AR Rewind #10 - Hyundai Genesis Convertible

Rewind: This is the tenth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Scott Oldham reached out with a request to create a convertible variation for a car would likely never have one: a Hyundai Genesis coupe. The criteria was simple, take the new coupe and turn it into a convertible utilizing elements from the Infiniti G37 convertible. With a few changes in the rear flanks of the car due to the dip in the rear side window, I was able to put together a convincing rendering as both cars had similar shapes and proportions.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor pieces for seats, portion of windscreen/a-frame, rearview mirrors, rear deck spoiler, and convertible clamshell all came from a Infinity G37
• Custom brushed the removal of the bottom cutout of rear side window, blending of convertible donor bits into the rear fender, and adjustments to the rear light casing

Execution Highlights - Profile

• Donor pieces for seats, portion of windscreen/a-frame, rearview mirrors, rear deck spoiler, and convertible clamshell all came from a Infinity G37
• Custom brushed the removal of the bottom cutout of rear side window, blending of convertible donor bits into the rear fender, and adjustments to the rear light casing

Final Thoughts: As mentioned in the article, it was a shame Hyundai never considered a convertible version of the coupe. It would have been a stunner and might have been a way to keep sales going for the model. Sales numbers started to slide in 2014 and by the end of 2016, the car was cancelled.

Original Blog Link: Hyundai Says No to Genesis Convertible

AR Rewind #9 - Nissan 370Z Convertible

Rewind: This is the ninth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Scott Oldham contacted me with a very exciting opportunity to render the then-just revealed Nissan 370Z as a convertible. He needed a quick turunaround and there were not yet many 370Z pictures online. Somehow he pulled some strings and procured a camo-protected prototype of the 370Z so I could get some shots of the car to use. For the convertible elements, I initially decided on a Saturn Sky but it was too easy to see that the details were Saturn. I started over with the last generation 350Z convertible as the main donor. With that element settled, significant clean up work was needed on the body and finally recolor the car blue.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor pieces for seats, portion of windscreen/a-frame, convertible clamshell, tunneau cover, safety rollbars, badges, and rims all came from a Nissan 350Z
• Custom brushed the removal of tape, camo, and vinyl coverings
• Changed car color to a dark blue trying to keep as much original reflections in the camo flat black paint/covering

Execution Highlights - Profile

• Donor pieces for seats, portion of windscreen/a-frame, convertible clamshell, tunneau cover, safety rollbars, badges, and rims all came from a Nissan 350Z
• Custom brushed the removal of tape, camo, and vinyl coverings
• Updated white driver's side door to match the rest of the body color and added in proper reflections
• Changed car color to a dark blue trying to keep as much original reflections in the camo flat black paint/covering

Final Thoughts: This was my hardest project to date for InsideLine. I made the publish deadline but wasn't happy with the results. I spent another two nights doing more cleanup and color correction. Scott had his team update the images the next day and I was much happier with the final product. A lot of online conversation was generated from the article so I knew we had done a good job in getting this out quickly.

Original Blog Link: First Photos of the 2010 Nissan 370Z Convertible

AR Rewind #8 - Cadillac CTS-V Wagon

Rewind: This is the eighth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Scott Oldham contacted me asking for a quick set of images for the all but confirmed Cadillac CTS-V wagon. Since the CTS-V sedan photos had just dropped he wanted to get a jump on other media sites doing any sort of renders. This would need to have a super quick turnaround. I completed the request in just a few hours over two nights.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor pieces for hood, front fascia, headlights, grille, badges, and rims came from a Cadillac CTS-V sedan
• Custom brushed rear bumper cover
• Changed color to a deep blue similar to an available color on the just then released CTS-V sedan

Execution Highlights - Profile

• Donor pieces for hood, front fascia, headlights, grille, badges, and rims came from a Cadillac CTS-V sedan
• Changed color to a deep blue similar to an available color on the just then released CTS-V sedan

Final Thoughts: This was a quick home-run project. InsideLine ran the article as soon as I completed it, and I believe, were first to post renderings of a CTS-V Wagon.

