ASUS and GoPro announced today a comprehensive partnership that introduces StoryCube, the world’s first Windows application to integrate GoPro Cloud media with native 360° video support and AI-powered workflow optimization. The collaboration launches with exclusive GoPro Premium+ subscription bundles, ASUS Dial integration, and positions the ProArt P16 as the flagship platform for professional 360° content creation.

Designer: ASUS + GoPro

The partnership targets five distinct creator categories: Travel Vloggers & YouTubers, Advanced Photographers & Videographers, Studio Creators, Sports Content Curators, and Adventurous Content Curators, establishing what ASUS calls “a shared space where adventure inspires storytelling: and storytelling elevates every adventure.”

StoryCube: AI-Driven Content Management System

StoryCube functions as an ASUS-exclusive, intelligent digital asset management application that becomes the world’s first Windows software supporting both GoPro Cloud media and 360° video formats. The application allows creators to preview native .360 files whether stored locally or online, with seamless integration for GoPro MAX and MAX2 360° footage reframing.

The AI model receives specific training on GoPro and action camera imagery to recognize common scenes and activities including biking, surfing, snowboarding, and wave activities. Scene categorization incorporates both automatic face recognition and GPS location data from GoPro cameras, enabling creators to locate source material through multiple organizational methods.

Advanced AI Album Features

StoryCube’s AI Album provides automatic categorization based on “GoPro popular activities” with scene recognition trained specifically on action camera scenarios. The system supports text and image-based searching, allowing creators to find related assets by typing single words or uploading reference photos to locate similar content.

Technical limitations include specific 360° file handling: native .360 files cannot be recognized for AI Album categorization, while 360° videos in .mov and .mp4 formats support full AI categorization. Similarly, .360 files cannot utilize Map and Timeline viewing features, though .mov and .mp4 360° videos with GPS and timestamp information support these organizational tools.

Comprehensive Workflow Integration

The StoryCube workflow encompasses five primary stages: GoPro Cloud access through direct login, AI-powered categorization and management, Map & Timeline viewing by location and time, basic editing capabilities including cropping, trimming, speed adjustment, and contrast/exposure/saturation/brightness controls, and seamless file transfer to professional editing software through drag-and-drop functionality.

Integration with Adobe Premiere Pro and CapCut includes direct drag-and-drop support from StoryCube, with ASUS providing Adobe and CapCut free bundles for ProArt customers. The application connects to ASUS Dial & Control Panel, offering convenient shortcuts for enhanced creative control during editing workflows.

GoPro Premium+ Subscription Strategy and Redemption Process

The partnership includes structured subscription benefits with specific monetary valuations: ProArt laptops provide six-month complimentary GoPro Premium+ subscriptions valued at $49.99, while ZenBook and Vivobook models offer three-month Premium+ access valued at $29.99.

GoPro Premium+ subscriptions unlock unlimited cloud storage for GoPro footage, 500GB storage for non-GoPro files, guaranteed camera replacement, automatic highlight video generation, synced editing across mobile and desktop platforms, and exclusive savings on GoPro products.

MyASUS App Integration

The subscription redemption process operates through the MyASUS application with a three-step workflow: users launch MyASUS and sign in to access the GoPro offer in the coupon area, navigate from MyASUS to the GoPro event page for subscription and 15% camera discount offers, and select either the free subscription ($0) or GoPro products at 15% discount in the shopping cart.

The subscription offer operates from October 7, 2025, through December 31, 2027, with availability in selected territories and complete terms available through both ASUS and GoPro official channels.

ProArt P16: Flagship Hardware for 8K and 360° Processing

The ProArt P16 showcases hardware capabilities specifically designed for GoPro’s MAX2 360° camera True 8K footage processing. All configurations feature AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor with 2.0GHz base frequency (up to 5.1GHz boost), 36MB cache, 12 cores, 24 threads, and XDNA NPU delivering up to 50 TOPS AI performance.

