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Behind The Scenes: Hot Wheels Design Studio [w/Video]

Hot Wheels' vice president of design Felix Holst has spent some time chatting to Cool Hunting about the brand's design philosophy at its Design Studio at Mattel's headquarters in El Segundo, California, in a new video. According to Holst Hot Wheels has evolved from being focused on muscle cars and V8 engines to being all about technology as a reflection of the new generation they're designing for.  He explains the benefits of designing over 240 vehicles a year that aren't limited by rules and regulations, saying in a studio that's driven by pushing the boundaries, it's a question of just how wild they can get.  The video really captures not only the men's passion for their jobs but the fun they have doing it. Small wonder Holst says he'd never go back to car design, and reveals the studio is packed with qualified car designers who chose Hot Wheels over conventional jobs in the industry.  We also hear from Hot Wheels Car Maker's designer Julian Payne, who explains how the new Car Maker – which gives you the chance to mold your own custom Hot Wheels at home – works.

New MINI teased again ahead of next week’s reveal (video)

The new MINI is being teased again ahead of its debut The all new MINI for 2014 is due to be revealed next week on the anniversary of the birth of its creator, Sir Alec Issigonis, and MINI are squeezing in another tease for their new baby ahead of its official debut. We’ve already had a couple of teases from MINI in the run up to the reveal – including a good look at the new MINI with the MINI Vision Concept – so we’ve got a good ideas of what’s in store for MINI buyers. What we get this time is plenty of moody shots in low light of the new MINI’s features to keep the interest going, although much of the DNA of BMW’s MINI are carried forward from the current MINI.

The future of headlamp techonology – see it on video

By Richard Yarrow Motor Industry 27 May 2009 10:12 Cars of the future will drive at night with main-beam headlamps on all the time, but never dazzle another vehicle. That’s the vision of American component firm Gentex, which already makes the auto-dipping lights on the current BMW 7-series. Its engineers are working on a new technology called Dynamic Forward Lighting (DFL) which features a single main beam that floods the road with light.