I still have a crush on the Mazda RX-8. I've always found it daring, innovative and meaningful. The opposite four-doors layout looks very cool, offers reasonable practical and doesn't mess-up the coupe silhouette. I've wondered why no other manufacturer has adopted that solution. The MINI Clubman is a start, but there's still no other 2+2 doors coupe available. Although initially very innovative and exciting, the RX-8's design is starting to get a visible layer dust (the recent face-lift didn't help much). I tried to picture a fresh zoom-zoomed RX-8. The later Mazda concept cars have a very futurist look; they seem to be quite far from a production vehicle. However, some of the exotic organic lines of the Nagare, Ryuga or Taiki could be grafted on the next Mazda coupe. I think the original game of the first RX-8 was the essence of its success and Mazda should try to maintain that.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

I used to detest Lexus' styling– if you want to call it that. The SC was just one of many derivative, disgusting designs. That all changed in 2005, when the beta "L-finesse" produced the magnificent second IS. The 2007 LS revealed that the IS was no accident. (Maserati Quattroporte aside, I consider the Lexus LS the world's best-looking mass-produced luxury sedan.) We can now dare and dream that the third generation SC will bring us the rough-sporty side of the "L-finesse" philosophy. My rendering operates from the principle that the new convertible should ditch the LF-A concepts' over-dramatic air-intakes. And an an increased wheelbase is a must for the new SC; it needs to blow the 3-Series convertible out of the proverbial water. Design-wise, I'm thinking it will…

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

I remember the first time I eyeballed the Mercedes SLK. Even if I didn’t knew who Mrs. SL was, I could picture her as part of a foxy coupe with at least one Italian ancestor. The second SLK lost the existing familial connection; the SLR's genes were all over (in?) the new roadster. Unfortunately, the SLR seems to have been that kind of irresponsible parent that smokes, drinks and does other unmentionables in the prenatal period. The R171 SLK turned out… "special." But the world keeps spinning and soon a new generation of baby SLKs will be born. Hoping that Mr. SLR has learnt his lesson, we can envision the future compact Merc roadster as the cute cub it was intended to be. It should feature all the nerve and finesse of its paps, softened by the peculiar nature of its youth. Can you guess who Mrs. SLR is this time?

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

I don’t think much of the Lamborghini Gallardo. The design is precise and well polished, but lacks passion. When I think Lamborghini, I imagine something outrageous, with indecent technology that has nothing to do with common sense. The Gallardo seems to be all about common sense. OK, I'll say it: it's a bit boring. Now that Lambo's paymasters sell the sober supercar known as the Audi R8 (not to mention the Porsche Turbo), Lamborghini should be free to kick out the jams. In the interests of cost containment, I imagined a successor of the Gallardo that's a reskinned Italian R8. It should be indecent in appearance, but too intriguing to make you look away. Outlandish and totally original, but with close connections to its ancestors. With “Lambo doors” (it is after all one of the few cars where they are justified), rear wheel drive (could keep AWD as an option) and a hazard warning paintwork, the new baby bull could inspire a whole new generation of teenage wall posters. Hey, it beats working for a living…

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

Herr A8 is the last vehicle in the Audi line-up that's still displaying the “old” styling. In a strange way, it doesn’t look that old at all. Although I’m not an Audi fan, I always had respect for their flagship. It is so elegantly simple, with somehow atemporal aesthetics. And that is something that clearly differentiates it from the current competitors (See Bangled 7-Series and Maybacized S-Class). But consumers are slaves to fashion. Sooner or later, even naturally beautiful designs get “seasoned." We can only hope that the evolution of the A8 will be harm-free. In my little prediction of the Herr von Ingolstadt the Third I kept the original proportions (which are just perfect) and carefully applied some year 2010 make-up, trying not to lose the character of the original. I struggled not to make it look like an artificially increased A4. An original touch: lowering the Audi trapeze grille so that the underide will look like part of the spoiler. For the rest of the details, I’ll allow the image to speak for itself.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

