2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

Some spy pics have turned up of the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe (I erroneously labeled it 2013 previously), and it appears to look similar to my previous pic, although some grille detail was revealed.  Although I believe the opening above is too tall, I filled it with something similar to what's seen in the spy pics.  It looks as if the grille will be filled with chrome, somewhere halfway between that on the Sonata and the lower grille opening on the Elantra Limited.

BMW Z1

A small coupe - type thingy based off the new 1 Series. Kinda RWD Alfa Romeo Brera meets 1 M.

Reworked front end, longer bonnet, IS-F side scoops, coupe DLO and widened rear track with revised side detailing. Oh - and matte black rims. And it was lowered slightly.

Since it's based off the 1 Series I thought I'd name it after the legendary Z1, although it isn't a convertible.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

My guess as to the potential look of the upcoming Santa Fe. Used the Tucson as a base - possibly didn't change it enough, but I stretched the body to match the proportions of the current Santa Fe. So basically the body is a bit taller (especially the greenhouse), and the greenhouse is a bit more upright. The hood is slightly longer, and the truck is a bit wider. Gave it new lighting (from the Accent), and revised the grille to be one larger opening to keep a bit of a similar look to the current Santa Fe (although added some chrome as seen in the Accent and Elantra). Decided to keep the Tucson's bodyside treatment. It's different from the heavier rising beltline features of other current Hyundais, but again is similar to the Santa Fe. Edited the detailing around the fog lights as well.

2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

My attempt at a facelift for the Genesis Coupe, as one is coming for 2012 (or 2013?), in the form of a mock ad.

Source image from www.hyundainews.com.

2013 Ford Flex

Spy pics are now floating around - this is my guess as to the facelift. Looks relatively mild, and these updates are based on the look of the current explorer plus what was visible through the disguise.

Version 1: Standard Model

Version 2: Platinum Model - the spy pics seems devoid of the Ford badge, and the current platinum different from the base model in that it has darken chrome, no Ford badge and "FLEX" spelled out on the hood.

Version 3: Platinum Model with painted bars, a la Explorer.

Mini Coupe Recoup

I wasn't overwhelmingly impressed by the Mini Cooper Coupe. For one I thought it should have been named the Mini Couper. But overall I thought the roof was overstylized and that otherwise stock looking rear end looked to abrupt and boxy. Below is my interpretation of a better looking version. My goal was to unclutter the roofline and change the tailights to something more unique and less tall to help visually reduce the height of the rear end. Plus I added a bit of extra scalloping between the taillights. Yeah - the taillights look a bit upset, and it has less visibility out the side windows, but you get the idea.

Thunderbird Reboot?

The photo editing didn't turn out exactly as I'd hope - it looks a bit funky shrunk down (relatively quick chop). But anyway - here's my idea...

I think Ford could use a FWD coupe, the reasoning behind the Taurus coupe chop from which this was based. The Thunderbird name is an iconic one, and I was thinking a mildly retro styled Thunderbird based on the Taurus could serve as a reboot of the T-Bird for modern times. Those who want RWD and sporty can choose the Mustang - this would be more relaxed and FWD or AWD. More of a grand tourer, as the T-Bird was conceived as.

Then the name got me thinking - Thunderbird is a rather "electric" sounding name (what with thunder accompanying lightning), and I was thinking this car could be offered in some kind of relatively ho-po hybrid type of format. Also - the Aston-like grille of the electric Focus has a tinge of 1965 T-Bird to it, so I grafted it onto the front of the Taurus... And then I shortened the greenhouse a tad to look like those earlier birds a bit more (and ironically looking a little like those from the late eigthies as well), and stretched out the trunk. The rear isn't rendered, but it would look a little like those on the pre-facelift MKZ to recall the square birds a bit.

'65 T-Bird for reference:

http://americandreamcars.com/1965thunderbird.jpg