Four-Configuration Lineup Structure

The ProArt P16 (H7606) launches with four distinct configurations spanning consumer and professional requirements:

Consumer Configurations (Windows 11 Home):

H7606WP-P16.3KR95070: RTX 5070, 32GB LPDDR5X, 2TB NVMe SSD, 16″ 120Hz 2880×1800 OLED – $2,399.99

H7606WP-P16.R95070: RTX 5070, 32GB LPDDR5X, 2TB NVMe SSD, 16″ 60Hz 3840×2400 OLED – $2,499.99

Professional Configurations (Windows 11 Pro):

H7606WP-PB99T: RTX 5070, 64GB LPDDR5X, enhanced memory for professional workflows

H7606WX-XH99T: RTX 5090, 64GB LPDDR5X, flagship performance (Q4 2025 availability)

ASUS Lumina Pro OLED Display Technology

The ASUS Lumina Pro OLED touchscreen addresses specific 360° video editing requirements with up to 1600 nits HDR peak brightness (700 nits SDR), 120Hz refresh rate with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology, and anti-reflective coating reducing glare by 65%. Color accuracy specifications include 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage with PANTONE validation for professional color workflows.

Professional Video Editing Capabilities

The RTX 5090 configuration delivers lightning-fast rendering at extreme resolutions with real-time smooth previews up to 16K and AI-powered tools for seamless stitching, reframing, and intelligent upscaling. Professional video editing support includes 10-bit 4:2:2 color format, dual AV1 encoders, and AI-accelerated enhancements including real-time stitching, frame interpolation, and video stabilization.

These specifications enable fluid multi-track 4K/8K playbook, faster exports, and enhanced stability for complex high-resolution projects involving 360° video editing workflows.

Comprehensive Hardware Specifications and Connectivity

All ProArt P16 configurations include identical connectivity specifications: USB 4.0 Gen 3 Type-C with 40Gbps data speeds and display/power delivery support, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with 10Gbps speeds, dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports at 10Gbps, HDMI 2.1 FRL output, 3.5mm combo audio jack, DC-in power, and SD Express 7.0 card reader.

Wireless connectivity features Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) triple band 2×2 configuration with Bluetooth 5.4 support. Audio includes Smart Amp Technology with built-in speakers and array microphone systems. Power delivery utilizes 90WHrs 4S1P 4-cell Li-ion batteries with 200W AC adapters providing 20V DC at 10A output.

Physical specifications maintain consistency across configurations: 4.08 lbs weight, 13.97″ x 9.72″ x 0.59″ to 0.68″ dimensions, aluminum construction, and Nano Black color finish. All models include FHD cameras with IR functionality for Windows Hello authentication.

Enhanced Creative Tools Integration

The ProArt P16 integrates multiple ASUS-exclusive AI tools beyond StoryCube, including MuseTree for additional creative workflow optimization. The system operates as a Copilot+ PC with NVIDIA RTX AI acceleration, empowering GoPro creators to work with enhanced efficiency and intuitive control.

StoryCube’s integration with ASUS Dial & Control Panel provides hardware-level shortcuts for video editing workflows, allowing creators to access trimming, cropping, speed adjustment, and color correction tools through physical controls rather than software-only interfaces.

Target Creator Ecosystem and Market Positioning

The collaboration specifically addresses creator workflow bottlenecks in five key areas: content capture through GoPro cameras, seamless file transfer and organization via StoryCube, professional editing through Adobe Premiere Pro and CapCut integration, advanced editing control through ASUS Dial hardware, and comprehensive sharing workflows optimized for 360° content.

ASUS positions this partnership as targeting “Experiencer Curators” who focus on bridging experience and storytelling through professional editing techniques, creative tool usage, powerful device showcases, real-life captures, outdoor challenges and experiences, and strong user-generated content presence.

Availability and Purchase Details

The ProArt P16 (H7606) launches today through multiple channels: ASUS Store online, Best Buy in-store and online availability. Consumer configurations with RTX 5070 GPU are immediately available, while the flagship H7606WX-XH99T model featuring RTX 5090 GPU is scheduled for Q4 2025 release.

Best Buy provides dedicated product pages for both 3K 120Hz and 4K 60Hz OLED configurations, with pricing starting at $2,399.99 for entry RTX 5070 models. The RTX 5090 flagship configuration pricing remains unannounced pending Q4 2025 availability.