When I started working on this project, I was wondering about the Passat's role in the current VAG line-up. Audi sedans are the premium German blend of luxury and performance. Skodas are the true “people’s cars.” And the SEATs are (at least in theory) the exciting toys stuffed with “Auto Emocion.” So what's left for the Passat? Well, in Romania, the sedan is the (dream) car of the parvenus, and the wagon is the nightmare of the wrongdoers (as a police vehicle). I guess it's a “default vehicle;" if you don’t really know what car to choose, if you're not loaded but not poor, if don’t need a car to suit your personality, you go for the Passat. It's the car they should have used in “Equilibrium” (the movie): totally feeling-free. To put the aesthetic paddles to the Passat's heart, I've lost the chrome surrounding the grille and placed it underneath (so we can still tell  it's a VW), given the headlights LED-disease, stolen a little youth and stamina from the Ford Mondeo (the popular kid of the day) and smoothed-it-up with fine e-emery paper. Of course, the real thing should be infinitely more boring…

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

The next BMW 6-series isn't expected to be larger than the E64, and it may even be a bit smaller.  If so, it won't be much smaller but it'll be enough to make room for the announced 4-door coupe (a production version of the CS Concept). Many design elements of this show car are expected to be also seen on future versions of large coupe, tweaked for a lighter and sportier appearance. The weight won't change much, so it would be nice to see the carbon fiber roof now used only on the M6 on the third 6-Series. I'd also like to see the inclined BMW grille of the '80s make a comeback. Here I tried a modern interpretation of the kidneys, inspired by those featured on the E24 and its close relatives. With less weight and without a Bangle-butt the design should be a success.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

The Maserati GranTurismo is one of the most beautiful cars gracing today's roads. It's literally breath-taking. Sketching a smaller coupe to seat near this automotive masterpiece was an intimidating process, but someone's got to make a living. Anyway, we know that Maserati GranTurismo is heavily inspired by the Birdcage concept. I imagined that the smaller and sportier coupe can take the resemblance to that stunning concept car one step closer. The whole car is lower and looks wider than its sib. I've also made the Maserati grille lower and bigger, framed by more aggressive aerodynamic elements. The smaller lights are also intended to make the car appear as if it's squinting at you. I can't say that my result will be a match for the final creation of Pinifarina, but I look forward to deferring to the master.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

This week I tried my hand at the long speculated and currently confirmed entry level Rolls Royce. I know it sounds like a contradiction in terms (similar to "cheap expensive car"), but they're going to build a car smaller than the Phantom and just a little bit larger than the BMW 7-Series (to justify the RR badge). I actually like Rolls' house style these days. So I pictured a third model that goes on the same lines, with a drop of exclusivity in the fascia. I didn't wanted the baby Rolls to feel just like a down-scaled Phantom. All of the lines suggest that this is a smaller and lighter car, with less inertia, if you prefer (which I'm sure you do). The Phantom looks like it is unstoppable. While my rendering has the same blue-blood-driven-self-esteem, it acts like the kid-brother that knows there is a someone bigger around. 

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

There are faster, more expensive cars than the Bugatti Veyron. But none have eclipsed its media profile. (Even my grandmother has heard of it.) Bugatti’s German owners must like the publicity. Why else would they tap the money pit brand to build an “ultimate saloon?” My rendering is not as slick as you might expect (or I’d hope): a four-door extracted from the roots of the Type 57SC Atlantic, mixed with the eclectic juices of the EB 110 to 218. As on the Veyron, the duotone paint cuts a little of the bulky overall appearance; in this case positioned to emphasize the car’s length. Touches of “Art Nouveau” connect with the brand’s origins of the brand while conforming to safety and environment protection regulations. I must say I am not very fond of this design, but I can also say the same for all the other modern EBs. Sometimes, rendering the truth hurts.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

Now that the Jaguar is about to enter a new era with less corporate directives and (hopefully) fewer Ford parts, we can expect a brand-new roadster in their line-up. Jaguar has been exploring the possibilities for quite a while. We saw the tour de force XK 180 in 1997. The F-Type concept unveiled at the 2000 Detroit Auto Show was drop-dead gorgeous. Although more compact and almost house-broken, the F-Type concept lacked production-necessary elements (e.g. a pair of robust A-pillars or reliable weather-proofing). Jumping from the past into the future, I imagine a smaller F-Type– leaving the XK at the top of the tree, playing in the same league with the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4 and Mercedes SLK. If any manufacturer should play a neo-retro approach on a roadster, it's Jaguar. The low and inclined screen (with the A-pillars painted in black) should increase the “open-body” feel of the car and make a visual connection to the ancestors. The rest should be kept simple and tasteful; I just can’t imagine this car with aggressive side skirts and edgy spoilers. Speaking of the spoiler, I had it painted in black, so it can go almost unnoticed (with a slight nod to the XJ220). I know this car seems a bit dull if compared to the XK180 or the F-Type concept, but if you consider all of the safety regulations, environment protection issues and industrializing process involved, well there you have it. Or will, soon.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

