Tag Archives: Automotive

V8 powered Genisis x Skorpio off roader is not just a pretty face

Posted on by

Virtually every newly launched car these days is an electric vehicle, but Genesis is not shying away from the capabilities of a V8 engine fitted inside a vehicle that rides any terrain like a boss. Taking the challenge to Ford, which is building an off-road supercar under wraps, the X Skorpio produces 1,100 horsepower and 850 lb-ft of torque for rugged terrain supremacy. A bold direction for Genesis to take on the likes of 911 Dakar and Huracan Sterrato, perhaps. The luxury vehicle division of Hyundai Motor has experimented in the past with creations like the X-Trail Mountain Rescue and GMR-001 hypercar, but this one is a bold leap forward.

The launch of the howling off-road concept fittingly took place on the dunes of the Rub’ al Khali desert, also known as the Empty Quarter. Home to the famous Dakar rally, the region is known for its extreme landscape spanning thousands of square miles. S suggested by the naming convention, the V8 beast is inspired by the anatomy of a scorpion. The underpinning highlight of the performance car is its lightweight construction from a combination of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and Kevlar.

Designer: Genesis

The visual similarities of the venomous animal include flared wheel arches that resemble pincer claws, armor panels that emulate the rugged exoskeleton, and a roof-mounted intake that seems a bit like a coiled-up tail.  The segmented armor panels serve to expose the internal mechanics for quick repairs and maintenance in challenging conditions where time is of the essence. The purpose-built tubular frame has a full roll cage with four-point harnesses. X Skorpio gets a long travel suspension, securing the 18-inch beadlock rims with the 40-inch off-road tires. The result is a sizeable ground clearance and good approach and departure angles.

Normally, on a vehicle like this one, focusing on power and ruggedness, the interiors take the hit. Not with the X Skorpio, though, which is draped in luxury and modern features. The bucket seats and the dashboard are done in leather and micro-suede for a premium feel. There’s a climate control system and a sliding infotainment screen that slides to the center or front for easy access.

There’s no timeline yet about the production horizons of this concept, but we assume it is going to manifest in some form or another in the near future. With the World Endurance Championship season this year and the Dakar Rally on the horizon, the X Skorpio is going to ride the dunes in the near future.

The post V8 powered Genisis x Skorpio off roader is not just a pretty face first appeared on Yanko Design.

Freescape puts side-extending inflatable pop-up roof on a Ford camper van

Posted on by

Just a few days ago, we saw a caravan featuring a pretty unique pop-up roof concept. It used an electronically lifting upper shell to double the interior space. The Freescape camper van is another rig that stands out thanks to its innovative pop-up roof system. It features an inflatable rooftop system that expands the vehicle’s interior and creates a comfortable sleeping area in a truly unconventional way.

The roof tent swivels to one side, rather than sitting directly above the living area, leaving full headroom inside the van at all times. It is for the first time that such a concept for expanding the camper van living space has surfaced and is making way into a production vehicle. The van features a roof that tilts toward the driver’s side, allowing an inflatable tent inside to create a full sleeping space on the rooftop. It takes almost seven minutes for the entire thing to set up. The retraction is much quicker; more on that later.

Designer: Freescape

The new Freescape camper van has a flexible floor plan, which is also starkly different from ideas we have seen over the past. But, it’s frankly the patented pop-up roof that stands out on this all-wheel drive adventure camper van, which is based on the Ford Tourneo Custom and is configurable for the great outdoors and also for city commuting.

s

The side-extending pop-up roof of the Freescape camper van leaves the full amount of headroom inside the van while providing a 79 x 55-in double bed to sleep two people comfortably. It is set up on two support poles for stability. The roof-top tent is designed with multiple valves; one, to make the deflation quicker, and two to help prevent complete failure if one valve were to leak. Once deflated, it is easy to fold the tent back inside and close the roof.

The advantages of a side-expanding roof are manifold. In addition to providing a sleeping space that’s not directly in the van’s roof, hindering the interior headroom, it also functions as an awning, providing shade and weather protection without a separate awning. The camper van has a swivel-out kitchen, which can be aligned below the extended roof awning.