Strategic Partnership Vision

ASUS indicates this collaboration represents the beginning of broader creative technology initiatives, with additional products, technologies, and partnerships planned for storytellers. The strategic timing aligns with GoPro’s MAX2 360° camera release and growing market demand for professional immersive content creation tools.

The partnership’s taglines emphasize the experiential focus: “Be A Hero” and “Where Your Story Begins” for GoPro, combined with ProArt’s creator-centric “Be the Hero of Your Story” messaging, establishing a cohesive brand narrative around adventure-driven storytelling.

The ASUS ProArt x GoPro collaboration launches today, October 7, 2025, with StoryCube availability, GoPro Premium+ subscription activation, and ProArt P16 purchase options through established retail channels. The partnership extends through December 31, 2027, for subscription benefits and represents ASUS’s strategic positioning as the definitive Windows platform for professional GoPro workflows.

The post ASUS ProArt and GoPro Launch AI-Powered StoryCube: First Windows App to Integrate 360° Video Workflows first appeared on Yanko Design.

PROS:

• Exceptional PaperMatte Display with 99% light interference elimination and 60% reflectivity reduction


• Sophisticated M-Pencil Pro with up to 10,000+ pressure levels


• Multitasking capabilities via HarmonyOS 4.3


• Outstanding battery performance with fast charging


• Premium build quality and effective thermal management

CONS:

• Limited app ecosystem


• Occasional stylus calibration issues when using keyboard


• Google services require third-party workarounds with reliability concerns


• Regional availability constraints for accessories

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS

ERGONOMICS

PERFORMANCE

SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY

VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

MatePad 12X sets a new standard for digital writing and tablet multitasking with outstanding hardware and user experience.

My MatePad 12X sits on my wooden desk, catching afternoon sunlight through its PaperMatte Display, and the naturalness of this experience continues to impress me. Three weeks of intensive testing across creative workflows, note-taking marathons, and productivity demands have confirmed that Huawei’s latest professional tablet delivers on most of its ambitious promises. But there are some critical limitations that potential buyers absolutely need to understand before making the jump.

Designer: Huawei

The MatePad 12X arrives with bold claims about transcending traditional tablet boundaries. This isn’t just another Android tablet wearing premium materials. It’s Huawei’s deliberate attempt to capture professionals who’ve grown frustrated with current ecosystem limitations while demanding paper-like writing experiences.

Design and Ergonomics

The build quality immediately impresses. Weighing 555 grams, it occupies that sweet spot between the iPad Pro’s 466-gram portability and the Galaxy Tab S9+’s 586-gram substance. The aluminum unibody construction with its 3D vapor chamber cooling system maintains comfortable temperatures during intensive creative sessions. I’ve pushed this device through hours of 4K video editing and digital illustration work without experiencing the uncomfortable heat buildup that plagues many premium tablets under sustained workloads.

Huawei’s PaperMatte Display technology represents the most significant advancement in tablet screen technology since the original iPad Pro launched. The 12.1-inch OLED panel with its innovative anti-glare coating eliminates up to 99% of light interference while reducing surface reflectivity by 60% compared to traditional tablet displays. This isn’t marketing hyperbole. The benefits become clear when working under harsh office lights or near windows during afternoon meetings. Color accuracy supports creative work, and the matte texture of the display improves the comfort of digital writing substantially.

The 2800 x 1840 resolution paired with 600 nits peak brightness creates a writing surface that replicates premium paper textures. During extended note-taking sessions spanning multiple hours, eye strain virtually disappears. The tactile feedback when using the M-Pencil Pro feels remarkably natural, eliminating that glass-on-glass sensation that makes other stylus experiences feel artificial.

Occasional stylus calibration issues may occur when using the official keyboard attachment. During my testing, I noticed minor tracking irregularities that interrupted some intensive writing sessions, though this wasn’t a consistent problem across all usage scenarios.

The magnetic attachment system for both keyboard and stylus creates satisfying tactile feedback without the wobbling issues that plague many tablet accessories. Port selection remains minimal with USB-C handling all connectivity duties, though the six-speaker HUAWEI SOUND system provides exceptional audio quality for video calls and media consumption.

