The 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) proved that the automotive industry is finally getting back on its feet after a few years of uncertainty. While the city itself is still suffering, COBO center was as vibrant as it was pre-crisis, a reassuring sign that the market — and the industry — is experiencing a much needed resurgence. And it’s about time really…
Here are some of the highlights from the show.
Nissan Resonance concept
Though the Resonance concept was claimed to have been inspired by space travel, its design is more grounded than the company’s press release would have you believe. We spoke to exterior designer Joel Baek and project manager John Anthony Sahs from Nissan’s Southern California-based design studio about it.
Watch our video.
Ed Welburn on the C7 Corvette Stingray
It’s not every day that we get to see a new Corvette unveiled. The now iconic Chevrolet sports car has only seen seven different iterations since it first revealed at GM’s Motorama in New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel in January 1953. We caught up with GM vice president of design Ed Welburn to talk about the new car.
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Chris Bangle on the 2013 CES and NAIAS
We found Chris Bangle running through the Detroit auto show on his way back from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and spoke to him about the standout products he’d seen there, his altruistic attitude towards helping the younger generation of designers looking to get into the automotive industry and his thoughts on BMW’s i brand. Watch our video.
Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis concept
The Hyundai HCD-14 unveiled at the 2013 Detroit auto show was designed at the Korean carmaker’s North American design center in Irvine, CA. We caught up with Hyundai North America’s Design Director, Chris Chapman, and interior designer Mike Barbush to have them explain the design of the HCD-14 concept.
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Gorden Wagener on Mercedes Design
The Mercedes CLA was unveiled in Detroit, but most showgoers didn’t get a chance to see it. We caught up with Mercedes-Benz head of design Gorden Wagener in the secluded back room in which it was being shown and spoke to him about the new car and the company’s future direction.
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Toyota Corolla Furia
The Corolla is falling out of favor with the younger demographic. In an effort to inject emotion into the model range, Toyota is no longer designing ‘by committee’, but looking to its designers for answers. We spoke to Jin Kin, exterior design manager at Toyota’s CALTY Design Research Center, to find out more about the Furia concept.
Watch our video.
Lincoln MKC concept
Lincoln has set its sights on China and developed the Lincoln MKC, a concept car that showcases how its newfound design language might be applied to a vehicle fitting the crossover-SUV typology. We walkaround the concept precursor to the forthcoming production car with lead exterior designer Murat Gueler.
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Bob Lutz on the VL Automotive Desitino
Former GM product czar Bob Lutz has co-founded a new company, VL Automotive, and created the Destino, a vehicle which swaps all of the electric powertrain addendum from Fisker’s Karma in favor of the LS9 drivetrain found in the Covette ZR1.
Watch our video.