Definitely, Freescape camper van’s inflatable roof is the undeniable difference from the crowd, but the uniqueness of this van doesn’t really stop at the roof. The interior is equally cool. It’s provided with floor rails to move the seats and other hardware around the inside. The seats in the cockpit turn around to face the living area, while those at the back can be lowered to create another bed.

In the middle of the campervan is the multipurpose kitchen block that slides practically around the cabin and even extends out for outdoor cooking. It is provided with an induction cooktop, a worktop extension, and a sink. In addition to this, the sliding swivelling table, which pivots out of the wall, to the middle of the vehicle, functions as a table or work desk.  The camper van may be compact, but it comes with shelf-like modules that stack up in the tailgate area. The removable storage modules can be arranged as required or removed to make space for your sporting gear.

The Freescape is an ideal city commuter is the configuration possibilities inside, but it can also be equipped for off-grid adventures with 340 watts of solar power, a 300-Ah lithium battery, and a 3,000-W inverter. The camper van features a diesel camp heater, portable dry toilet, and a 25-liter fresh water tank, which also connects to an outdoor shower. The demo model for now is based on the Ford Tourneo Custom and costs $79,990. The company aims to provide plans for the Volkswagen Transporter and Caravelle in the near future.

The post Freescape puts side-extending inflatable pop-up roof on a Ford camper van first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meet The SP40 Restomod Speedster: The Minimalist Carbon Hot Rod Redefining Retro Car Design

Posted on by

The best custom builds do not just remix old ideas. They ask what those ideas would look like if they were born today, with access to current tools, materials, and manufacturing processes. The SP40 Restomod Speedster is that question answered in carbon and billet. It takes the stance and spirit of a 1930s streamliner, that long, low, purposeful shape built for speed rather than comfort, and reimagines it through the lens of modern coachbuilding. The body is a series of massive, unbroken surfaces. The cockpit is minimal and driver-focused. The whole thing looks like it was designed on a computer, then machined to tolerances measured in microns.

There is a specific audience for this kind of work. People who buy hand-wound watches even though their phones keep better time. People who collect midcentury furniture not because it is trendy, but because the joinery and proportions feel right. People who understand that restraint is harder than excess, and that the best designs are the ones where nothing feels arbitrary. The SP40 sits at the intersection of automotive history and contemporary craft. It is not trying to fool anyone into thinking it is from another era. It is trying to capture what made that era compelling, then execute it with the precision and materials available right now.

Designer: Iconic Auto Sports

You can see that precision in the bodywork, which is almost certainly a full carbon fiber monocoque. Look at the rear clamshell; getting a single piece of carbon that large to lay perfectly without waves or distortion is an engineering feat in itself. This is not kit-car fiberglass with a carbon wrap. This is structural, aerospace-grade material science applied to a shape that feels impossibly organic. The entire car probably weighs less than 950 kilograms, which fundamentally changes how it would drive. All the visible suspension components up front are likely CNC-milled from aluminum, with geometry dialed in using modern kinematic software. It is a level of finish that blurs the line between a car and a piece of kinetic sculpture.

That philosophy carries right into the cockpit, which is a masterclass in tactile design. The gated manual shifter, with its wooden knob, is the centerpiece. It promises a mechanical, deliberate shifting action that modern paddle-shift systems simply cannot replicate. The dashboard is a simple plank of wood with classic analog gauges, a direct rejection of the screen-centric interiors that dominate the industry. Every control, from the toggle switches to the pull-handbrake, feels chosen for its physical feedback. It is a space designed for the act of driving, where your connection to the machine is through direct, mechanical inputs. The Sparco harnesses are not just for show; they are a clear signal of the car’s performance intent.