Performance

This tablet performs like a legitimate professional tool rather than a consumption-focused entertainment device. The MatePad 12X delivers noticeably improved performance compared to previous models, with benchmarks placing it on par with premium tablets like the iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab S9+. Video editing in 4K resolution remains consistently smooth, complex digital illustrations render without stuttering interruptions, and multitasking between resource-intensive applications feels fluid rather than constrained.

HarmonyOS 4.3 delivers desktop-class multitasking capabilities that matches iPadOS in several crucial areas. The multi-window support enables authentic parallel processing across applications rather than the simplified app switching that characterizes most tablet experiences. I can run four active windows simultaneously while maintaining responsive performance across all applications. Desktop-class file management with proper folder structures and external drive support eliminates the file system frustrations that have historically limited tablet productivity workflows. Cross-device continuity with Huawei phones and laptops creates seamless clipboard and file sharing that rivals Apple’s ecosystem integration.

M-Pencil Pro: Advanced Stylus Capabilities

The M-Pencil Pro transforms this device from capable tablet into legitimate creative instrument. With up to 10,000+ pressure sensitivity levels and sophisticated haptic feedback, it delivers the most nuanced stylus experience outside Wacom’s professional ecosystem. The 2-millisecond latency creates natural writing flow with zero perceptible lag. Haptic feedback provides subtle tactile confirmation for brush strokes and interface interactions that traditional capacitive styluses cannot match. Tilt sensitivity enables natural shading techniques in digital art applications, while the three interchangeable pen tips provide different tactile experiences for matching preferred writing implements.

Presentation and Annotation

Beyond basic writing and drawing capabilities, the M-Pencil Pro unlocks professional workflows that extend far beyond traditional stylus applications. One standout feature is the ability to use the M-Pencil Pro as a virtual pointer or annotation pen during screen sharing. This tool allows presenters and teachers to highlight key points in real-time, making the tablet an asset for meetings and remote instruction.

Smart Snippet and Color Capture

With its advanced Snippet tool, the M-Pencil Pro lets users draw a circle around any on-screen content to instantly extract images or capture text. The stylus’s color capture ability even allows users to sample and transfer hues across devices, which proved invaluable during my design work when matching brand colors across multiple projects. These capabilities accelerate research workflows and creative processes in ways that traditional capacitive styluses simply cannot match.

Gesture Controls

The stylus supports intuitive gesture controls, such as double tapping to toggle between brush and eraser, which streamlines workflow for artists and note-takers. These gestures can be customized in select apps to further personalize the experience. During intensive illustration sessions, these shortcuts eliminated the constant need to access tool palettes, maintaining creative flow without interruption.

Stock Trading and Financial Applications

The MatePad 12X also excels for stock trading and portfolio management. For users tracking markets or trading stocks, the split-screen mode enables simultaneous market research and app activity. The M-Pencil Pro’s precision makes technical chart annotation intuitive, whether highlighting price levels, marking trends, or logging trade notes directly on the tablet. I’ve been using this setup with Trading 212 for analyzing harmonic patterns and EMA crossovers, and the ability to annotate charts while monitoring multiple timeframes transforms the tablet into a complete trading workstation.

These advanced features position the Huawei MatePad 12X and M-Pencil Pro as more than a tablet. They form a versatile workspace and creative studio that adapts to professionals, artists, educators, and active investors alike.

Battery Life

Battery performance exceeded my expectations across multiple demanding scenarios. Fourteen hours of continuous video playback during long work sessions, ten to twelve hours of intensive creative work with maximum stylus usage and brightness settings.

The 66W SuperCharge capability delivers 70% capacity in 45 minutes using Huawei’s proprietary charger. The 10,100mAh capacity provides legitimate all-day professional usage without the anxiety-inducing battery monitoring that characterizes many premium tablets.

Ecosystem Limitations

The critical limitation remains ecosystem constraints rather than hardware capabilities. Core Google services like Gmail, Drive, and the Play Store can only be accessed through third-party workaround tools like GBox or Gspace, which introduce reliability concerns and feature limitations.

Many professional applications lack native HarmonyOS versions. For users embedded in Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft 365 ecosystems, this creates workflow friction that’s difficult to ignore despite the hardware excellence. Professional software support includes full-featured WPS Office and the GoPaint creative suite, but the app selection remains limited compared to iPad Pro’s comprehensive ecosystem.

