The Hollywood Car Show Episode #8 is up folks!! CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!
You won't believe who it is!
Check out the show HERE!
Photos courtesy of Motoringfile.
Transition. A term frequently used in reference to design. As in, "How will this transition to the final?"
Many things are lost and gained as designers go from a concept rendering to a final production model. And it's important to keep this in mind. Hard though, because our perspective constantly shifts. Initial emotion is instigated as you see the photos for the first time, evoking a 'gut reaction.' This results in things like "WHOA!' "YIKES!" "BLEAH..." or "HMmmm."
I put these two images right next to each other so that you could see the actual before and after, but understand that changes are imminent. A rendering does not fit people into it, nor conform to a budget. The vehicle on the right,... does. Now, there ARE things that work well and things that don't. Let's get into what doesn't work first...
The thing about doing a concept is that
this is done to show the public what you're thinking of doing. Not,
what you ARE going to do. So, the elements that make the rendering so cool
are the subtle ones. Wheel size, front light and grille treatments
(Final looks like a Carp). Squat window height. These are all elements
that DID NOT make it to the final, giving the car a less aggressive
feel, making it more "unrefined." No designer would want to hear that,
especially since they've been working on this probably for the last 3
years. But things like wheel size is a no brainer, and someone should
have caught this one. 22's on the concept, 18's on the final. Not a big
deal, but worth it to maintain flavor.
But, as I mentioned... let's keep perspective. Kind of like the fact that life is a tree. Depending on where you're sitting, your view will only give you so much. If you're dying of thirst, sitting at the bottom of the tree, then you're not going to be able to see the pond that's 200 yards away. So, make the effort to climb up and shift your perspective so that you can get a better view to judge. That being said...
What works. They call this THE CONCEPT. As in, an idea. It needs to be judged as such. Here are some ideas. Good/bad doesn't matter. What matters is that they took chances.
What if we made the mirrors a different color? What if MINI made an SUV? What if we had funky doors? What if the center pod on the inside was a lit globe? (Go to Motoringfile to see all the photos.) Over a 3-4 year period, a lot is discussed and done to question whether these ideas are sound or not. Point is, MINI thinks forward and I respect that. They think "unusual," ...and we ALL respect that. And despite the "Carp Mouthed" front on the final, this is like a said... A Concept. They did this to see what YOU think. And if enough people like it or don't like it, will determine it's destiny.
I say build it. I say build it with the concerns I've expressed above. Who am I? No one really... Just your customer, like everyone else. I know what I don't like, but have no idea what I like until I see it. The emotion that this conveys to me? Interesting IDEA. Is that what you're looking for? Would I want to BUY it? I'll keep an eye on the showrooms and see if you take me seriously or not.
Oh, and btw...
Every now and then, I try to share something I come across that
helps to improve us all. We love cars and movies, but it's important to
take care of ourselves so that our passion stays firm! The better we
"think," the better we'll feel.
Here's a link to some FREE things I found that hopefully, you guys
will like. Really great stuff as it works from the inside,... kind of
like our cars.
Be your best!!
http://tinyurl.com/fireballed
Hey all!!
Episode #4 of "THE HOLLYWOOD CAR SHOW" is now LIVE!! You can listen to it at www.fireballtim.com/blog or actually subscribe at our new website www.thehollywoodcarshow.com
The site will be complete this week, so get all the inside scoops on new Movies and Movie Cars!!
It's AUTOMOTIVE HOLLYWOOD!!
Hey all!
The ALL NEW "Hollywood Car Show" Episode #3 is now up! Check it out for the latest cool news about upcoming MOVIES, COOL CARS and GREAT INTERVIEWS! Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE!!
Just the best dang MOVIE CAR NEWS on the planet!! Download it in iTUNES, too!!
Fireball!
Hey all-
Episode #2 of "The Hollywood Car Show" is now up! If you missed last week's episode, now's your chance to hear all the latest scoops on Cars in Hollywood! Let us know what you think by posting in the show notes!
www.fireballtim.com/blog
Fireball!
All new Radio Show!! Get on it!!
www.fireballtim.com/blog
The MINI CLUBMAN! The other MINI. MINI to the 1oth power. MINI with room for more stuff.
Well, before we get into this week's Auto Dissection, check out the FREE GIVEAWAY HERE!
Okay, here it is because YOU asked for it. “BLOGDISSECTION.™” Like my Design Review Show on MyRide, “Auto Dissection,” only… it’s on my blog, duh. And since it’s the first one, I’ll call it… #oo1. Isn’t it neat how I thought that up? I’m just kinda deep that way...
But, you can SUBSCRIBE to all the weekly BlogDissections and see unusual shots of the cars at www.fireballtim.com/blog Plus there'll be giveaways and cool stuff coming for new subscribers and creative comments.
Okay, here we go.
The CAMARO is here. …Almost.
A very long time in the making, …and there’s a huge list in Santa’s lap for this one. So why? Nostalgia? History? Power? Design? Well, …all actually.
But, since design is my thing, and this is “BLOGDISSECTION™,” that’s what we’ll discuss.
I’ve chosen silver to look at, mostly because the form is easier to read. And that’s what car companies do for the first few passes. No glitzy colors, but straight forward design. And this car rocks in many ways.
I’ve seen the Challenger and Camaro both up close. The Challenger is beefy, muscled and aggressive. But the Camaro is like a 50 yard sprinter with a six pack, groomed for the red sharp launch. Lean, ectomorphed and ready for serious power sprints.
The design captures all the nostalgia of the original passion, but it is now sculpted as if carved from Michelangelo’s magnetic fingers. If you were to take the wheels off and fill in the space, a beauty of a speed form it would be. Camaro fanatics will rock this car hard, and get in serious trouble with the cops. I anticipate a girth of tickets flowing through the system, funding all sorts of neat things.;(
There’s an interesting “pinched” element along the beltline that gives the impression of a lean waist. I dig that. A hip that diverts into the waist, then egresses up to the shoulder in front. Looks as if it’s been chopped and channeled. That’s the language. I’d call it “Pinched Surfacing.” Bitchin.’
The greenhouse is also lean. Tight, small glass gives a cocooned feel, or cockpitted. “Enter this space and we’ll launch,” it says. But be ready…
Tail lights are robotic. Following this beast is intimidating. But, my MINI would take him…;-) A three door wagon is a push. Interesting, but it may fall the wayside of the Magnum. Although, at 2 side doors, the lean waist still works.
As an overall design (I don’t know the initial conceptualist), this is a very successful approach. Although, coming to the table a bit late, it should do very well.