Underneath it all, the powertrain has to be something modern and potent. The side-exit exhaust and the big opening in the lower front grille point toward a forced-induction setup, probably a compact, high-revving V8. Something like a supercharged LT4 crate engine would provide around 650 horsepower with reliable, accessible torque, turning this lightweight chassis into an absolute weapon. Those wheels are a perfect metaphor for the whole project: they have the solid, functional look of vintage aero discs, but the turbine-like slots and two-tone finish are thoroughly contemporary. This car is a rolling thesis statement, arguing that technology’s best use is not to isolate the driver, but to perfect the analog connection we fell in love with in the first place.

The post Meet The SP40 Restomod Speedster: The Minimalist Carbon Hot Rod Redefining Retro Car Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic: Solar Paint That Generates 7,450 Miles of Range Annually

Posted on by

In most concept cars the paint is just a color. On the Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic, the paint is a powertrain component. Beneath that mirror black surface lies solar paint, a wafer thin photovoltaic skin that turns every curve and contour into an active energy source, capable of adding thousands of miles of range each year under ideal conditions. The result is a car that charges itself while it poses, while it cruises, even while it sleeps in a garage flooded with sunlight, generating a mind-boggling 7,450 miles of range annually based on ideal conditions.

That technology wraps a body shaped like a vintage dreamscape. Mercedes pulled proportions from its 1930s icons, with a near vertical grille, extended hood, and fastback silhouette that hides the electric skateboard underneath. The grille glows with animated pixels, the hood star lights up, and the entire form is finished in reflective black that emphasizes sculptural surfaces over character lines. Inside, the cabin becomes a velvet lined theater with brass accents, floating glass displays, and neuromorphic computing that makes autonomous driving 90 percent more efficient. Solar energy meets Art Deco in a manifesto for sustainable luxury. Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener created the concept as his creative conclusion before leaving the company, ensuring his “Sensual Purity” philosophy persists beyond his tenure. The strategy acknowledges that luxury customers buy emotional experiences rather than mere transportation. Technology serves that experience instead of overwhelming it.

Designer: Mercedes-Benz

This car is essentially Wagener’s mic drop, a final, definitive statement on his “Sensual Purity” design philosophy before his departure in January 2026. For years, he’s talked about this bipolarity of emotion and intelligence, and the Vision Iconic is its physical manifestation. The emotion comes from the sheer presence of the thing, its sculptural surfaces and historical nods. The intelligence is the bleeding-edge tech humming beneath the surface. It’s a perfect symbiosis. This concept cements his legacy, proving that his focus on physical clay modeling to perfect proportions and surface language can produce something that feels both classic and futuristic. It’s a powerful farewell that will shape the company’s aesthetic for years to come.

You can’t miss the grille, which is clearly the centerpiece of the new corporate face. It’s a direct homage to the upright, proud grilles of 1960s icons like the W108 S-Class and the W100 600 Pullman, but reinterpreted for the digital age. The structure is built from light, with a pixel-graphic lattice that can animate, giving the car a dynamic presence even when stationary. This isn’t just a styling gimmick; it’s a strategic move to ground the brand’s electric future in its rich heritage, preventing its EVs from looking like generic appliances. The illuminated three-pointed star on the hood reinforces this connection. The rest of the body is a study in minimalism, with clean, flowing lines that emphasize the car’s monolithic, sculptural quality.

Inside, the team pursued what they call a “hyper-analog” experience, which is a brilliant response to the industry’s obsession with sterile, screen-dominated interiors. The cabin is a lounge, not a cockpit, an idea enabled by its Level 4 autonomous capabilities. A continuous bench seat is wrapped in deep blue velvet, and details are rendered in polished brass. The centerpiece is the “Zeppelin,” a floating glass structure on the dash that houses a mix of analog-inspired instruments and digital displays, creating a layered, artistic effect. It feels opulent and tactile, a reminder that luxury is about materials and craftsmanship, not just pixel density.