Sustainability

Huawei applies practical environmental measures through material choices and product lifecycle planning. The aluminum unibody construction utilizes recycled materials without compromising structural integrity. The packaging eliminates unnecessary plastics in favor of recyclable cardboard alternatives, though the overall package size could be more compact.

The device’s repairability scores reasonably well compared to sealed competitors. Modular components allow skilled technicians to service individual parts rather than requiring complete unit replacement. The 3D vapor chamber cooling system extends component longevity by preventing thermal stress damage that frequently necessitates premature replacement in other premium tablets.

Software support commitments extend five years from release date. This ensures security updates and feature enhancements that maintain device relevance longer than typical Android tablet lifecycles. Extended support reduces electronic waste by delaying replacement cycles while maintaining contemporary functionality standards. Huawei’s trade-in programs provide responsible disposal pathways for older devices, though availability varies significantly by region.

Value and Wrap-Up

The MatePad 12X represents Huawei’s most compelling challenge to iPad Pro dominance in recent memory. It succeeds precisely where it matters most while acknowledging ecosystem realities that potential buyers must carefully consider. At its current pricing positioning, it delivers exceptional value for users prioritizing paper-like writing experiences and sophisticated multitasking capabilities over comprehensive app ecosystem access.

For digital note-takers, this device provides substantial advantages over traditional tablets. Students managing complex academic workflows will appreciate the natural writing feel and desktop-class multitasking. Artists working within supported creative applications get professional-grade capabilities that exceed current iPad limitations in meaningful ways. The PaperMatte Display technology alone justifies consideration for users frustrated with traditional tablet glare and artificial stylus experiences.

Professionals requiring specific Adobe applications, seamless Google services integration, or comprehensive third-party app support should evaluate workflow compatibility carefully before committing. The MatePad 12X excels within its designed parameters while acknowledging that those parameters may not encompass every professional requirement. This creates a purchasing decision that depends entirely on individual workflow priorities and acceptable compromise levels.

The device succeeds in its fundamental mission of providing paper-like digital productivity while advancing tablet multitasking beyond current industry standards. Whether those considerable advantages outweigh ecosystem constraints comes down to how you actually use your tablet daily. If you’re primarily writing, sketching, and managing documents within HarmonyOS-supported applications, this tablet offers capabilities you simply cannot get elsewhere. If you need the full breadth of professional applications and services, iPad Pro remains the safer choice despite its limitations.

The post Huawei MatePad 12X Review: PaperMatte Innovation for Creatives and Professionals first appeared on Yanko Design.

The 2025 Elantra N arrived at my driveway on a Monday morning, and within the first five minutes behind the wheel, I understood why Hyundai’s N division has earned its reputation. This is not a compromised daily driver with sporty aspirations. This is a legitimate performance machine that happens to be practical enough for grocery runs.

Designer: Hyundai

At $37,545 as tested, the Elantra N undercuts the Honda Civic Type R by roughly $6,500 while delivering 276 horsepower through a chassis that feels purpose-built for enthusiast driving. That price gap matters, especially when you consider what you’re getting for the money.

Design and Ergonomics: Cohesive Performance Inside and Out

Hyundai’s “circuit sophistication” shows up everywhere: from the functional front intakes and aero management outside to the way your hands, eyes, and torso interface with the car inside. The Elantra N looks planted because it is, and the cockpit is arranged to help you drive it that way.

Air is managed with purpose outside; inputs are managed with equal intent inside. The N-mode buttons live exactly where your thumbs fall, the paddles are immediate, and the thick-rim wheel keeps your hands quiet and steady. Grippy suede on key touch zones favors control over flash. The heavily bolstered seats don’t just photograph sporty. They hold you when lateral loads build, without punishing you in the commute. Seat bolstering and hip-point height align with the car’s low roll attitude, so you feel the chassis working rather than bracing against it.

Information carries the same restraint. The N-specific cluster surfaces telemetry you want when you’re pushing, yet it never overwhelms during a coffee run. Compared to the GR Corolla’s rally bravado or the Type R’s anime aggression, Hyundai’s drama feels purposeful rather than performative. The Volkswagen GTI offers restrained elegance, the Golf R delivers understated menace, but Hyundai targets buyers who want their performance intentions visible from three lanes away.

