This Month in Car Design

CMF innovation, global auto shows and the future of car design take centre stage in this month’s Car Design News in Review.The team discusses playful materials and sustainable finishes, then dives into highlights from the Beijing Auto Show and Milan Design Week, from standout concepts and immersive installations to shifting design trends in China and Europe.Also featured: major industry people moves, profile insights, and key cars including Kia EV4, Honda Super N and Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale. Plus, what’s coming up in lighting, education and design events.Subscribers can access all content flagged during this episode, including:The design VP’s intriguing hippie backstory. AMC Gremlin features https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/bryan-nesbitt-between-soul-and-system/2638466Materials quiz – beer leather anyone? https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/top-colour-amp-trim-trends/2647218Doh! Skoda’s colourful Milan installation https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/skodas-playdoh-inspired-installation-at-milan-design-week/2654000Freelander returns and this time it’s a brand https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/freelander-reborn-incredibly-in-2026/2653676Audi lands a UFO in Milan https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/audi-lands-a-ufo-at-porto-venezia/2652751Honesty in materials with Halycon https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/halcyons-craftled-approach-to-personalised-restomods/2652449Gilles Vidal wants icons https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/gilles-vidal-on-the-future-of-stellantis-european-brands-we-need-to-deliver-iconic-products/2646963Jazz Age vibes from Rolls-Royce coachbuilt Project Nightingale https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/rollsroyce-reveals-design-of-project-nightingale/2646804Kia’s polarising (but cool) EV4 Fastback https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/design-driven-kia-ev4-fastback-vs-hatchback/2640134 Kemal Curic takes the reigns at McLaren https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-kemal-curic-to-head-up-mclaren-automotive-design/2638963

This month the team reflects on conversations around design tools, where digital and physical processes continue to merge.Chat also turns toward recent launches including the BMW i3, Volkswagen ID. Unyx 08 and Changan’s aviation-inspired S05 (which we drove on an airfield this week, no less).The team also discuss what’s coming up in April, with trips to Germany, Italy and China in the works. Plus, a new monthly focus on future material trends (get in touch!)Subscribers can access all content flagged during this episode, including:Granstudio’s DigiPHY interior buck https://www.cardesignnews.com/partner-content/digiphy-the-design-process/492094 The all new BMW i3 (or is that 3-Series?)  https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/bmw-welcomes-new-i3-to-the-3series-family/2631005 Volkswagen’s collaboration with Xpeng for the ID. Unyx 08 https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/vw-design-team-builds-confident-new-suv-on-xpengs-electric-platform/2630088 Andrea Mocellin on AI tools and “human instinct” https://www.cardesignnews.com/design-tools/andrea-mocellin-you-need-to-rely-on-your-instincts/2625127 The DS No.7, or as James refers to it, “the Mambo No. 5” https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/ds-continues-to-evolve-its-latest-design-language-in-the-new-no7/2629780 Sharon Gauci retires from GM https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/sharon-gauci-to-retire-from-gm/2635540 Jerry McGovern’s JLR saga reaches a finale https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/its-now-official-gerry-mcgovern-to-leave-jlr-role-at-end-of-march/2633351 Chris Lefteri’s appointment at Alcantara https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/chris-lefteri-joins-alcantara/2633057 Stefan Sielaff on why China speed is ‘old news’ https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/geelys-vp-of-global-design-china-speed-is-an-old-story-now/2634267 José Navarro replaces Joaquin Garcia at Italdesign https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/navarro-to-lead-italdesign-as-garcia-departs/2628703 Genesis’ John Krsteski on digital tools  https://www.cardesignnews.com/videos/genesis-john-krsteski-why-digital-tools-make-it-the-best-time-to-be-a-car-designer/2625063 Ralph Gilles muses on the future of the SUV https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/were-very-conscious-that-the-brands-are-king-ralph-gilles/2623912 Pagani designer says “your mind” is the best creative tool  https://www.cardesignnews.com/videos/its-better-to-have-a-good-idea-than-a-good-drawing-says-pagani-designer/2622864