For Wagner and Mercedes-Benz, the Vision Iconic is a manifesto. Mercedes is declaring that its electric future will not be one of compromise. The car’s entire technological ecosystem is built to support its aesthetic ambitions. The neuromorphic computing, which reduces the power needs of autonomous driving tasks by a staggering 90 percent, is what allows for such sophisticated self-driving without a crippling range penalty. The steer-by-wire system frees up the interior packaging, enabling the lounge-like atmosphere and allowing designers to maintain those classic long-hood proportions. Every piece of tech has a purpose that serves the overall vision of creating a desirable, beautiful object that also happens to be a highly advanced electric vehicle.

The post Mercedes-Benz Vision Iconic: Solar Paint That Generates 7,450 Miles of Range Annually first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Interesting pop-up caravan increases towing EV’s range by up to 100 km

Posted on by

Campervans expanding sideways and trailers popping their roofs up are so much a staple in the industry that c.fold caravan really blows the mind off with its nifty way of expanding the space for living inside. The pop-up mechanism of this camping rig is particularly designed to effectively benefit the everyday electric vehicles and smaller vehicles.

The flexible design, and low weight of only 775kg, mean the camper’s structure remains low to reduce drag and range when driving. When at the camp, it essentially doubles the interior space by allowing the upper over-shell to lift up. The construction is primarily conceptualized to make “caravaning with electric towing vehicles practical and sustainable for everyday use.”

Designer: Dethleffs

The innovative design of the c.fold is reportedly conceived by Monika and Peter Marchart, who have been travelling and living out of a caravan themselves. Understanding the limitations and benefits of living out of a caravan, the couple has been able to put their experience into conceptualizing this folding option which has been developed by Dethleffs. The company, according to their press information, has invested over a year at the Innovation Camp in Baienfurt, Germany, bringing the idea to life.

Of course, the differentiator of the c.fold from other options on the market is its lightweight construction and the folding mechanism. The folding design ensure that the caravan can lower from camp position to drivable height (by lowering the upper portion) at the push of a button. It improves aerodynamics and can “increase the range of a mid-range electric towing vehicle by up to 100 km.” That’s a benefit no caravan enthusiast willing to transform their driving experience from a SUV to an environmentally beneficial EV would want to overlook.

Even if you were to ignore the upfront benefit for a minute. There is a lot more here to consider. The compact and efficient c.fold comes with a driving height of 1.65 meters and a total width of 1.9 meters. When at the camp, the top portion can telescopically lift up to create 1.9 m (6.2 feet) of headroom at the front side. It’s compact form factor ensures that the caravan can be stored comfortably in the garage at home and it is safe to drive on the road.

The wonder of course is how the double shell caravan increases living space, but it’s how the interior is planned, which really allows all the transformation to have. While all the other furniture and spaces inside of the structure made from Alucore, a durable aluminum honeycomb structure, fit together like LEGO bricks when the caravan is collapsed. It’s the bathroom – with a dry toilet and washbasin – that’s really amazing. It’s designed to also collapse midway to packs into a side console and accommodate the caravan’s transformation.

The full home-like layout inside is packed within the four walls made of recycled PET bottles. The floor features linoleum flooring, and the ceiling height goes from a collapsed state to a full-standing height, creating a bright, light-filled living space at the camp. If you like traveling by yourself, and only your gear along, the convertible seating area in the entrance is designed to fold away, leaving an open platform to accommodate two e-bikes or sporting gear.

When you’re out in the wilderness with your gear and want to spend a few extra days, the c.fold caravan can have you covered with renewable power provided by roof-top solar panels, a 300 Ah battery, a 2000-watt inverter, and a portable induction cooktop onboard that you can use as a galley worktop or even place it outside.

The post This Interesting pop-up caravan increases towing EV’s range by up to 100 km first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Bugatti Veyron Turns 20 and Gets a 1,578 HP Makeover Nobody Saw Coming

Posted on by

In 2005, Bugatti unleashed a machine so audacious that even today it commands respect. The Veyron arrived with 1,000 horsepower, four turbochargers, and a top speed that left competitors speechless. Two decades later, one collector decided that anniversary celebrations and museum pieces weren’t enough tribute for such a revolutionary achievement.

