TTAC Photochop: Ford Explorer
By Andrei AvarvariiOctober 10, 2008 - 623 views
After four generations of on and off-road (more or less deliberate) adventures, Ford’s Explorer is trading in his body-on-frame for a lighter, greener, on-road-friendly unibody. Carfood is scarce these days, everybody has to go on a diet and count those octanes like calories. Ford has already shown their intent into this direction with the Explorer America Concept at the last NAIAS. All the opulence is gone, no more chrome, no more huge-ego. Big cars will need to be discrete. For moderately priced family cars, huge engines are no longer something to extol. If you really need one, than you’d better keep quiet about it. Aluminum, naturally perceived as being light (or the “genuine aluminum-plated plastic”) will kick in for decoration. Simple robust lines will make the fifth Explorer look rugged, even if it will not be as tough as it used to be. My other changes to the concept were the usual: bigger windows, real mirrors and door handles, proper air intakes and cost-friendly materials and finishes. Expect the real thing for 2010 or later.
Posted in Future Vehicles | News Blog | Photochop | 13 comments 
TTAC Photochop: New Chrysler 300
By Andrei AvarvariiOctober 3, 2008 - 1,051 views
The current Chrysler 300 was a seminal work, promising a new direction in American automotive design. The car’s funky fresh armored car style was an immediate hit with both urban gangstas and Florida retirees. The 300’s weak, thirsty V6, a crappy interior and waning marketing support doomed the once-groundbreaking vehicle to a stylistic dead-end. Now what? The 2007 Nassau concept suggested a sleek and dynamic 300, designed to disgiuse its girth. But I don’t think it’s going to find its way into production. When people think “sedan” they see three distinct volumes. And that’s not going to change. Manufacturers with a reputation for weird original designs were unsuccessful in this segment (see Renault VelSatis, Citroen C6, Opel Signum & Co.). So I built on the beautiful lines of the Nassau, adding to those a third volume to match the original dynamic stance. Other changes were necessary to make this drivable. Any front engined cars needs some air intakes just above the spoiler. Those and some lights that can be built on this planet are the only changes the fascia needs. Frames on the doors, handles that can also be used by a basketball player, decent-sized mirrors and it’s good to go.
[Click here for more Avarvarii photochoppistry]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 20 comments
TTAC Photochop: New Cadillac STS/DTS Replacement
By Andrei AvarvariiSeptember 26, 2008 - 1,155 views
All the “pimp daddies and the people rollin’ up in caddies” (to quote from Limp Bizkit) know by now that their beloved DTSes and STSes are about to join the dinosaurs in the tar pit of history. However, in an attempt to prove that there is life after death, GM bosses decided to mix the ashes of the previously mentioned acronyms into one modern “high-end performance sedan.” (I sincerely hope they won’t be calling it HPS. Cadillac concept cars have cool silky names like Imaj, Cien, Evoq. On the other hand, the production versions seem to be baptized each after an unfortunate Scrabble match.) In the attempt to figure out how this new Cadillac could look, I turned to the “resurrected” Cadillac brand’’s finest hour: the Sixteen concept. Of course, 16 cylinders and a snooker table-sized hood aren’t considered cool anymore. So I’ve blinged-down the HPS to try to keep it under the environmentalist radar. As for Art & Science, I’m sorry. I just can’t imagine this thing as an incarnation of the Imaj. I’m confident the new Cadillac is going to be better looking than the cars that will die so it can live. The idea that the HPS could be uglier than the STS and DTS is simply beyond my imagination.
[For more photochoppistry, click on avarvarii.com]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 22 comments
TTAC Photochop: Hypothetical Audi Electric Car
By Andrei AvarvariiSeptember 22, 2008 - 575 views
Audi’s dabbled in small cars for some time. Not all of their attempts have been successful. Despite all-aluminum construction and clever packaging, the A2 was a flop. Audi is back at it, though, unveiling their A1 city car at the Paris show. Considering Audi’s proclivity for up-to-the-second trendiness, it can’t be long before they announce– and maybe even build– an EV. The model would probably share a basic platform with compact VWs, most notably the VW Up! Concept. Ingolstadt’s boffins would need to elevate the floor to provide battery space. The “service hatch” first used on the A2 could also make a comeback on the EV, especially if we consider that it makes a good place for a plug-in socket. Add some chrome and lacquer finishes, LEDs and optic fiber in the lights, some fancy wheels and there you go: small, electric, trendy and premium.
Posted in Alternative Energy | Design | Electric Vehicles | News Blog | Photochop | 4 comments
TTAC Photochop: New Porsche Cayman
By Andrei AvarvariiSeptember 16, 2008 - 1,023 views
It may have the fastest fastback in the biz, but the Porsche Cayman was born with little-brother syndrome. To keep the 911 attractive, Porsche dumbed-down the little coupe. Not much, but enough to justify the price difference and (theoretically) avoid cannibalism. With cars going smaller and greener, with mid-engine trumping ye olde ass-engined Nazi slot car layout, the Cayman’s advantages over the 911are becoming increasingly obvious. While there’s plenty of speculation about a sub-Boxster entry-level 914-type Porker, I believe Porsche will try and sell the Cayman in larger numbers, while keeping the 911 as a more exclusive model. With that in mind, I imagined an “uncensored” Cayman 2, with a seductive design making the most of its Porsche heritage. I’d like to see the round lights that just scream PORSCHE on all future Zuffenhausen coupes and roadsters. Another weak point of the current Cayman: the side air-intake. Substitute this Carrera GT-inspired design (cleared for take off now that Porsche’s taken the GT off the menu). A few other touches– mirror-mounted turn signals (like it or not, the best solution), a glass roof and LED lights– complete the upgrade. With all the changes the car is still instantly recognizable. Squint your eyes a little; do you see the 959?
