April: Beijing, beer leather and Bentleys

CMF innovation, global auto shows and the future of car design take centre stage in this month’s Car Design News in Review.

The team discusses playful materials and sustainable finishes, then dives into highlights from the Beijing Auto Show and Milan Design Week, from standout concepts and immersive installations to shifting design trends in China and Europe.

Also featured: major industry people moves, profile insights, and key cars including Kia EV4, Honda Super N and Rolls-Royce Project Nightingale. Plus, what’s coming up in lighting, education and design events.

Subscribers can access all content flagged during this episode, including:

The design VP’s intriguing hippie backstory. AMC Gremlin features https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/bryan-nesbitt-between-soul-and-system/2638466

Materials quiz – beer leather anyone? https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/top-colour-amp-trim-trends/2647218

Doh! Skoda’s colourful Milan installation https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/skodas-playdoh-inspired-installation-at-milan-design-week/2654000

Freelander returns and this time it’s a brand https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/freelander-reborn-incredibly-in-2026/2653676

Audi lands a UFO in Milan https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/audi-lands-a-ufo-at-porto-venezia/2652751

Honesty in materials with Halycon https://www.cardesignnews.com/cmf/halcyons-craftled-approach-to-personalised-restomods/2652449

Gilles Vidal wants icons https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/gilles-vidal-on-the-future-of-stellantis-european-brands-we-need-to-deliver-iconic-products/2646963

Jazz Age vibes from Rolls-Royce coachbuilt Project Nightingale https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/rollsroyce-reveals-design-of-project-nightingale/2646804

Kia’s polarising (but cool) EV4 Fastback https://www.cardesignnews.com/cars/design-driven-kia-ev4-fastback-vs-hatchback/2640134 

Kemal Curic takes the reigns at McLaren https://www.cardesignnews.com/designers/exclusive-kemal-curic-to-head-up-mclaren-automotive-design/2638963