The result is the F.K.P. Hommage, a one-off hypercar that channels the Veyron’s iconic silhouette while hiding Chiron Super Sport mechanicals beneath its red and black bodywork. Named for Ferdinand Karl Piëch, the Volkswagen Group patriarch who championed the original project, this creation incorporates design elements from an abandoned Veyron facelift that never reached production. It’s automotive archaeology meeting cutting-edge engineering, wrapped in a package that costs north of €10 million.

Designer: Bugatti

This is the second car from Bugatti’s Programme Solitaire, their bespoke division that handles exactly two ultra-custom builds per year. The first was the Brouillard, which took the Mistral roadster platform and wrapped it in equestrian-inspired design language. The F.K.P. Hommage takes a different approach entirely. It asks a simple question: what if Bugatti had kept refining the Veyron on the Chiron’s platform instead of replacing it? Chief designer Frank Heyl actually had sketches for a Veyron facelift back in 2008, concepts that never materialized because Piëch wanted something more radical. Those sketches became the foundation for this car. The headlights, those hollowed-out “light tunnel” taillights, even the adjusted proportions all stem from that unrealized project.

The exterior proportions mirror the original Veyron almost exactly, though it sits about an inch and a half wider. Every single body panel was designed specifically for this car. Nothing got copy-pasted from the parts bin. The horseshoe grille stands more upright now, three-dimensional and aggressive in ways the original never attempted. Those L-shaped LED headlights give the front end what Heyl calls a “concentrated stare,” which sounds like marketing speak until you actually look at the thing head-on. The side intakes got tightened up, the twin roof intakes lean forward more dramatically, and the rear diffuser flares outward at sharper angles. The taillights grew slightly larger on the outboard sections, creating better visual balance. Even the fuel filler got repositioned for better aerodynamic flow.

The red and black scheme matches the first production Veyron from 2005, but Bugatti couldn’t just spray it red and call it done. The base is actually silver, with red pigment incorporated into the clearcoat to create depth and luminosity that straight red paint never achieves. It’s the kind of obsessive detail that adds weeks to the build process and thousands to the cost, which matters zero percent when your budget already exceeds €10 million.

Then you open the door and realize the exterior was just foreplay. The cabin blends Chiron architecture with Veyron soul, keeping the newer car’s instrument cluster while introducing a completely redesigned steering wheel and a wider center console. That console gets machined from a single block of aluminum, which sounds impressive until you remember they’re putting a $200,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon inside it. The 43mm watch sits in a rotating mount that serves double duty. It hides the timepiece when the car’s off, protecting it from opportunistic smash-and-grab artists, and it spins the watch several times per hour to keep the automatic movement wound. No mechanical connection to the car, just a motorized gondola doing its thing on a timer.

The seats wear custom couture fabrics woven by a Parisian textile house, because apparently Italian leather alone doesn’t sufficiently communicate exclusivity. Piëch’s signature gets stitched into each headrest, with his initials and birthday embossed into the leather by your right knee. These details matter in the rarefied world of eight-figure automotive commissions, where differentiation comes down to whose signature adorns your headrest.

Under that engine cover sits the Chiron Super Sport’s 1,578-horsepower W16, complete with upgraded cooling, enhanced intercoolers, and a reinforced gearbox. The wheels measure 20 inches up front and 21 inches out back, significantly larger than the Veyron’s original 18/20 setup but necessary to accommodate modern Michelin rubber and the massive brake calipers hiding behind those spokes. The owner reportedly already possesses a matching Veyron, which means they’ll soon park both side by side and spend entirely too much time explaining the differences to confused onlookers.

The F.K.P. Hommage debuts at Rétromobile Paris before embarking on the typical hypercar show circuit, hitting Monaco, Pebble Beach, and whatever other gatherings attract people wealthy enough to consider €10 million reasonable for a car. Delivery happens in 2027, giving Bugatti’s craftspeople enough time to obsess over every stitch and surface. By then, the W16 engine will be completely retired from production, making this one of the final expressions of Piëch’s original vision before Bugatti transitions to the V16 hybrid powertrain in the Tourbillon.