[for more photochoppistry, go to avarvarii.com]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 5 comments
TTAC Photochop: Koenigsegg Sedan
By Andrei AvarvariiSeptember 1, 2008 - 984 views
The Swedish manufacturer Koenigsegg is no longer happy pleasing two people at a time. (That's occupants, not buyers.) Starting with 2011, a few dozen over-monied automobile collectors will be able to grab three of their best friends (or best wives, depending on culture) and give them a 220 mph ride in a Koenigsegg sedan. The Swedes report that the 700 bhp four-door is immediately identifiable as a Koenigsegg. Hmmm. All of the Swedish street kings weʼve seen so far have been mid-engined hypercars. So I set the photochop machine in motion keeping in mind I had to portrait a classic layout (as far as I know front-engines are the only solution for a four-seater these days) sports-sedan resembling its CC brothers. And all that trying to avoid a supercar-frankenstein-result (see the Spyker D12 as an example). As you can see, I've repositioned all of the air intakes and exhausts to feed that front engine, using shapes closely related to the CCX. The cabin disimulates the B-pillars behind the dark glass and uses a windshield as curved as the one found on the first Koenigseggs. The sporty mirrors, familiar lights and details should all help in bringing the new-comer closer to the family. At least it's not as ugly as the Panamera. Is it?
[For more AA photochopistry, visit avarvarii.com]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 4 comments
TTAC Photochop: Lincoln MKT
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 29, 2008 - 868 views
Lincoln's version of the Flex, AKA MKT, has been green-lighted for production. The all-in-one utility-sports-comfort-performance-style (at least that's how the officials are selling it so far) vehicle has already been spotted in tests and is expected on sale as a 2010 model (of course). As far as we can see from the spyshots, the production MKT will have similar proportions to the concept car. In detail though, the changes are significant. Most of the cool showcar elements are gone: the huge wheels, the high-tech lights, the tiny mirrors, the small air intakes in the front spoiler (those couldn't possibly feed a full-size radiator). Gone is also the crease on the front door, but don't get upset, you now have real door handles, screen wipers, and decent-sized windows. But– is it just me or does this car seem a little late?
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 12 comments
TTAC Photochop: Mercedes Gullwing
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 26, 2008 - 946 views
After squeezing all the history out of the SLR name (with the 722 and the Speedster, see the photochop from August 11) MB is set to revive another legendary, even mythical, nameplate: the Gullwing. While it may not have the same magic (and occasional widow-making proclivity) of the original, it runs the risk of being a little too high tech for its own good character. What I’ve done with this image, rather than design a futuristic - and fantasy - car, is to extrapolate heavily from the spy shots we’ve seen of the Gullwing test cars. That means ungainly bits and all, but then not every recent Benz has been a museum piece. The fascia of the test mule reminded me of the second-gen SL and inspired me to test out its application on the rendering, whereas the typical Benz side gills and door handles are all but guaranteed.
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 9 comments
TTAC Photochop: Ferrari F60
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 22, 2008 - 971 views
Five years have passed since Ferrari introduced the Enzo. I bet that in two or three years we'll get to see (at least in posters) another prancing horse wonder produced in three hundred-something examples. I took the liberty of rendering for you my impression on the subject, keeping in mind what the F60 should be: an uncompromising supercar filled with the latest F1 technology from the Scuderia. One good thing about such a car is that it can even use technologies that are not allowed in F1, such as auto-adjusting aerodynamics. (The Enzo was the first Ferrari to use a self-adjusting rear wing.) We can assume that the F60 could feature electronically adjustable front spoilers and variable capacity air intakes to finely tune Cx vs. downforce vs. air cooling depending on needs. The design path I've chosen makes subtle references to the F40 and to the F50, adding a drop of Italian fragrance from the next decade. My excitement and enthusiasm regarding this chop are toned down by the sad thought that this car will no longer be designed under the supervision of Andrea Pininfarina. May he rest in peace!
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 6 comments
TTAC Photochop: Aston Martin One-77
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 18, 2008 - 3,861 views
I guess most of you have seen www.one-77.com by now, the teaser web-site for the next Aston Martin supercar. I was so impressed I bought the company! No, seriously, although dark and mysterious, AM's design sketch reveals lots of details. The most visible and surprising element of the design: the shape of the side vents. They remind me of the Corvette C5 concept. Some could find them as an evolution of the air exhausts found on the DBR5 (but not until they had a couple of beers). The one-77's front spoiler is also new. It shows two ascending creases that melt into the front lights. The peepers show an angular design with new optical elements. We can't tell from the Aston teaser sketch, but I bet the traditional grille will stay in place. A discrete lower intake completes the front styling in an elegant manner. Although it's designed as an extreme supercar, the one-77 looks a lot more subtle than the DBS. Only the four vents placed on the hood indicate that a beast needing lots of air is caged within. Sometimes I am ashamed that I get paid for having so much fun. [ED: at these prices, don't be] I thoroughly enjoyed my virtual business trip to the land of fetishistic elegance.
[Read Justin's review of the AM Vantage on Wednesday.]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 2 comments
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