Andonis says: Avantgarde (Part one)

What is avantgarde? What does an avantgarde car mean? What makes a car avantgarde? How does it refer to the other cars of its time? How does the design express avantgardism?

According to Wikipedia "Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard".The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics.

Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm. The notion of the existence of the avant-garde is considered by some to be a hallmark of modernism, as distinct from postmodernism."

What does a Tucker Torpedo and a Renault (Matra) Avantime have in common? Nothing. Apparently. However if we look at them more closely we notice that they are both fueled by the same dream to create something else, fundamentally new, other that defined its time. They both seek the future by pushing the boundaries of what has been accepted as normal or status quo. Look at the DS for instance, it screams future in every detail of it carefully thought shape. 

So does avantgarde translate into instant financial success? Not necessarily. Most of these cars were either born from an artistic attempt to redefine the shape of the future of their present simply by their presence, or intentionally leaping forward technologically. Avantgarde does express art. 

The 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic still draws the admiration of the beholder. It works as magnet. Its simple, but majestic lines have something in common with the classicism in terms of cultural and spiritual era of humanity. In the 1920s, automotive design took a leap forward into the modern age, taking many cues from the Futurist and Art Deco movements. Such a leap is the dedication of the coachbuilder Bugatti. 

Now let's take a look at the most avantgarde automotive milestones of all-time. They are all classic works of art. They inspire by representing beauty or share innovative visions! The style of these masterpieces bring lightness, yet their weight is impressive on the scale of automotive history. Enjoy the time-travel!
Let's start with Preston Tucker's dream.

1949 Tucker Torpedo

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K

1935 Cord Model 810/812

1935 Jaguar SS100

1937 Volkswagen Beetle
  

1938 Bugatti 57SC Atlantic

Porsche 356 Speedster

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe

1955 Citroen DS 

1959 Cadillac Eldorado 

1961 Jaguar E-Type (XKE)

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray (prototypes above)

1963 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Pagoda

1964 Ford GT40 

1964 Ford Mustang Coupe

Porsche 911 (1965-) (Speedster above)

1966 Lamborghini 400GT Flying Star II

1966 Lamborghini Miura (1968 Roadster shown)

1967 Ferrari 330P4

1967 Ferrari Dino 246GT(S 1972-74)

1967 Lamborghini Marzal

1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo

1970 Citroen SM

1971 Lamborghini Countach

1971 Maserati Bora

1972 Renault 5 (PPG Pace Car shown)

1974 Citroen CX (1982 GTi shown)

To be concluded...
 
Thanks for the images carstyling.ru

Schon wieder: BMW Z2 (DE)

Neuer Einstiegsroadster von BMW.

Nach der Z4 das Zeit ist Reich für die vollig-neues Z2. Es wird leichter und deutlich günstiger als der Z4. Für Vortrieb könnten Zweiliter-Vierzylinder zwischen 163 und 272 PS (16i / 20i / 28i) sorgen. Ist 33.000 Euro zu Teuer für dieser neuer Flitzer? Wir werden das sehen in 2014.     

Quelle und Foto: AutoBild

Video: Filippo Perini and the Aventador Design (IT)

Il design della nuova Lamborghini Aventador con Filippo Perini.

Ralph Lauren Car Collection in Europe

Ralph Lauren Reveals His Classic Car Collection In Europe For The Very First Time

Ralph Lauren is transporting his most exquisite car collection to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris for a special exhibit called "The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection".
Last night stars rubbed shoulders at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, where they were the first to see Ralph Lauren's Classic car collection in Europe.
Jean Reno marvelled at the beauty of the cars, expressing that the cars are historic but modern. Zhang Ziyi spoke about how much she loves visiting Paris and the passion of the city. The former F1 driver, Jackie Stewart, fondly recalls driving and racing with Ralph Lauren in the LM Ferrari in the collection.
The exhibition opens from the 28th of April, where a selection of Ralph Lauren's most prestigious sports cars from the 1930s to the present day is on show for the first time in Europe at Paris' Musée des Arts Décoratifs. 17 outstanding cars, chosen by the curator Rodolphe Rapetti, outline the main phases of European automobile history.
Stylish not only in clothing but also in automobiles, world renowned designer Ralph Lauren has established himself as one of the world's major car collectors. His impressive collection includes a 1938 Bugatti, a 1958 Ferrari Testa Rossa and a 2010 Lamborghini Murcielago; making Ralph Lauren's range of cars ‘a museum of automotive history, an archive of performance machines that represent the finest achievements in motorsport'.
With this collection, Ralph Lauren shows that the automobile is a major art form created by the industry's biggest names: Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and of course, Ferrari, the high point of this unique collection.
The exhibition will be the first time his collection will be shown in Europe; and with the distance the cars were required to travel, the transportation and instillation of cars was planned and carefully executed to maintain high standards of care.

Vallelunga, Aventador

ImageGallery: 911 GT3 RS 4.0