The post The Bugatti Veyron Turns 20 and Gets a 1,578 HP Makeover Nobody Saw Coming first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 1,000-Pound, 154 HP Motorcycle Has More Cylinders Than Your Car

Posted on by

Picture this: a Chinese automotive giant with zero motorcycle heritage decides its first two-wheeled creation should pack eight cylinders, displace two liters, and weigh over half a ton. Most companies would call that insane. GWM chairman Wei Jianjun called it a passion project and threw over 150 million dollars at making it happen.

The result is the Souo S2000, the world’s first production motorcycle with a flat-eight engine. While Honda, Harley, and BMW pivot toward electric futures and downsized engines, GWM has built something gloriously unnecessary: a touring bike with more cylinders than most cars, more power than a Honda Goldwing, and enough chrome and gold trim to make a baroque cathedral jealous. It’s excess personified, and it’s reportedly headed to America in 2027 with a $30,000 price tag.

Designer: Great Wall Motor Company

The specs read like someone’s fever dream. A 1,999cc horizontally opposed eight-cylinder engine making 154 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 190 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. That’s 21% more power than the Goldwing’s 1.8-liter flat-six from only 9% more displacement, which suggests GWM’s engineers actually know what they’re doing. The engine connects to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission because apparently seven speeds wasn’t enough to embarrass Honda. And here’s the kicker: it has a reverse gear that moves at 1.8 mph because backing up 461 kilograms by foot would be physically impossible for most humans.

The chassis borrows from automotive thinking in ways that make traditional motorcycle engineers wince. GWM claims the frame uses a bolt-free welded aluminum construction, which sounds impressive until you remember this thing weighs more than some compact cars. The front suspension is a three-tier double wishbone setup that they’re calling a world first, though anyone familiar with the Hossack front end will recognize the DNA. It’s basically a way to separate braking forces from suspension duties, which matters when you’re trying to stop a half-ton missile from 130 mph. Brembo supplies the four-piston calipers on both ends because of course they do.

That 1,810mm wheelbase is 115mm longer than the Goldwing, which explains why photos of this thing make it look like a small spaceship. The seat height sits at a surprisingly reasonable 740mm despite the bike’s overall mass, meaning shorter riders can actually touch the ground. GWM stuffed 118 liters of luggage capacity into the panniers and top case, heated everything that could conceivably be heated, and threw in an eight-speaker sound system because subtlety died somewhere around cylinder number five.

The really fascinating bit is how this bike even exists. GWM is primarily known for making SUVs and pickup trucks. They rank among the top 25 automakers globally and export to over 170 countries, but motorcycles? Completely new territory. Wei Jianjun simply loves bikes and had the resources to make this happen, so he did. The first batch of 200 units sold out. The second batch sold out. The third batch that went on sale in March 2025 also sold out. Chinese buyers are paying between 218,800 and 288,800 yuan depending on trim level, which translates to roughly $31,000 to $41,000 USD.

For context, a Honda Goldwing Tour with DCT starts at around $26,000 in America. The S2000 costs more and weighs 71 kilograms more than the fully loaded Goldwing Tour. It’s also faster, angrier, and comes in a Founder Edition with 24-karat gold accents and the chairman’s signature etched into the fuel tank. Only 88 of those were made, and someone recently paid 668,800 yuan for a one-off called the Cloud Lion with hand-painted clouds and mother-of-pearl lacquering. That’s over $100,000 for a motorcycle.

The question everyone’s asking is whether this thing will actually make it to American roads. GWM confirmed at CES 2026 that they’re planning a North American launch in 2027, targeting that same $30,000 price point. The company has zero presence in the US market currently, which makes this either incredibly ambitious or incredibly stupid. Probably both. They’re planning to expand through Europe and Australia first, testing the waters before tackling American regulations and the nightmare that is establishing a dealer network from scratch.

The post This 1,000-Pound, 154 HP Motorcycle Has More Cylinders Than Your Car first appeared on Yanko Design.

