, and played a key role in defining the brand’s new design language, leading the creation of the interiors of the new Ypsilon, the Lancia Pu+Ra HPE concept and the Italian brand’s entire new range. From 2012 to 2021 Gianni Colonello was Chief Designer Interiors at Maserati, overseeing the development of concept cars and production cars for the Trident marque. The designer previou ..read more

66 years after its debut, the Mini is still her. “When you get your hands on such an iconic object, the challenge becomes even more interesting,” says Thomas Sycha, Mini’s head of exterior design. “We wanted to innovate while maintaining the high recognisability of this model and so we kept the round headlamp design, but enlarged the grille surround, which now seems to smile. Sympathy is another of Mini’s key elements as well as soft shapes,” Sycha continues. “Inspired by our history, we developed a new styling language that defines our DNA. We’ve called it Charismatic Simplicity: the idea is ..read more

Created in recognition of the heyday of European barchetta designs, Midsummer – limited to just 50 examples – represents the shared vision of Morgan and Pininfarina, who have collaborated to reinterpret and celebrate the timeless Morgan silhouette. “Midsummer is dedicated to enthusiastic individuals who will enjoy an unconventional, sensory, and analogue driving experience. By identifying and re-interpreting Morgan’s admired ideals, Midsummer turns our legacy into a charming, sophisticated, and timeless aesthetic”, said Massimo Fumarola, Chief Executive Officer, Morgan Motor Company. A spe ..read more

Alcantara dresses the interiors of numerous models at the Beijing Auto Show 2024. Thanks to its innovative sustainability technology and the possibility to customise it as desired, the upholstery was the choice of Hongqi, BMW, Zeekr, Bentley, Lotus Nyo and Hyundai. Hongqi, one of China’s best-known luxury brands, presented the Hongqi Guoya to the public with a neutral-coloured Alcantara interior. At an impressive 5.35 metres long, the Guoya offers a wheelbase of 3260 mm, making it suitable for a four-seater layout with single seats in the rear. The Geely Group has unveiled an updated ve ..read more