Ladies and gentlemen: SEAT's future sports-sedan, the Bolero! Traditionally, SEAT's mid-size Spanish sedans were called Toledo. But in 2004, Seat presented a half sports-car-wannabe, half-MPV, half-sedan Toledo Mk III. Fresh name, fresh start. The Bolero will try to refocus the Spanish brand on its alt Alfa mission. (The "Auto Emocion" slogan of the Martorell manufacturer is a match for the Italian "Cuore Sportivo"– on paper.) Seat claims their entire line-up will be subjected to a fitness cure. The Bolero will be the new wave's main exponent, based on the previous Audi A4 (B7) As with all other non-German cars built on German platforms, the Bolero will be slightly larger than it's organ donor, with an up-sized radiator grille. Curved spoilers, muscular lines in dynamic tension should differentiate the car from the less-flashy German step-brother and re-project the prerequisite "Auto Emocion" intention. If it loses the half-MPV bit, I might be interested in driving it.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

The Mercedes CL is a high-price, low-volume product, but the car usually points the way to the future design of the entire Mercedes line-up. Divining the model's next iteration is both incredibly difficult and tremendously exciting. My guess: the new design will incorporate trademark elements like the C-pillar, fully retractable side windows (no B-pillar). The chromed radiator grille will blend seamlessly with completely new styling details. Mercedes have shown their future intentions for the luxury segment with the F700 concept. While it's not exactly (or even generally) what you'd call "pretty," the research car has a few interesting touches that could be adapted for a classy coupe like the CL. This approach is dedicated to those who consider Mercedes automobiles a little bit dull, and don't want to see their billious Bangle-ization continue.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

This week, I bring you my TTAC-exclusive rendering of the future small Ferrari. We can't know for sure what it will be called yet but, considering the Ferrari denomination scheme, it will be F###. The number in the name shows the engine displacement, which has been increasing continuously since ever. We can only wonder when Ferrari will hit the displacement limiter; probably when government regulation strangles the life-blood out of red-blooded cars like this. Anyway, following today's "bigger is better" logic, and competition from the current Lamborghini Gallardo 5.0-liter V10  (or the 5.something engine of the next one), F430's successor will need an enlarged powerplant. Another solution Ferrari likes for boosting engine power: raising the roof on the revs. Both of these strategies produce more heat, requiring better and more efficient cooling. The increased thermal displacement requirements and additional aerodynamic improvement will determine the design of the future Ferrari F###. The rest of my "inspiration" is fashion-related:" LED's, more angular lines smoothly blending with tender curves. Enjoy it while you can my friends.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

We kick off the week with my rendering of the future BMW kid-SAC (Sports Activity Coupe), the X4. BMW gave away their intentions to build this thing back in 2001, when they served us the first dish cooked with their new flame surfacing baking technique. Chief Chef Chris Bangle's concept blended concave and convex aluminum surfaces in an "interesting" asymmetrical design. The hottest feature of the car: access to the back seats via the reverse opening “hayon”. (Un)fortunately we won’t be seeing such a fancy/expensive/cool-but-unpractical solution on a production car soon– just as we didn’t get to see the dual wing doors from the Z9 Granturismo on any of the 6 Series models. However, some of the design elements of the X Coupe were really nice and able to survive the marketing/production battle. Anyway, I envision the X4 as an X Coupe with a slightly larger passenger compartment, less sharp edges (concave-convex shape blending accidents), some plastic (scratch-proof) elements in the lower part and an X6 gene transplant– just so we can be sure that the newcomer is a member of BMW's ever-burgeoning family of niche products. In fact, one wonders what else they could possibly have in store.

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here.]