Hyundai’s STARIA Electric Camper reimagines adventure beyond the grid

Posted on by

Hyundai is serious about its ambitions of providing off-the-grid, liveable mobility for adventure seekers, and that’s proo enough with their latest STARIA Camper concept. Based on the STARIA Electric 11-seater MUV unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show, the zero-emission camper walks right into the trails of the Lightship AE.1 electric travel trailer, Colorado Campworks NS-1 camping trailer, and the Camp365 Model T camper.

The STARIA minivan is the perfect canvas for a camper revamp, as Hyundai wants to cater to the rising demand for electric mobility for living on the road. The concept is a direct invitation for the community of travelers whose feedback will decide the fate of the camper in the European market. Depending on the demand for electric vehicles that can satisfy the everyday usability, loaded with travel amenities, the camper version of the vehicle could make it to the production lines.

Designer: Hyundai

The electrically operated pop-top version of the van will trim down the capacity of the normal MUV to four people, who can comfortably make it their adventure vehicle. The South Korean giant will offer the STARIA with an extendable Fiamma awning that has built-in LED lights. The second row powered seats come with the flexibility to lie flat to make up the sleeping space. During the daytime, the hidden indoor table swings out in front of the second row seats to be used as a place to work offline or have meals.

Further back to the third row, there is another table that slides out to create an outdoor dining area. It resides in the trunk area, which doubles as a storage compartment, and also aids in loading cargo and sliding it further inside. For maximum space utilization, the space behind it hides another compartment that has a detachable shower head for on-the-go showers. On the driver’s side wall holding the kitchen, along with the sink and top-loading fridge. Over this section is a single lid that closes flat to give the riders a continuous shelf to prepare meals. There’s a portable induction cooker or a stove (Hyundai hasn’t specified clearly) that runs on the electric battery, so cooking should be sorted.

The utilitarian approach on the inside continues to the pegboard wall right above the corner section of the worktop. It is used for hanging the utensils and other everyday essentials. This section extends on the corners to make space for storing clothes and other household amenities. The additional power to run all the modern appliances comes from the 520-watt composite solar charging panel, providing 2.6 kWh of electricity. One can operate a 36-liter refrigerator, a portable shower, and the cabin temperature control system for complete autonomy for adventure seekers.

Privacy is a key feature in the STARIA Camper with electronically adjustable smart glass that’s touchscreen controlled via a module for adjusting the amount of tint. To make the vehicle more suited for heavy-duty adventure needs, it’ll have a structurally improved front and rear suspension system and sound-absorbing material. The STARIA Electric has a range of around 400 kilometers, so we can expect the camper version to hit the same numbers, given there is a solar panel that could charge the battery when not utilized by the smart electrical equipment.

 

The post Hyundai’s STARIA Electric Camper reimagines adventure beyond the grid first appeared on Yanko Design.

Airstream World Traveler 22RB Travel Trailer is specially designed for beginner RV enthusiasts

Posted on by

A 22-foot camper trailer is an ideal size for maneuverability. It can be compact yet have just enough space for a decent time on the road. Airstream has, therefore, gone with this comfortable living size for its new World Traveler, which the Ohio company has built from scratch to be lightweight and aerodynamic, so anyone, including those just starting with towable adventures, would want.

Billed as a “launchpad for starting your own travel adventure,” the Airstream World Traveler 22RB Travel Trailer is crafted with the similar riveted aluminum that Airstream trailers have been sustaining their image and distinction with since 1931. Its construction and size ensure the 22RB is light and compact so as to be haulable by mid-sized SUVs, crossovers, and presumably by select EVs as well.

Designer: Airstream

Arriving in 3,700lbs base weight and up to 4,500-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), World Traveler 22RB Travel Trailer is only 7.5-foot wide, maintaining a slim profile for a comfortable drive on the road. As it’s slim and not overly long, an even beginner RV adventure can easily maneuver this behind their drive.

Size may be limited, but its spaciousness is not compromised. The Airstream 22RB is prepared for a total of four persons to live comfortably, courtesy of a rear V-shaped twin bed and a convertible dinette. What the company has done differently here is that the air conditioner is relocated from the roof and placed under the bed to make the trailer appear more streamlined.

