We’ve been seeing a torrential and exciting downpour of automotive designs at Yanko Design. Each automotive was innovative, bringing to us something we had never seen nor experienced before. From killer speed to dashing good looks, to impenetrable safety standards, every automotive we featured at YD broke some design barrier for us, and hopefully, they did the same for you as well. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of automotive designs that we feel were the best of the lot! From an electric Mustang that Ford should have been built to a Cybertruck-inspired bossy café racer – each of these drool-worthy automobiles is mercilessly pushing the boundaries of the automotive industry! Automotive enthusiasts will be itching to get their hands on them, and take them for a spin on the streets!
1. The Charge Mustang
Easily one of the most visually impressive electric cars that money can buy, the Charge Mustang bases its design on the iconic 1967 Fastback. If its body looks almost too similar to Ford’s own ’67 Mustang, it’s because Charge Cars uses a bodyshell that’s officially licensed by Ford. Underneath this shell, however, sits Charge’s electric platform, with floor-mounted batteries that make the Mustang an electric little pony. The electric platform that the Mustang sits on is the result of a strategic partnership with Arrival, the UK-based automotive startup that’s working with Uber to create their bespoke electric taxi cabs.
2. The Electric Stand Bike
Dubbed the Electric Stand Bike, this striking creation is the Polestar O2 Convertible of the electric kick scooter world. The personal commuter is fit for riding the city streets as well as the outskirts in maximum style without impacting the environment. The electric-powered machine has bigger front wheels and a single rear one for maximum control. In fact, the front wheels are almost triple the size of the rear one which comes with its own independent dual suspension system to take on the bumps with maximum ease.
3. The Next Wrangler
Arjun Kurunji has created a bold reinterpretation of the Wrangler both on the inside and the outside. This concept is a facelift beyond anything we could have bargained for, and whether you’ll like it or not, is thoroughly subjective. Arjun has gone all guns blazing as far as taking a bold design detour for the Wrangler is concerned. Looks like, he has taken inspiration from competitors including GMC Hummer EV, Land Rover Defender, or the Toyota FJ Cruiser. In fact, this ultra-modern take of the Wrangler looks like an amalgam of all these amazing four-wheelers in a way – of course with the Jeep’s DNA still intact.
4. 2022 Nissan Ariya EV
The Ariya looks well-proportioned, sporty, sharp, and unique. It is a huge leap forward from the Leaf. Its top version has a 91 kWh battery, a choice of two or four-wheel drive, has some innovative new tech, is great to drive, has a range of up to 310 miles, and boasts a starting price of around $47,000 for the two-wheel model. Nissan’s design brief for this car was ‘Timeless Japanese Futurism’ which allowed the design team to tap into key Japanese words to inspire their global design team to create Ariya’s exterior, words like sleek, sharp, and seamless. The overall design is definitely futuristic, but the most appealing part of its exterior for me is the front grille, which looks like a traditional grille but packs some stand-out features. Nissan instead calls their grille a ‘shield,’ as it shields hi-tech cameras, radar, and sensors that assist with the car’s self-driving system and ACC.
5. Limited edition Porsche 911 Sports Classic
This sports car is a 911 at its core powered by the 3.7-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine churning out 543 HP mated to a seven-speed gearbox. On the outside, it looks like the Sport Classic with the Ducktail Carrera RS 2.7 styled rear spoiler, front hood, and a cheesy double-bubble roof, all made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Those twin stripes, 60 roundels, Fuchs-style rims, and the gold-toned 911 Sport Classic badging on the rear deck truly set it apart. Keeping the Classic’s essence alive, the air intake is done from ahead of the spoiler and the engine grille. The ride height on this exclusive model will be 10 mm lower courtesy of the Porsche Active Suspension Management Sport.
6. Reverso
Meet Reverso, an e-bike that reverses every single automotive design instinct ever. I guess we could attribute its design direction to the Cybertruck, which sort to challenge the norms too with a design that was strikingly different from anything that came before it. The Reverso sits firmly in that class too, with an aesthetic that I’m struggling to put together in words, only because I can’t really find a frame of reference. Analyzing the Reverso’s strange design turned out to be much more fun and insightful than I expected. It started with asking myself exactly what I found ‘wrong’ with the motorcycle’s design… then asking if those attributes were actually important in making something a ‘motorcycle’. After all, a motorcycle is exactly that – a motor attached to a cycle.
7. SDAP
Rather mysteriously titled the SDAP, this little concept car from Mexico-based designer E. Maximiliano Salas was designed to be equal parts exotic and enigmatic… although its 80s automotive references are all too common. With pop-up headlights that are a grand reference to a bygone era of supercars, the SDAP has a little Countach and Diablo, and a little ’84 F40 mixed into it, making it quite the eclectic beast. The dark-ish rendering isn’t by accident either, Salas wanted his unusual concept to have a little waiting-in-the-shadows vibe to it, harking back to yet another phenomenon of the 80s, the reveal of the time-traveling DeLorean in the film Back To The Future.
8. The Storm
This majestic curvilinear beauty is courtesy of Wayne Buys, better known by his internet moniker FabMan Creations. Wayne, who works out of his home and garage in South Africa, designed this piece for a client who commissioned the project and even supplied him with an R nineT to work with. The final build, which he refers to as ‘Storm’ takes inspiration from the aerodynamic forms seen on aircraft. While the Storm can’t fly like its inspiration, it evokes a feeling of weightlessness in whoever rides it, thanks to its form that slices through the air the way an airplane would. The custom R nineT even sports two massive air scoops on its base that keep the motorcycle’s boxer engine cool and breezy.
9. The Tesla Model M
Having more than just a brief semblance of the Tesla Cybertruck, the Tesla Model M bike is made for the urban junkies as well as individuals who like to hit the serene hills on the weekends for an adventure or two. The leaning forward stance of the bike is adapted from the café racers, and the inclusion of geometric lines comes from those architectural trends. The hubless wheels radiate the futuristic character of the ultra-cool ride which emulates the Cybertruck’s steel gray color. Those headlights, swingarm, and the seat follow suit with their intimidating stance that goes perfectly with the overall build of the bike. Keeping the futuristic theme going, the translucent digital display shows the current speed and real-time map for optimized navigation.
10. Mercedes Vision AMG
This car looks like it time-traveled to a parallel dimension, and couldn’t hide its superior alienated looks. There’s a very animated character to it, but mind you this is how the EV is going to look when it finally rolls on the tarmac. Those triangulated projector lamps (resembling the Mercedes Benz star logo), matte black glasses, and the elongated tail which add to the dynamic appeal. Everything right from the long wheelbase to the contrasting short overhangs or the low-slung body – give it a domineering way above its punching weight (if that’s not too judgmental).