Original Blog Link: Cadillac Considers a Supercharged CTS Sport Wagon

AR Rewind #7 - Nissan Murano Convertible

Rewind: This is the seventh in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Scott Oldham contacted me regarding a rumor that Nissan was contemplating a convertible version of the Murano. He was interested in exploring the design possibilities for a two-door variant. After some discussions on the aesthetic and conceptual elements, we agreed to draw inspiration from the hoop and boot design of the PT Cruiser Convertible. Additionally, we were uncertain about Nissan's approach to reinforcing the vehicle's structure after removing the roof so we envisioned Nissan using the Chrysler as a benchmark.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces for hoop and boot came from a PT Cruiser Convertible
• 2 doors conversion
• Custom fill in of the background and windshield area where the top was chopped

Final Thoughts: This was a really fun project that received quite a lot of laughs when posted on InsideLine's website. Ultimately, Nissan did produce the convertible in a limited series from 2012 to 2014, naming it the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.

Original Blog Link: Future Drop Top: 2011 Nissan Murano Convertible

AR Rewind #6 - Audi R8 Targa

Rewind: This is the sixth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Hot on the heels of the Audi S5 convertible Scott Oldham and I reviewed ideas for either an R8 convertible or targa coupe. We settled on a targa top due to the mechanics of a mid-engine super car. Photos of the real car were taken with the windows down in the Edmunds backlot which I then blended with bits and pieces from a Lotus Elise and a Saab 9-3 convertible.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Removed the roof interior from view in the front windshield

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor convertible pieces came Lotus Elise and Saab 9-3 convertible
• Blended in photo of the car interior with the windows down
• Custom brushing to fill in the background

Final Thoughts: This was my favorite work for Edmunds to date. It really came together once I filled in the background elements where the coupe roof was prior. Even though Audi eventually went with a full convertible, I bet this would have nailed the look if they had gone offered a targa version.

Original Blog Link: Raise the Roof: Audi R8 Targa

AR Rewind #5 - Audi S5 Convertible

Rewind: This is the fifth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Keeping on a convertible theme, the next brief was to put together a quick rendering of what an Audi S5 convertible. We agreed to chrome out the a-frame and use a behind the scenes photo of the S5 sitting in their studio or another article.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came Audi A4 Cabriolet
• Converted a-pillars to chrome-look
• Custom brushed trunk/deck lid

Final Thoughts: This was another one that came together quickly within just two evenings. Changing the a-frame was good choice as that definitely made it to production as did the brightwork along the body line.

Original Blog Link: Early Look: 2009 Audi S5 Cabriolet

AR Rewind #4 - Cadillac CTS Convertible

Rewind: This is the fourth in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: The Cadillac CTS-V coupe turned out great so the next logical step was a convertible. Even though GM 86'd the idea of a convertible with the new coupe, Scott wanted to run an article about how they should reconsider the move - especially after wasting so much time on the poor selling and mechnically maligned Pontiac G6 hard-top convertible. The brief was simple, bang out a profile shot of what a convertible might look like and get it out to press in just over 48 hours. We agreed to use the beautiful Buick Velite concept car as a starting point.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor convertible pieces came from the Buick Velite
• Swapped background color
• Custom brushed trunk/deck lid

Final Thoughts: This was a quick one and came together in just about a day. As with InsideLine's stance on the situation, I fully agreed that Cadillac made a mistake not considering a covertible. I think it would have sold very well and was necessary to compete with the German brands. They should have presented a full suite of models (coupe, convertible, sedan, wagon).

Original Blog Link: Supercharge Me: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

AR Rewind #3 - Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Rewind: This is the third in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Directly after the Black Series Mercedes Benz SL65, Editor-in-Chief Scott Oldham wanted to explore the just released CTS coupe concept in CTS-V trim. The V trim had not been seen yet as the production coupe had only been caught with heavy camouflage during testing. We decided to try and predict the coupe's look from the the coupe concept mixed with CTS-V Sedan pieces.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor CTS-V sedan parts used: hood, grille, lower air intakes, side of rear diffuser, rear turn markers in rear fender, side rockers, modified b-pillar, door handles, fender vent, rims (rotation blurred) and badging
• Silver color changed to the rich red metallic from the sedan

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor CTS-V sedan parts used: rear diffuser, side of front fascia, rear turn markers in rear fender, side rockers, modified b-pillar, door handles, fender vent, rims (rotation blurred) and badging
• Custom brushed center exhaust based on spy shots of production coupe
• Silver color changed to the rich red metallic from the sedan

Final Thoughts: This project went together quickly and we had something ready for press in less than a week. The car as rendered turned out to be very close to production and Cadillac even retained the center exhaust, albiet a bit beefier than we had imagined.

