It’s Better In The Wind – Short Film from Scott Toepfer on Vimeo.
We’ve seen these ‘trendy’ brands come – and go. Can you say Hummer? So should a car brand be built on something beyond todays fleeting fashion and style? In Hummer’s case, how many militaristic 4x4s can a consumer market absorb – regardless of gas prices. As a new series of products, they were novel and intriguing. Enough so to make you look past the compromises to everyday usage. And even if gas remained cheap, I suspect the novelty of Hummer would have gradually faded. But certainly not before there were Hummer mid-size sedans in order to grow volume at any cost (the H6 or H7…) So now we have Scion and can it and a dealer network be supported by a brand that markets only to hip young people who like to party and customize their rides? The 90′s are over and squadrons of customized Honda Civics and the Tuner Mags have seen their rise and fall as a trend. Sure, some will remain but the mass marketization of customization has likely run its course. Now all we have left are cars that are built with quality, well designed, and full of the latest technology – for young and old people. But to say that Scion and Hummer weren’t the right decision at the time would be too much. They may have been the right decision if there was incremental revenue and profit. And what if these Fashion Brands are treated as such – brands that are hot and then cold. They could come and go with the seasons or decades never meaning to last a century. There would be no pretense for unique dealer networks but perhaps just a showroom. As the trends come and go, so would the brand. Toyota is now planning to expand the Prius name to a larger van and smaller coupe/sedan. It seems like a natural progression and one wonders why they haven’t done it sooner. Toyota should definitely take advantage of the Prius ‘trend’ while its still hot. Eventually the market will be flooded with high quality, well designed hybrids and BEVs so Prius had better exploit it’s brand equity before it too shall fade.
The Solar Impulse is a Swiss aircraft designed to fly without fuel using only batteries and solar energy. Although there have been long distance and human powered airplanes before, this will be the first purely solar powered aircraft. It just completed it’s first real flight using pre-charged batteries so the concept is becoming reality. Someday, aircraft like this one will be able to remain continuously airborne and operated remotely. The age of remotely piloted aircraft is here thanks to advances in electronics. In the future, remotely piloted aircraft, spacecraft, ships, etc. will become the norm I expect as each succeeding generation becomes more comfortable with the technology.
In terms of design, the Solar Impulse has the immense wingspan found on gliders and other long distance aircraft like Burt Rutan’s Voyager. But the rest of the airplane is unique with it’s box-like fuselage section and dramatic vertical over and under rudder. It almost looks more like a spacecraft designed for inter-planetary travel if it weren’t for the scale. For more information about the Solar Impulse, go to www.solarimpulse.com.
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In terms of aircraft concepts, there’s always something new happening all the time. The NASA Puffin concept is an electric personal helicopter airplane similar to the Osprey. The Puffin can take off and land vertically, then switch to horizontal flight once airborne. The design is simple and almost elegant but not quite. The engine (motor) fairings and cones look a little too much like hollow tubes while the tail fins could use a little sweep to them – at least on the leading edge. I suppose the open canopy would also take some getting used to given the proxity of the propeller blades and any potential impact.
Finding the perfect sports car is as personal as finding the perfect …. The Boxster Spyder above seems to have it all – light weight, mid-engine, 2 seats, no top, powerful engine, incredible handling, and voluptuous body work. The 911 is often held up as the definitive Porsche but could the Boxster be the true descendant of the original Porsches? And while I’m at it, here a couple of more cool videos to enjoy…
For more photos - LA Preview: Porsche reveals new lightweight Boxster Spyder [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog.
Buick Regal GS Concept Interior
Could this interior really be a Buick? Just looking at it and knowing you’re sitting in a Buick makes you feel confused, disoriented, and even a little shocked. If it weren’t for that badge on the steering wheel, you’d never know you were in a Buick. The name and the look seem so contradictory that it will take some time to get used to. But we will and hopefully all Buick’s will look this good. Notice the stitching, perforations, metallic surfaces, steering wheel graphics and forms, center console switches, AND a MANUAL SHIFTER!
After the visually challenging GMC Terrain, it’s good to see that Design still lives at GMC. This year’s Detroit show had far fewer Concept Vehicles due to the industry downturn and with GM and others suffering from the global financial, one wonders how GMC survived the onslaught. Perhaps it’s the low-cost of differentiating the GMC nameplate from Chevy, or perhaps there really is some equity in ‘GMC’ someplace in America. Whatever the reason, the Granite as a GMC or any other brand for that matter, is a good piece of Design. It’s forms exude a solid, rock-like (granite?) quality and the low, wide stance adds to the sense of stability and steadfastness. The frontal openings (negative space) are deeply drawn and further enhance the illusion of surface depth. The grills below the headlamps have an almost R8 look to them. At the same time, the side vents along the front doors have an almost paper-like or origami-esque feeling to them. It looks good and it’s interesting but I”m not sure I would call it granite-like. These gills seems like a different theme from the front end appearance and the overall proportion and stance of the vehicle. The rear view of the vehicle offers a similarly chiseled feel with the liftgate shutline/graphic strengthening a boxy volume. It’s difficult to believe the Terrain and the Granite come from the same company but one is a production vehicle and the other a concept. Still, there’s really no excuse for the Terrain. I do hope it is a commercial success at least.
From a Design viewpoint, the Granite rates about 3.5 Stars with the side view paper-thin surface changes being the only questionable element of the design – but even that is interesting!
If looking at the new GMC Terrain has you staring in disbelief, you aren’t the only one. After spending millions in the design and development of this new product, how can GM allow this to happen? Not only that, but our tax dollars are supporting this company and this brand. If the government is going to spend our tax payer dollars, at least give us good design! The blocky, primitive forms and graphics, the overly simplistic wheel openings that pinch the tires, the lack of a dynamic stance, the absence of a strong side view graphic, the curb rubbing front air dam on an SUV? It’s no wonder that GM is suffering the way it is. I sure hope this second chance we’ve given them results in better designs.
For years digital camera manufactures have been a leading force of innovation. Not only are they packing more into less by adding more megapixels and features into the same size package and price, they are also doing some really cool things like this new Samsung camera. Now you can take self portraits using the small LCD on the front of the camera for framing. No more holding the camera out, taking the shot, and then checking to see if you captured everyone in the frame.
Further blurring the line between cell phones and digital cameras is the new Samsung Memoir. Equipped with an 8 Megapixel camera – now you can have a full features point and shoot high resolution camera with you all the time. For the first time, photography enthusiasts can consider leaving the digital camera at home if they have one of these. How soon before Nikon or Canon come out with a phone? I’m sure Olympus will do it first!