If you want your performance car to advertise its intent from three lanes over, the Elantra N obliges. If you want the cockpit to back that up with clean ergonomics and low noise-to-signal while you’re actually driving, it does that, too. The N-specific blue accents and geometric wheel design create visual cohesion that feels intentional rather than applied by committee.

Technology That Stays Out Of The Way

The 10.25-inch touchscreen runs Hyundai’s latest infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The interface is responsive and logical. I never fumbled through menus trying to find basic functions. The navigation system worked reliably, though I primarily used CarPlay during my test week.

Hyundai’s SmartSense safety suite is standard, including forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The systems work unobtrusively in Normal mode. They’re more intrusive in Sport modes, which makes sense because the car is more aggressive in those settings. You can disable most features if they annoy you.

The sound system is good but not exceptional. It’s clear and reasonably powerful, adequate for daily use but not audiophile-grade. The active exhaust provides most of the soundtrack anyway, especially in Sport mode where it pops and crackles on overrun like a proper performance car should.

Daily Driving Reality Check

I drove the Elantra N for seven days as my only vehicle. I ran errands, sat in traffic, made highway trips, and attacked back roads whenever the opportunity presented itself. The car excelled in all those scenarios without demanding unreasonable compromises.

Fuel economy averaged 25 mpg in my mixed driving, which included plenty of enthusiastic acceleration and some sustained highway cruising. The EPA rates it at 22 city and 31 highway. Those numbers are realistic if you can resist the urge to use all that power constantly.

The ride quality is firm but never harsh. The engine note at highway speeds is present but not intrusive. The wind noise is well-controlled. This is a car you can live with every day without feeling like you’re making sacrifices for performance capability.

The Competition Context

The Honda Civic Type R costs around $44,000 and offers 315 horsepower with more aggressive styling. It’s the benchmark for front-wheel-drive performance, and it holds that crown for good reason. But that $11,000 price gap is significant, especially when the Elantra N delivers 90% of the Type R’s capability at 75% of the cost.

The Volkswagen GTI offers hot hatch refinement at a similar price point but with less power and a softer character. It’s the mature choice where the Elantra N is the enthusiast’s choice.

What Works And What Doesn’t

The Elantra N succeeds because Hyundai committed fully to the performance mission without half-measures. The chassis is properly sorted. The engine delivers usable power across the rev range. The DCT transmission offers performance and convenience in equal measure. The brakes inspire confidence. These fundamentals matter more than any individual feature or specification.

The styling won’t appeal to everyone. It’s aggressive with large intakes, a prominent rear wing, and N-branded blue accents throughout. You’ll either love the look or find it too much. There’s no middle ground, and Hyundai clearly doesn’t care about attracting buyers who want subtle performance.

The ride quality might be too firm for some buyers, particularly in Sport modes. If you prioritize comfort over handling precision, this probably isn’t your car. But if you value dynamic capability and driving engagement, the firm suspension makes sense.

The Bottom Line

The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N with the 8-speed DCT delivers legitimate performance sedan capability at a price that undercuts its primary competition by thousands of dollars. It’s quick, engaging, practical enough for daily use, and genuinely fun to drive hard. Hyundai’s N division has proven it can build cars that satisfy enthusiast drivers without requiring premium pricing.

This is the performance sedan for buyers who want the driving experience without the luxury brand markup. It’s honest, capable, and more enjoyable than its price tag suggests it has any right to be. After a week of driving it in every scenario from rush hour traffic to empty back roads, I came away impressed by how well Hyundai balanced performance and practicality.

The automatic transmission adds a layer of accessibility without compromising the car’s enthusiast credentials. Whether you’re navigating downtown traffic or attacking a favorite back road, the DCT adapts seamlessly to deliver exactly the experience you want.

If you’re shopping for a performance sedan under $35,000, the Elantra N deserves serious consideration. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone. It’s focused on delivering driving enjoyment, and it succeeds without apology.

The Subaru WRX starts around $32,000 with all-wheel drive and 271 horsepower. It’s a different character entirely, built for rally-inspired traction rather than front-wheel-drive dynamics. The WRX feels more utilitarian where the Elantra N feels more refined.

