Cool Hunting
Four years after the debut of the Scion, Toyota unveiled an all-new sport coupe concept called Fuse yesterday at the New York auto show press preview. Like Toyota's concept minivan, the F3R, and their Fine-T (a concept fuel cell hybrid), the focus was on integrating entertainment into the driving experience—as seen in the video display that stretches along the dash, a trunk that folds down into a curb-high bench, and a built-in detachable drink cooler. Key-shaped door sensors, personal sunroofs, dual exhausts ringed by fog and reverse lamps, 20-inch wheels with LEDs that light up as turn indicators, and a speed-activated spoiler are some of the details taking the lifestyle car to the next level. More info and images on the Fuse, the Toyota F3R and T-Fine, and a closer look at Saab's Aero X after the jump and in tomorrow's Cool Hunting Video.
The Fuse owes its mean-looking profile to a design based on Japanese HAKO super GT racing cars, the helmet-inspired wraparound windshield, and programmable color options for headlights and fog lights.
Passing a foot under an infrared sensor below the bumper opens the nouveau tailgate and fold-out speakers make the car into a mobile lounge.
The steering wheel features a drive-by-wire interface that uses elements from race cars and video games. Multi-informational 10.5-inch screens play movies, video games, feature Wi-Fi connectivity, and the passenger seat folds flat into a table or footrest in "video mode" and display driver information when in "driving mode."
Custom images can be downloaded to play on the LCD screen that's concealed behind the front emblem.

Premiered at the 2005 Tokyo auto show as the Fine-X, the Fine-T is Toyota's groundbreaking foray into a fuel cell hybrid system that features environmentally-friendly interior materials, video camera monitors, motorized "Welcome Seats" that enable easy entry and exit, gull-wing doors, a drive-by-wire system, and in-wheel motors that increased maneuverability and control.
Toyota's next-level minivan takes cues from Japanese design elements—what they call the "J-Factor"—resulting in a bold front-end. Other features include a rear angled pillar that provides a widescreen view out the back, stadium seating for up to eight passengers, fiber-optic lighting panels, two track-mounted flat-panel video screens, and seating that swivels and reclines to create a living room-like environment.

Saab's Aero X made the rounds a couple months back, but the knob- and dial-eliminating clear acrylic data panels, cockpit-style canopy (which eliminates doors and pillars and makes for 180-degree vision), bioethanol-powered engine, and all-LED lighting system, are innovations well-worth a second look.
|
previous entry Gym Dandies Children's Circus |
next entry Puma Easter Clydes |
Particularly relevant in the current economic climate, Housing Works Thrift Shops' fifth annual Design on a Dime benefit takes over 40 of the world's top interior designers and challenges them to create inspiring room vignettes using donated materials. (Sills Huniford's 2008 vignette pictured at right.) Visitors can then buy the merchandise at 60 to 80 percent off the retail price. And as with all...
For someone like myself who grew up traveling in converted buses, this new Republic of Fritz Hansen-designed Airstream and coordinating modified MINI Cooper S Clubman doesn't look exactly practical, but it does look dreamy. At 6.8 meters long (about 22 feet), the Airstream trailer makes for a relatively compact way to make a road-trip luxurious—for fans of both sea and sun. Incorporating neoprene, acid...
by Tisha LeungBeginning next month, Material ConneXion will present the first retrospective of work by self-trained designer and one-man operation Neal Small at their New York showroom. In the mid-'60s the New York designer came on the furniture scene as a young designer with a transformational idea for furniture—acrylic plastic. Better known as Plexiglas, Lucite and Acrylite, Small turned out innovative furniture, lighting and...
It's about time for Cut&Paste NYC '09 and this year's event should be better than ever with multiple categories, higher stakes and DJ Rich Medina spinning. This year, the digital design tournament features competitions for 2D, 3D and motion designers. Challenged to keep up their creativity and speed to win over screaming partygoers and judges, winning designers then move on to the Global Championship...
by Laura Neilson The much-anticipated Green Depot finally opened its doors three weeks ago on Manhattan's Bowery. Given the current economic climate (and the grim predictions concerning consumer spending freezes), it seems pretty risky for any new retail venture start up, but environmentally-focused stores/products seem to be one of the few exceptions. Reuters recently reported that despite the despite the recession, four out of five...
Kicking off this year's New York International Auto Show last week, we attended the U.S unveiling of the new Ferrarri 599XX and Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic at Ferrari's Park Ave showroom. Both were originally exhibited at the Geneva Auto Show a few weeks prior and are the focus of much desire. While the GranTurismo is the more practical choice, the Ferrari, a professional level...
