Top 5 Most Influential Cars for Lexus/Toyota's Bold Chief Designer
Both Lexus and Toyota have been making huge moves in the automotive design sphere and Ian Cartabiano, the design chief of the Japanese automaker’s in-house Calty Design Research facility in California, has a lot to do with that.
From the absolutely stunning Lexus LC500 to the all-new Toyota Camry and C-HR and the funky Toyota FT-4X concept, whether you like the designs or not, you definitely can’t call them boring.
We had a moment to chat with Cartabiano about which cars were the most influential to him. Here’s what he told us.
1964 Buick Riviera
This American classic is often on the list of influential cars for vehicle designers. Cars from this era get a lot of love from automotive designers for their iconic silhouette. The Riviera was also on Jaguar designer Ian Callum’s list of most beautiful cars ever.
Lamborghini Miura
Another popular pick as one of the most beautiful cars in history, the Lamborghini Miura might be the prettiest thing the Italian automaker has ever designed. It’s not a surprise that this car is on Cartabiano’s list, but Horacio Pagani also thinks that it’s one of the most beautiful cars ever. The Miura essentially invented the supercar, and you can easily see how its design influenced parts of the gorgeous Lexus LC500.
Lamborghini Countach LP400
This was the supercar that defined a generation and Cartabiano would have been at the right age where a car like the Countach would have been extremely influential. When it came out, the Countach was unlike anything the world had ever seen and it has been rightfully cemented in the history books as the supercar that changed supercar style forever. (Photo By Countachinfo.de via Wikipedia Commons)
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray
That split window is one of the most iconic design cues in history and this Corvette could easily be on a “Greatest Hits” album of excellent American car design.
1969 Dodge Charger
We also have a soft spot for this vintage of muscle car and we think the design of this Charger is pretty flawless. Maybe the orange and white color scheme of this one also influenced Cartabiano’s color choices for the FT-4X Concept? He definitely has a thing for cars with a contrast roof, as the new Camry and C-HR, which he both designed, are available with that distinct design cue.
Why do these cars stand out the most? “They all had simple but really bold and strong design elements that you can read from a distance,” Cartabiano said. “They all have a lot of elegance even though they are shocking, each one withstood the test of time and have defined the decades that they were created in.”
Check out some of our other stories from this designer series:
Top 5 Most Beautiful Cars that Inspire Infiniti’s Genius Designer
Top 5 Most Beautiful Cars of All Time, According to Horacio Pagani
Top 5 Most Beautiful Cars Ever, According to Jaguar Design Mastermind Ian Callum
Jodi has been obsessed with cars since she was little and has been an automotive journalist for the past 12 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and a jury member for the prestigious North American Car/Truck/Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY). Besides hosting videos, and writing news, reviews and features, Jodi is the Editor-in-Chief of AutoGuide.com and takes care of the site's day-to-day operations.
More by Jodi Lai
Comments
Join the conversation