The post The 2025 Hyundai Elantra N: Korea’s Performance Statement That Actually Delivers first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Museum of Wisconsin Art is presenting chairs that Frank Lloyd Wright never saw completed. These designs existed only as sketches and architectural fragments until 2025. After seven decades buried in archives, Wright’s unbuilt chair concepts have been reconstructed for the first time, revealing the master architect’s furniture vision that time forgot.

Designer: Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design runs at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend from October 4, 2025 to January 25, 2026, bringing together more than forty works and newly fabricated chairs based on Wright’s archival drawings.

This isn’t another retrospective celebrating Wright’s famous pieces like the Robie House dining chairs or Imperial Hotel seating. These are the designs that never made it past the drawing board. Conceptual furniture that Wright envisioned but never had the chance to realize during his 70-year career.

The Museum Project Behind the Reconstructions

The project is led by MOWA’s curator of architecture and design Thomas Szolwinski in collaboration with Eric Vogel of the Taliesin Institute, with reconstructions realized by expert makers including S. Lloyd Natof, Wright’s great-grandson, and Stafford Norris III.

What makes this exhibition remarkable is the completeness of Wright’s documentation. Working with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to access and interpret archival drawings, the team discovered detailed architectural sketches, specifications, and material notes. Wright had essentially created complete furniture blueprints that his contemporaries never executed.

The reconstructed pieces span Wright’s evolution as a furniture designer across five distinct periods from 1911 to 1959. The progression shows his Prairie School geometric sensibilities transitioning through organic forms and culminating in his integration of natural materials with modernist principles.

The detailed drawings uncovered a missing chapter in Wright’s creative story. The designs were filed away in Wright’s personal archive, separate from his architectural projects.

Modern Technology Brings Vintage Designs to Life

Bringing these decades-old concepts to reality required combining traditional woodworking techniques with contemporary precision. The reconstruction team interpreted Wright’s two-dimensional drawings using modern tools while employing period-appropriate joinery methods.

The challenges were significant. Wright’s drawings sometimes lacked crucial construction details, presumably because he expected to supervise the building process personally. The team made educated interpretations based on Wright’s documented furniture-making philosophy and his documented preferences.

The reconstructions showcase diverse materials and techniques. One armchair fabricated in 2025 features cypress with upholstered fabric and gold leaf, demonstrating the range of Wright’s material vocabulary.

Many of Wright’s joint designs pushed materials to their limits, requiring tolerances that were difficult to achieve with mid-century equipment but are now feasible with modern precision tools.

Wright’s Furniture Philosophy on Display

The reconstructed chairs illuminate Wright’s approach to furniture as architectural elements rather than standalone pieces. Each design demonstrates his belief that furniture should emerge organically from the building’s overall design concept. Wright called this “integral ornamentation.”

The exhibition traces this philosophy across five distinct periods spanning 1911 to 1959, showing dramatic evolution throughout Wright’s career. Early Prairie School pieces display geometric vocabulary with right angles and linear elements that complement the horizontal emphasis of his prairie houses. Later work reveals significant shifts toward organic forms, with flowing curves that anticipate his Fallingwater period.

Highlights include first-ever fabrications of designs never built during Wright’s lifetime, such as cafe chairs envisioned for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. These cafe chairs, now realized with a Milwaukee metal-spinning firm, represent some of the exhibition’s most significant reconstructions.

Why Wright’s Contemporaries Couldn’t Build These Designs

The reconstructions reveal technical hurdles that explain why Wright’s contemporaries couldn’t execute them. Some designs required techniques that were uncommon in furniture making of that era. Others demanded precision joinery that was difficult to achieve without contemporary tools.

Wright’s specifications often pushed the limits of available materials and techniques. His joint designs required tolerances that were nearly impossible to achieve consistently with period woodworking equipment. Modern craftsmen could execute Wright’s vision precisely because today’s tools and techniques finally match his ambitious specifications.

What seemed impossibly complex decades ago became achievable in 2025 through advances in precision machining and manufacturing.