Original Blog Link: Supercharge Me: Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

Blog Updates - November

Blog Update: I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and stayed safe at home or with friends and family.

I've been having a blast going back through all my Edmunds Insideline work. The AR rewind series is taking a lot of time to put together but the next chunk of reviews is almost ready. Another big batch should be ready in early December.

Since Instagram does now allow direct links in their posts, I have consolidated all my social media accounts to Linktr.ee. Having one central location to cross link all media channels is a great way to be consistent and I'm able to highlight some fun things going on with my work as well.

AR Rewind #2 - Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series

Rewind: This is the second in a series of posts where I dive into detail of the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements.

Creative Brief: Editor-in-Chief Scott Oldham had asked me to follow up the Pontiac G8 coupe with a very ambitious challenge. The 2009 Merceds-Benz SL65 Black Series coupe had been spotted on the Nürburgring in heavy camouflage and he wanted to see if we could "peal away" everything down to the sheetmetal. It was a significant amount of brushwork and I didn't quite make the tight deadline as I was unable to finish the bottom rear bumper diffuser. We didn't know whether it would be black and where it would be painted so an in-house artist took a stab at an approach to finish it for press. The bottom image below is the revised rear that I did and the original finished top picture.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor Mercedes SL65 parts used: headlights, grille, lower air intakes
• Removed camo and rollcage from inside the car
• New rims recommended from Scott - CLK63 AMG Black Series
• Lowered the rear wing to show the car in regular driving mode

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor Mercedes SL65 parts used: tail lights and most of trunk
• Removed camo, cameras and recording equipment
• New rims recommended from Scott - CLK63 AMG Black Series
• Lowered the rear wing to show the car in regular driving mode

Final Thoughts: This project was incredibly challenging but fun. I was really close to production trim minus a few details on the side door sheetmetal. Looking at the before and after pictures the car turned out better than planned.

Original Blog Link: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Will Boast 670 Horsepower

AR Rewind #1 - Pontiac G8 Coupe

Rewind: This is the first in a series of posts where I dive into detail on the work completed for Edmunds InsideLine engagements. Each post will highlight challenges, tricks, techniques and results of the creative brief requested. These often required a balancing act of quality, scale and scope to make the short turnaround times to go to press.

Creative Brief: I had been chopping cars for years in the Readers Talent section of GMInsideNews forum. I gained experience and learned quite a bit partipcating in their on and off again monthly car design contests. When the Commodore Coupe 60 concept came out in very early '08, a lot of the forum members, myself included, immediately went to town chopping the car into a Pontiac G8 coupe. The stars aligned as one of my earliest versions of the front-end chop garnered some serious attention from the then editor of InsideLine Scott Oldham.

He found my contact info and gave me a ring on the phone - this just 3 weeks after my first child was born. We talked for quite awhile about the car, how I came up with the concept and what Pontiac might actually try to do given how serious Bob Lutz was about aligning Holden to Pontiac here in America. From there, he asked me if I was interested in creating different angles of the car.

Execution Highlights - Front

• Donor Pontiac G8 GXP sedan parts used: front clip, rims, front fender turn marker, lower side sills, b-pillar, hood, headlights, and window wipers.
• Copper orange color selected to match the GXP - color matched the door handles and rear view side mirrors as well.
• Swapped right-hand to left-hand drive (steering wheel switches sides)

Execution Highlights - Rear

• Donor Pontiac G8 GXP sedan parts used: tail lights, badging, trunk spoiler, lower diffuser and exhaust, wheels, front fender turn marker, lower side sills, b-pillar
• Copper orange color selected to match the GXP - color matched the door handles and rear view side mirrors as well.
• Swapped right-hand to left-hand drive (steering wheel switches sides)
• Added slide glass along with the b-pillar as on the second picture as the concept windows were down

Final Thoughts: With family encouragement, the work just lept out of me over 3 or 4 nights as I completed it in-between rocking my newborn baby. I focused extensively on creating quality panel gaps, color matching, fitting elements into proper perspective, and many other techniques to produce renderings of which I am still extremely proud. Scott was happy with the work and from there we started a partnership for new article content over the next 2+ years.

Original Blog Link: Pontiac Ponders G8 GXP Coupe