We’ve been seeing a torrential and exciting downpour of automotive designs at Yanko Design in October 2022. 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 a modernized Ford dune buggy to a Polestar electric bike – 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 Fordzilla Hypervan
Dubbed the Fordzilla Hypervan, this dune buggy derives its overall inspiration from the reptilians. The matte black color it’s draped in is a tell-tale sign of its Godzilla design influence. If you see that typical Batmobile influence, you are not alone! The occurrence of matte orange hues on the outside and inside highlight the sharp character of the ride. The battery on the rear indicates its rear-wheel-drive origins, and therefore, a better balance and handling. The Hypervan gets all glass doors that are gull-winged, and look absolutely gorgeous. These doors are an extension of the windshield and panoramic glass roof which adds a sense of airiness to the four-wheeler.
2. La Bagnole
La Bagnole has a typical Willys Jeep vibe from the front – look at that grille and the open-wheel design. Thus, the vehicle is primarily used for adventures and dirt-laden tracks for the outdoorsy who love to head outside the city limits every now and then. Don’t expect it to go at breakneck speeds on the freeway (it’s more like a crawling machine) since the entry-level variant maxes out at 29 mph and the much more powerful version churns out a 50 mph top speed.
3. The Polestar CP1 Concept
The Polestar CP1 Concept is a culmination of the future polestar motorbike with a performance akin to current-day gas-powered bikes. The brainchild of Lukasw Wenzhöfer takes shape as a likable realistic version of the Polestar sports bike you’d see unless some other designer envisions it better. Like the four-wheeled counterparts, this Polestar EV bike has a very geometric, edgy design. The high riding position reinforces the ride’s performance status backed with the high-grade suspension system. The focus of this design is on ergonomics and functionality. So, those good looks are not merely for the eye candy factor, but rather for a defined shape that makes complete practical sense.
4. The Popup Scooter
Christened the Popup Scooter, the two-wheeled electric bicycle transforms into a chick kick scooter and the other way around. This gives the rider (and his/her family and buddies) the option to choose the configuration depending on the particular needs. The smooth transformation happens courtesy of the hydraulic cylinder which in normal bicycles is used to adjust the ride height. This hydraulic mechanism is capable enough to lift an adult person, so, lifting and lowering the rider’s body shouldn’t be a problem at all. At the core level, the concept is not just another blueprint that looks good on paper but falls flat on its face when it comes to creating the actual prototype or even a production model.
5. Spectre
Rolls-Royce made it abundantly clear that a fully coach-built electric vehicle has always been the vision of the co-founder, The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls. In fact, in 1900, Rolls stated that “the electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration. They should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged.” Over 120 years later, Rolls-Royce fulfilled Rolls’ prophecy of an electrified motor car. Spectre swapped out a gas engine for a clean and noiseless electric motor, capable of 577 hp, 664 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 4.4 seconds, and good for an estimated 260 EPA range.
6. The Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster
This is the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster that is a left-hand drive Lambo paying tribute to the Miura P400 Roadster. For eager automotive fanatics, the 1968 one-of-one drop-top Miura was a show car revealed at the Brussels Motor Show. Not surprising that the Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster comes in Azzuro Flake paint that draped the Miura back then. The brand has added a glitter element to it though, for the obvious homologation purpose.
7. The SOLID CRS-01
The SOLID CRS-01 looks rough, sharp, and almost menacing, properties that are often attributed to the brutalist design style. It’s almost as if sheets of metal were simply folded at sharp angles and assembled together with wheels, engines, and other parts that make a motorcycle move. And, in a way, that’s exactly how this motorcycle was designed. It was conceptualized with a modular approach using cost-effective materials, and the fairing is exactly made from sheet metal.
8. Citroën La 2 Deuche Concept
The legendary 1945 Citroën 2CV often referred to as the umbrella on wheels had a fixed profile convertible bodywork and roll-back sunroof. To revive the nostalgic memories of this economy family car, designer Jean Louis Bui has penned an electric concept in a modern avatar. Dubbed the Citroën La 2 Deuche Concept, this cheeky mini car has a sense of airiness to it. Retro DNA of the vehicle is visible in the section over the wheels, the headlights, and the accordion-like retracting rooftop which turns it into a convertible.
9. The 2024 Ford Mustang
The 2024 Ford Mustang is here with a toned muscular look (the four-wheeler has been working out it seems) and tech-infused interiors. The bodywork is now edgier and loses some of the contours, confirming its appeal to the new generation. Of course, the 2024 Mustang retains the attractive proportions of its predecessors, and that’s a big relief. The front end is inspired by the original Mustang with a more squarish aesthetic. That’s contrasted by the headlights with tri-bar LED elements and the three-bar taillights which are even more prominent now. The rear overhang is now shorter and the hips are slightly wider for that sex appeal.
10. The Arrival ANT
Meet the Arrival ANT, a modern EV that is a passenger hauler one day and the very next day turns into a heavy load carrier with a visible difference in size. This freedom comes courtesy of the attachable modules that can be hooked onto the EV on demand. Primarily envisioned for the sophisticated yet chaotic urban scene of London, the concept is designed to be ultra-customizable to take on the high streets to haul a heavy load, as well as the narrow ones where a sleek means of transport is desired. The designers looked beyond the mere commute needs, and also focus on the utility aspect of vehicles.