This month the team discussed:  Autonomous driving, with stories involving Lucid, Tesla, Tensor, UE Studios and a chat with Romulus Rost (who designed the interior of the original Audi TT)A visit to MG and SAIC’s ever philosophical chief designer Jozef KabanA conversation with design expert Robert Forrest live in the studio, touching on tech-led strategies and brand power. Plus, will car brands ever appoint a Head of Autonomous Vehicle Design?People news at VW, Leapmotor and Ford China, plus an update on former Volvo design boss Jeremy OfferWhat’s coming up with CDN in March, with trips to Germany, Sweden and The Cotswolds and a new monthly focus on design tools (get in touch!)Subscribers can access all content flagged during this episode, including:Freddie’s visit to UE Studios: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/new-av-shuttle-has-a-compelling-design-but-will-the-project-take-off/2607769 James gets philosophical with Jozef Kaban: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/jozef-kaban-we-need-to-be-the-light-for-the-whole-system-not-just-design/2607688 Lucid’s Derek Jenkins talks luxury AVs: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/designing-autonomous-luxury-at-lucid/2606686 Tensor Robocar: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/tensor-robocar-the-personal-autonomous-vehicle-shaped-by-sensors/2613315 Tesla Cybercab interview: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/designing-the-future-from-first-principles-von-holzhausen-on-the-tesla-cybercab/2612995 Ferrari Luce UX revealed: https://www.cardesignnews.com/interiors/is-ferraris-luce-interior-a-masterclass-in-hmi/2604887 Theon design restomod: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/how-to-design-restomods-and-stamp-your-creativity-on-existing-cars/2612393 Skoda Superb test drive: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/design-driven-skoda-superb/2611907 Romulus Rost on AVs: https://www.cardesignnews.com/interiors/romulus-rost-on-autonomous-vehicles/2611351 Andreas Mindt promoted at VW: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/andreas-mindt-named-as-head-of-volkswagen-group-design/2610458 Adil Benwadih joins Leapmotor: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/whos-where-adil-benwadih-joins-leapmotor/2602133 Ivo Groen at BAIC Turin: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-baics-new-turin-studio-takes-shape-with-ivo-groen-at-the-helm/2600368 Raul Pires replaces Max Wolff at Ford China: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-raul-pires-replaces-max-wolff-as-head-of-ford-design-in-china-and-asia-wolff-joins-gm-china/2599556 Join us in Milan: https://www.cardesignnews.com/events/car-design-dialogues-milan/232453 …and in Beijing: https://cddbeijing.cardesignnews.com/  

This month the team discussed: The importance of design for manufacturing, highlighting how early production constraints improve creativity, feasibility and cross-team alignment across startups and major OEMs such as Ford, Xpeng, Zeekr and Oil Stain LabWhy Detroit’s design boom is in danger of leaving is hallowed car show behind; plus is Brussels neutral territory a good substitute for the now dead Geneva show; and weigh up the brand heritage that comes as the price of entry to RetromobileWhy public reactions to new cars remain emotionally charged, with nostalgia, resistance to change shaping negativity toward contemporary vehicle designAnd we speculate about the possibility of Volvo restarting its US design studio with Nick Gronenthal as the head plus highlight some key moves at Porsche and KiaSubscribers can access all content flagged during this episode, including: The twins at Oilstain Lab: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/constraints-enable-creativity-oilstainlab-ceo-on-design-for-manufacturing/2592174Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/designing-on-the-edge-how-fords-dark-horse-sc-took-shape/2590571Zeekr on design freeze: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/early-design-freeze-brings-purchasing-power/2591766Xpeng's Alain Simon talks design for manufacturing: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/manufacturing-department-an-enabler-for-design-says-xpeng/2585875Honda's new logo: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/honda-unveils-new-logo/2585879Porsche 911 review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/design-driven-porsche-911-carrera/2593778Detroit Auto Show review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/shows/detroits-design-renaissance-leaves-its-auto-show-behind/2589650Brussels Motor Show review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/brussels-sprouting-could-the-belgian-motor-show-youve-barely-heard-of-become-the-new-geneva/2585930Retromobile 2026: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/theres-more-passion-here-than-at-a-normal-car-show/2597117Why do car people hate new cars? https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/why-do-car-people-hate-new-cars/2584558Honda Base Station: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/honda-reveals-new-base-station/2586456Tobias Sühlmann joins Porsche: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/porsche-appoints-tobias-suehlmann-as-new-head-of-design/2595752Thomas Ingenlath returns to Volvo: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-qampa-ingenlath-on-his-second-volvo-term-i-bring-a-hell-of-a-lot-of-experience-in-designing-cars/2583816What's going on with Volvo USA? https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/exclusive-first-sight-qampa-volvos-interim-design-boss-on-ex60-and-whats-next-after-ingenlaths-return/2593909Dave Marek retires: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/dave-marek-retires-from-honda/2581710Join us in person at events around the world:Milan: https://cddmilan.cardesignnews.com/Beijing: https://cddbeijing.cardesignnews.com/Detroit: https://cdddetroit.cardesignnews.com/London: https://peopleawards.cardesignnews.com/

A monthly podcast from the CDN editorial team delivering sharp insight into the stories, people and trends shaping global automotive design - from concept cars and production launches to leadership moves, emerging talent and the technologies redefining how cars are created.