TTAC Photochop: New Cadillac STS/DTS Replacement
By Andrei AvarvariiSeptember 26, 2008 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
TTAC Photochop: Mercedes McLaren SLR Speedster
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 11, 2008 -
There's a lot of buzz around the web about the new Mercedes McLaren SLR Speedster. While some may not consider the model photochop-worthy (it's just another version of the lame duck SLR), fans of the brands have shown a real interest in the open-cockpit vehicle. I rendered this chop after analyzing the photos of the camouflaged test vehicles. The image shows dual front lights (same as the rest of the SLR family); the other lamps present on the test cars are there only to confuse onlookers. The side line with strong shoulders and arched rear fenders are completely new to this car. It will definitely feature two wind deflectors to add some aerodynamic comfort. Other details– like the shape of the doors and the front spoiler– can also be divined through the test car camouflage. We'll have to wait and see if it'll become a collectible item for those who remember the days of Stirling Moss, or just so 'mo bling-bling for those who listen to themselves on the hip-hop station.
[More of Andrei's photochoppistry at avavarii.com ]
Posted in Future Vehicles | News Blog | Photochop | 14 comments
TTAC Photochop: Chevrolet Volt
By Andrei AvarvariiAugust 8, 2008 -
And here it is [maybe]: Chevrolet's plug-in electric - gas hybrid Volt. Weʼve admired (more or less) the widely-touted concept and glimpsed the camouflaged 1/3 model. Iʼve photchopped my personal guess for the finished model, based on Bob Lutz' contention that the production version will still be recognizable as the Volt. The small cabin silhouette is clearly not making it into production (as we've seen on the scale model). However, the doors' transparent upper sides are a Volt-specific design element; I think they could make it out of concept stage to act as a visual trade-mark. They're not all that useful, but they give the Volt a suitably high-tech appearance. Some mechanical components like the door-locking mechanism or the window crane could be seen through that glass; eye candy for kids and first-time car-thieves. I kept the glass-roof, but I doubt it will be standard equipment. Some high-tech lights (but not as fancy as those seen on the concept) should differentiate the Volt from the rest of the Chevys. The result isn't beautiful, but then, neither is the Toyota Prius.
[More of Andrei's photochoppistry at avavarii.com ]
Posted in News Blog | Photochop | 10 comments
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