AutoWeek Design Forum: McLaren evolves with carbon fiber

McLaren Automotive design boss Frank Stephenson detailed his company's transformation from strictly racing to producing road-going models on Thursday at the AutoWeek Design Forum. McLaren is launching the highly anticipated MP4-12C this year, and the company has been hard at work refining the use of carbon fiber, which it pioneered in the iconic McLaren F1. The company cut the amount of time required to design a carbon-fiber tub from 3,000 hours for the F1 to a mere four hours for the MP4-12C.

Design Review: Bertone Birusa concept

The new Birusa concept unveiled today shows Bertone returning to what they do best - a flamboyant showcar giving us a vision of how the high performance GT car (front engine, rear drive, two seats) could evolve stylistically in the near future. Based on a BMW Z8 aluminium chassis lengthened by 300mm, it's a refreshing piece of exuberance by the Italian company and a celebration of what they achieved in the 1960s and 70s. The wedge-shaped profile is characterised by a classic Bertone device - a dihedral-shaped side window with an undercut lower glass section, as featured on showcars such as the Boomerang and Carrabo.

Audi sports car concept previews new TT (2014)

By Damion Smy First Official Pictures 06 December 2013 00:01 It may not look it, but this Detroit motor show-bound Audi concept reveals the design language that set the tone for the next Audi TT, due in mid-2014. The TT is a style icon for the brand, with its third-generation looking to use sharper, more aggressive lines from this showcar. While the concept – plainly named ‘The new Audi Show Car’ – rides on ridiculously large alloys and has ‘trademark all-road ground clearance’, and while it won’t form the basis of any particular new model.