#design

Not too long ago, a beauty contest in the sub-$20k segment would seem like a competition for the most attractive bar of soap. But now, Kia‘s current line-up will make you look twice.

Ferrari is holding a world design contest to develop the Ferrari of the future. Ferrari, in collaboration with with Autodesk, the technical partner and supporter of the project, is challenging students to develop the Ferrari hypercar of the future with the latest generation technologies and materials, while preserving the iconic performance and elegance associated with the legendary Italian automaker.

So the new Ford Taurus was only introduced last year. Why, then, did Ford refresh it for 2013 at the New York Auto Show—why go through all that effort now? Because, according to Ford head design honcho J Mays, the new front end is supposed to showcase Ford’s new global look, and the Mondeo and Falcon are gonna nab a piece of it.

Simbol Design, based out of Italy, looks to be in the business of replicating Italian supercars such as the Ferraris Enzo and Pagani Zonda. This Lavazza GTX-R, named after its general manager Fabio Lavazza, is an Enzo replica sporting BMW’s V12 powerplant with 620-hp.

Audi‘s design chief Stefan Sielaff told Autocar magazine that Audi will never do a retro design, for fear of becoming locked into an increasingly stale aesthetic.

Before he set the BMW world on edge with his controversial aesthetics, Chris Bangle had a comfortable post at Fiat, where he designed the Fiat Coupe, a car never sold in North America but regarded as an iconic and revolutionary design.