Car design round-up: limited editions, Beijing and product design

You may have noticed last week’s round-up went missing. To make up for that, we have a bumper edition this week to bring you up to speed. There are some interesting new launches, facelifts of best-sellers and even a handful of furniture and consumer electronics projects in partnership with major car brands. Let’s get to it. 

Aston Martin DBX707

We hope you like orange. Four years after its initial launch, Aston Martin’s performance SUV has been given an interior update. Matching the DBX707’s magma exterior is a super bright CMF theme that touches virtually every element of the cockpit, draping the seats, upper and lower IP, armrest, steering wheel and doorcards. There is also a new infotainment system and more of a balanced HMI that is as physical as it is digital.

Full release here.

BMW i4 and 4 Series Gran Coupe get a refresh

Subtle tweaks include a redesigned kidney grille (partially enclosed on the electric i4) and a new structure for the LED headlights. Inside there is a new steering wheel design on offer and there are fewer buttons on the instrument panel “due to consistent digitalisation.”

Full release here.

Electric G-Wagon

Not too much to add here. Details and full view of the first electric G-Wagon have been released.

Full release here.

Nissan Qashqai

One of the best selling cars in Europe has been given a refresh. The changes are significant, particularly on the exterior, and on a visit to Nissan Design Europe’s studio earlier this week, was described by design leadership as a “pretty major change for a minor change.” More on that to come.

Full release here.

BMW Future of Joy Milano

If it wasn’t already, Milan design week is officially part of the car design event circuit. This year had numerous brands on ground with displays big and small. BMW returned this year with its ‘future of joy’ installation built around the Neue Klasse concept.

Full release here. 

VW California final edition

The ever-popular California T6.1 will be given a send of with the limited-run ‘Last Edition’ trim level. Look out for news from the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover next month.

Full release here.

Limited edition Ford Mustang

Ford is celebrating the 60^th anniversary of the Mustang with a new limited-run design package, inspired partly from the look of the original Mustang of 1964. Rightly so, it is only available with the full-fat 5.0-litre V8. Beyond the obligatory badging inside and out, there are new wheels, side graphics and a unique mesh on the front grille.

Full release here. 

Hispano Suiza Carmen Sagrera

An electric hypercar will be revealed in June to coincide with the Spanish brand’s 120^th anniversary, building on the Carmen hypercar shown in 2019 and the ‘Boulogne’ in 2020.

Full release here.

VW ID. Code concept at Beijing

Offering an idea of how future Volkswagen SUVs will look, the Code concept seems to blend SUV and coupe design cues and was the result of teams in China and Europe working together (although it is designed specifically for customers in China). There will be more to come from our reporter on the ground at Beijing this week, so look out for that.

Full release here.

“Polestar phone Ohm”

The electric vehicle maker has tried its hand at product design, working with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu ahead of the Beijing auto show. A vertical pillar of three camera lenses and a bright spotlight beneath decorate the back case, with a white, black and yellow theme as expected. An interesting development, but the rationale is not immediately clear.

Full release here. 

Nicolas Huet joins Dongfeng

Huet joins Dongfeng after leaving Chinese start-up HiPhi, which had made quite a splash in a short period of time. His departure is less of a comment on his performance as a designer at HiPhi, and more a reflection of the business. His exact job title at Dongfeng is not quite clear, but the release notes he will “be in charge of design.”

Full release here.

Italdesign Quintessenza

CDN saw behind the scenes shots of the pickup-cum-coupe during Milan design week, and the concept was revealed officially in China – perhaps signalling the importance of the market (and event itself).

Visually striking with a unique silhouette, the car is exceptionally long which helps to mask the fact it is incredibly long with a 3,240mm wheelbase and 24-inch wheels. Perhaps the most endearing element is the swivelling rear seat functionality at the rear of the truck bed.

Full release here. 

Vitra for Porsche

The Swiss furniture brand has worked with Porsche Design on a limited run of chairs, upholstered in fabric using the iconic Pepita pattern. The variation of a traditional houndstooth was first introduced on the Porsche 911 in 1965.

Full release here.