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1 week ago | 
wallpaper.com | Guy Bird
Nissan truly trailblazed in the full-electric vehicle segment 15 years ago with the mass-market launch of the Leaf in 2010. It quickly became the world’s best-selling EV, long before most traditional brands – and even then-newcomer Tesla – had mainstream models on sale. But despite that strong start, Nissan failed to maintain that electric leadership as the aforementioned Musk-mobiles plus many others caught up and overtook.
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1 week ago | 
cardesignnews.com | Guy Bird
Sixth sense: Micra returns electric
As the sixth generation of the Micra is reborn as a full EV, Car Design News sneaked into a small and secret lock-up in south London to see the car up close and personal and ask the ever-affable European studio interior design manager and ‘Nissan Lifer’ Bert Dehaes to explain more
Given the new Micra was designed in London, it was appropriate that the new Nissan supermini got its sneak preview in the English Capital earlier this month.
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2 weeks ago | 
wallpaper.com | Guy Bird
Sometimes radical and mostly independent, Japanese carmaker Mazda has a history of making affordable well-engineered cars. With interesting powertrains, from rotary engines to range extender EVs – that are also usually fun to drive, some of these cars – from the RX-8 to the MX-5 and even the MX-30 – also feature innovative design.
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2 weeks ago | 
flipboard.com | Guy Bird
1 day agoWhether you’re taking kids to soccer practice or going on a road trip, these SUVs have the best cargo capacity in their segment. Let’s face it: Life gets crowded. Between strollers, diaper bags, groceries, soccer gear, and maybe even a golden retriever or two, your car can start to feel like a game …
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1 month ago | 
cardesignnews.com | Guy Bird
Exclusive Q&A: Masashi Nakayama, Mazda’s global design boss
Car Design News visits Hiroshima to exclusively talk with Mazda’s global design boss Masashi Nakayama about his varied inspirations, the importance of clay and the art of lawn-mowing
Masashi Nakayama is general manager of Mazda’s global design division, overseeing studios in Hiroshima in Japan, Irvine in California and Oberursel, just outside Frankfurt, Germany.
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1 month ago | 
wallpaper.com | Guy Bird
The atmosphere in central Seoul around Gwanghwamun Square in early April was certainly lively, as South Korean citizens awaited their Constitutional Court’s decision on whether to uphold the president’s impeachment on Friday 4th (the Court did, and unanimously so). On the same date, those seeking distraction from the drama could alternatively visit the first public day of the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show at Kintex, the Korea International Exhibition Center, to the north-west of the city.
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1 month ago | 
cardesignnews.com | Guy Bird
The Korean powerhouse brand Hyundai chose the Seoul Mobility Show in early April to unveil not one, but four new cars, mostly playing very different tunes, but still united by the pixel
It can be hard to keep track of Hyundai design sometimes. Such is the brand’s current output. But on the ground in Seoul, Car Design News got to see its latest four vehicles up close and personal, made up of three smartly grounded new production cars, and one intentionally ‘out there’ concept.
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2 months ago | 
cardesignnews.com | Guy Bird
Exclusive Q&A: Oliver Samson, Kia Europe Design
Kia Europe Design’s chief senior designer Oliver Samson talks tech and European aesthetics in Car Design News’ exclusive studio chat
Now with his feet firmly under the table, almost a year on since (re-)joining Kia in April 2024, chief senior designer Oliver Samson gave an exclusive audience to Car Design News, and a walkaround of Kia’s impressive seven-storey Frankfurt building (of which Design occupies five).
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2 months ago | 
wallpaper.com | Guy Bird
The MG ‘comeback’ continues with its latest S5 crossover. The 101-year-old British carmaker once known for late 20th century small, fun and affordable petrol-engine roadsters and then early 00s financial ruin, now mainly makes small and affordable crossovers (with the considerable clout of Chinese parent company SAIC since 2007). (Image credit: MG)An early emphasis on electrification pre-COVID and the availability of further good-value EVs post-pandemic, helped MG achieve this major turnaround.
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2 months ago | 
wallpaper.com | Guy Bird
The global EV market in early 2025 is not short of premium-priced, executive-sized cars – especially saloons – so Volvo made a wise decision to design its first non-SUV EV as a fastback, a shape and segment currently somewhat under-represented. (Image credit: Volvo)The smart and (mainly) sleek five-metre-long car follows current Volvo electric design cues.
