This Month in Car Design

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 Kaban

A 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 Offer

What’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 Lab
Why 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 Retromobile
Why public reactions to new cars remain emotionally charged, with nostalgia, resistance to change shaping negativity toward contemporary vehicle design
And 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 Kia
Subscribers 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/2592174
Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/designing-on-the-edge-how-fords-dark-horse-sc-took-shape/2590571
Zeekr on design freeze: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/early-design-freeze-brings-purchasing-power/2591766
Xpeng's Alain Simon talks design for manufacturing: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/manufacturing-department-an-enabler-for-design-says-xpeng/2585875
Honda's new logo: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/honda-unveils-new-logo/2585879
Porsche 911 review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/design-driven-porsche-911-carrera/2593778
Detroit Auto Show review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/shows/detroits-design-renaissance-leaves-its-auto-show-behind/2589650
Brussels Motor Show review: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/brussels-sprouting-could-the-belgian-motor-show-youve-barely-heard-of-become-the-new-geneva/2585930
Retromobile 2026: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/theres-more-passion-here-than-at-a-normal-car-show/2597117
Why do car people hate new cars? https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/why-do-car-people-hate-new-cars/2584558
Honda Base Station: https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/honda-reveals-new-base-station/2586456
Tobias Sühlmann joins Porsche: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/porsche-appoints-tobias-suehlmann-as-new-head-of-design/2595752
Thomas 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/2583816
What'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/2593909
Dave Marek retires: https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/dave-marek-retires-from-honda/2581710

Join 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.