It’s been an exciting month here at Yanko Design…at least when it comes to Automotives! We’ve had the pleasure of coming across some really invigorating and menacing designs that had our hearts racing. 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. And, we’ve curated some of our absolute favorites for you – from a Batman-worthy 1961 Volkswagen Beetle to a cutthroat Dodge Viper GTS Concept, we’ve got some mean machines for you. Enjoy! This 1961 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe converted into a roadster with a matte black treatment is the work of Danni Koldal, who’s virtually facelifted the vintage four-wheeler into a hotrod that’s not overdone, still maintains its masculine appeal. The front windshield has been trimmed down to the bare minimum, giving the ride a mean attitude that matches its personality. The black is contrasted by the silver-white trims on the doors, hood, and alloy wheels. Those fat wheels also go with the upper body of the Volkswagen that Danni has managed to turn into hot property – we want to own it right away. The VW beetle has been featured in many films from The Shining to James Bond’s Quantum of Solace, even having its own film series; Herbie, its a testament to the beauty of this iconic car that even today, a modification like this makes us fall in love with it all over again! Interiors carry forward the sleek appeal which shouts out loud for a midnight drive on the freeway. Created by Rafał Czaniecki as a mere pandemic project, the Bugatti Chiron Terracross concept is a dystopian beauty made for a world where futuristic cybercities and wastelands coexist. Off the bat, the Terracross isn’t your average Chiron. It comes with a few upgrades that are more than apparent when you look at the automobile. Right off the bat, you’ll notice its outlandish wheels and suspension, which make sense given its all-terrain nature but create a ground clearance that’s completely unusual for a Bugatti. The headlight and taillights are altered too, with a honeycomb-ish pattern that’s also found on the car’s exhausts, the wheel design, as well as on the large, outward-extending fenders. Among other noteworthy upgrades are the massive bumper guards on the front and back of the car, along with foglights on the top, space for a carry-case, and a place to mount your step knee. For the Viper Basilisk concept, Guillaume took inspiration from the 2nd generation Viper GTS from 1996 and the 3rd generation Viper. Apparently, the design is indicative of the half reptile and half rooster character that’s pretty apparent in the whole thought process behind the concept car. 2nd generation lends the sensual feeling while the 3rd generation has that definitive precision element in the design execution. So, in its design DNA, this Viper Basilisk concept is a ‘Sensual Precision’ of unique design fusion that compares to none. The designer defines it as a precise theme encapsulating the car while the sensual reflections on the bodyside give it that contrasting appeal. More than a superficial makeover, Guillaume has given his concept a very lively feel. He has defined the single tension point, triangular air inlet, a reimagined cabin structure going under the bonnet, cross grilled lighting structure, and presence of 10 heat diffusers. The Beetle has not lost its charm even a single ounce ever since its inception, and for a good reason too. Even though the heritage model was discontinued in 2019, it still weighs its worth in gold for the lucky owners who have one. Take, for example, the modified Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe converted into a piping hot matte black roadster. Another one joins the elite bandwagon in the form of this military green VB Beetle that looks so Nazi-inspired. The ultra-fat wheels, low road height with a ground clearance only enough to go over a dozen paper sheets, give this Beetle a pure drag racer-like feel. Those twinkling headlights are so inviting and the broad but cute nose getting the military color treatment adds a whole lot of meat to the already eye-candy character of the Beetle. Don’t be mistaken by those adorable looks, the ride has a lot of power under the hood and the aggressive stance in the form of rear diffusers and the slightly redone spoiler. This is the Mclaren Can-Am car homage concept car, the brainchild of designer Yosuke Yamada who has reimagined the spirit of racing as a homage to the era when motorsports overtook football and baseball in popularity. The whole design of the racer is centered around aerodynamic performance to make the car run at top speeds without any airflow resistance. If you look closely at the back, there is a pneumatic cooling power unit that draws the air inside the power unit for extra efficiency and peak output. That’s well complemented by the supercharged aero wing for the funneling effect produced by the two blades. On the sides too, there is an aero turbine to accelerate the airflow for cooling and aerodynamics. Not surprisingly, the wheels are also aero optimized to make the racer glide through at stunning speeds. Want to know what can get even better than the untouchable Pagani Huayra? This beast was reimagined by automotive designer Hosein Soleimani, who deems it a deconstruction of the sports car that lived up to its predecessor’s fame and glory, the Pagani Zonda. Named after the Quechua wind god, Huayra-Tata, the car got the outstanding award for The Hypercar of the Year. Only a few can resist the hypercar character of the Huayra, and to date, it is hot property for supercar collectors worldwide, and for a good reason. The signature nose of the Huayra that’s already quite sharp, however, it gets an even sharper remake by Hosein. To match the hood’s oozing aesthetics, the headlights get a very hotrod roadster-like personality, peeking out of the sockets to emphasize the mean machine DNA etched in the most profound memory of motorheads over the years. Harkening back to the halcyon days of pre-war motoring when transportation was equal parts speed, style, and skill, the Golden Age captures this sentiment in a modern incarnation. The Golden Age is best described as a modified version of the BMW C400X, with its spiritual ancestor being the classic 1930 Henderson Model KJ Streamline. With a curvaceous design that’s highly reminiscent of the automobiles from a century ago, the Golden Age is just a vintage-inspired treat to look at… complete with chrome trims to punctuate the curved black volumes, a classic circular headlight, and a plush leather throne for the rider to sit on. “The sleek streamliner will be powered by a 2020 BMW 350cc engine producing approximately 35hp and will employ all the modern convenience, technology, and reliability built into the C400X. The XJ 13 has been Jaguar’s most iconic car, and this concept design by Jaeheon Lee takes inspiration from the prototype racing car developed by Jaguar that took to the challenging Le Mans track in the mid-1960s. Jaeheon calls it the Jaguar VL, and it takes a different design approach for the car technician and the driver. On the front, the car has a very Formula-1 like character with a dual seating arrangement. Here the driver and the technician have different UI screens, and the driver has an F1-styled steering wheel inspired by the Jaguar’s racing heritage. On the exterior, the car bears a very speedy character, a boxy overall feel inherent to the racing cars, and the segmented two halves of the front and rear make it feel more like a modern gadget t there were no wheels. The curvacious look on the Jaguar VL is so reminiscent of the XJ 13. Dubbed the ‘Volvo Think inside the box’, Roman’s creation focusing on the comfy interiors of the autonomous four-wheeler is a result of the reworked project that he took up at Volvo. The man maximum machine minimum philosophy is the dominant influence for this autonomous vehicle design with the open space principle – wherein the car is more of a private zone tailored for the intended purpose – lounging, office work, or simply leisure with family. The two-seater version of the Volvo cocoons the riders in a space where they can feel at home with the big couch-like seating and ample legroom to flex the muscles after a long day’s work at the office. The big entertainment display right where the windshield is, lets the user enjoy their private time as the car takes them to their destination in the utmost comfort! The designer has envisioned this INFINITI QF Inspiration Concept that’s dominated by sleek flowing lines and the sublime charm of a racetrack-worthy four-wheeler. Daniel has put together the design of this supercar of the future, keeping in mind the brand’s bold design language and the technological advancement of automotive design. Although Daniel doesn’t narrow down on much of the details, the concept car has to be propelled forward using the electric drivetrain sitting under the hood or on the rear boot. The aerodynamic character of the QF Inspiration is evident from its very low-ride height design of just a few inches, making it suited only for racetracks or highways where the tarmac is as clean as a whistle. The balance of the concept from the front to the rear end is enchanting – you’ll actually want to see one go past you in reality.