Of course, the exterior is pretty Airstream, the interior is uniquely done. The walls are white, and the woodwork is not starkly different either. The cabinetry features a light laminate finish. The minimalist interior is different from the usual offerings, and this uniqueness is highlighted by the V-shaped twin bed in the main sleeping area of the trailer. Up front, a secondary sleeping area can be instantly setup at the dinette, which converts into a bed in a jiffy.

The daytime living experience inside is naturally maintained via dual-pane acrylic windows furnished with an integrated screen-and-blind system. The side entry into the trailer leads you first into the galley kitchen, which is provided with a two-burner gas cooktop, a mini fridge, and enough counter space for preparing meals for up to four people. Adjacent is a wet bath with a shower and toilet, both separate for residents’ convenience.

Standard options like heating and cooling are taken care of with a ducted facility, while the Airstream 22RB is furnished with a 24-inch smart TV, Bluetooth JBL speaker, and internet facility. All in a comprehensive price tag of $68,300. The 22RB Travel Trailer is available now, and if you want it ready for an off-grid adventure, Airstream is providing add-ons such as a 300W solar charging system with a 2.5kWh lithium battery for power, a microwave, a backup camera, and a specialized V-shaped bedding kit for living convenience.

 

The post Airstream World Traveler 22RB Travel Trailer is specially designed for beginner RV enthusiasts first appeared on Yanko Design.

DarkSky One supercar lurks in the dark like a ninja with its sensible lighting

Posted on by

There’s something about nighttime that evokes different emotions. When driving on the expressway, the feeling is second to none. While supercars are designed to be appreciated in their full glory during the daytime, rarely has anyone thought about designing a fast four-wheeler that’s designed for the night, first and foremost.

This is DarkSky International’s take on a supercar that is designed with “darkness at the center of its vision.” Marking its debut at the Detroit Auto Show, the DarkSky One is the first-ever car that’s designed for “nighttime first.” This reminds me of While Bane’s words in The Dark Knight Rises, “You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it.” Unlike other supercars that are focused on performance and looks, this one is inspired by the lack of light.

Designer: DarkSky International

The focus with the matte black-skinned supercar is on the lighting and how it affects the ambient environment. Maker wants to minimize light pollution with such automobiles, rather than going the conventional way of having brighter headlights shining high beam at oncoming traffic. That too, without even mentioning the auxiliary options to light up cars, making them shine out among other vehicles. According to them, the artificial light ruins the night, and the darkness helps drivers see better. It is equipped with LiDAR units that analyze the environment to adjust the headlight beam and direction to have a ninja-like road presence.

The forward lighting direction is adjusted with the All Beam Adaptive Driving Lights that toggle the brightness levels depending on the road ahead and the relative distance to other motorists. That’s an important feature as it reduces glare for oncoming traffic. The buck doesn’t stop there as the car has side lighting on doors, hood, and the side panels so that the car’s presence doesn’t overpower the ambient natural lighting. Perhaps the perfect commute for people who love to enjoy the Moonlight and stargazing on the quaint roads. Fewer beaming lights means reduced stress for wildlife as well, which is another major factor. DarkSky says that the supercar has polarization and reflection physics which are present in every “window, door and body angle to reduce specular reflection, maximizing viewability at all angles.”

DarkSky International has not mentioned any performance specifications of the vehicles yet, signaling their deep focus on DarkSky One’s muted presence. While improving visibility and consequently road safety are the maker’s prime objectives, the resulting light pollution also goes down. This is important in a world where we are gazing at bright lights even in the darkest hours of the day. Hence, this design hints at a shift towards peace and calm. The matte black color has a micro-textured pattern so that stray lights and glare from other vehicles are suppressed. As they love to exclaim that the body lines are “shaped so the night can breathe.”

The post DarkSky One supercar lurks in the dark like a ninja with its sensible lighting first appeared on Yanko Design.