Exhibition Details and Significance

The exhibition demonstrates how great design transcends its original time period, remaining relevant and inspiring across decades. The reconstructions bring Wright’s architectural principles to physical reality.

The project also establishes a methodology for recovering other lost design treasures from architectural archives. The systematic approach to interpreting archival drawings and executing reconstructions could apply to unrealized furniture by other mid-century masters.

For Wright scholars, these chairs provide new insights into his creative process during different career phases. The evolution from geometric Prairie School forms to organic modernist curves tells the story of American design’s transformation through the 20th century.

Frank Lloyd Wright: Modern Chair Design continues at the Museum of Wisconsin Art through January 25, 2026. The exhibition offers visitors the chance to experience furniture designs that were lost to time but never lost to imagination.

The post Frank Lloyd Wright’s Long-Lost Chair Designs Finally Come to Life After 70 Years first appeared on Yanko Design.

Nissan gave its design team three words for the 2026 Sentra: daring, vitalizing, resonating. The result is a compact sedan designed to feel sculpted, premium, and connected through proportion, surface language, and atmospheric lighting. The focus: solving specific design problems rather than accumulating features.

Designer: Nissan

How do you create visual drama through restraint? How do you democratize luxury materials in a mainstream price point? How do you make a compact footprint feel spatially generous? The Sentra demonstrates that accessible pricing doesn’t require design compromise.

Exterior: Tension Through Restraint

The evolved V-motion grille integrates seamlessly into the lighting signature, sharpening Nissan’s design language while maintaining continuity. When you unlock the Sentra, the headlights choreograph a greeting: turn signals, beams, and signature lighting sequence into a ritual that transforms approach into experience.

Slim projector LED headlights appear black when dormant, revealing themselves only when activated. Visual drama emerges from tension, not decoration.

Energetic surfacing creates that tension deliberately. The sleek cabin contrasts with sharp shoulder surfaces and strong fenders. A balanced character line visually lowers the car, creating stability and presence that defies the compact footprint. Every crease and curve shapes both airflow and perception. Trunk sculpting, reduced wheel arches, and shaped mirrors define planted stance and visual motion while serving aerodynamic purpose.

Wheel designs progress from clean machined alloys to sculptural 10-spoke 18-inch wheels that emphasize movement even at standstill. Colors function as curated palettes spanning Imperial Bronze to Energetic Ember. Four two-tone combinations pair body colors with black roofs, altering proportion dramatically and creating tension between body and cabin.

The SR trim shifts the design persona through performance aesthetic: blacked-out grille, spoiler, red badging. The SL maintains restrained premium stance through crafted details rather than aggressive styling.

Interior: Visual Horizon and Material Reduction

The cabin’s defining gesture is the visual horizon line created by dual 12.3-inch displays. This simplifies the dash, flattening clutter into a modern digital plane where information becomes accessible without overwhelming. The interface prioritizes calm and clarity.

Physical buttons remain for core functions while a touch-sensitive climate control panel represents material reduction and tidy interaction design. Fewer knobs create cleaner sightlines.

Three rectangular dashboard elements house the vents, a deliberate design callback to the outgoing Sentra’s three circular vents reinterpreted for modern lines. Soft door touchpoints make every interaction intentional through tactile design decisions.

Space, Materials, Light: Orchestrating Premium

Spatial generosity defines the interior experience. Open geometry within a compact footprint demonstrates intentional moves that maximize volume and openness. The cabin feels larger than its dimensions through these spatial decisions.

Upholstery tells material narratives. TailorFit quilted leatherette with asymmetrical stitching represents democratic luxury, bringing premium textile language to compact buyers. Sport cloth with accent stitching becomes kinetic expression. These are design personas made tactile.

Ambient lighting orchestrates mood. The 64-color customizable system democratizes luxury lighting language typically limited to premium segments. This is atmospheric design tool woven into the spatial experience. Heated surfaces and dual-zone climate control function as comfort rituals.

Technology: Clutter-Free Surfaces, Connected Living

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remove cords from the cabin landscape, creating cleaner lines and reduced visual noise. Wireless charging continues that philosophy, eliminating cable clutter that typically compromises interior design.

The Bose Premium Audio system distributes sonic texture that complements visual atmosphere through acoustic architecture. The myQ Universal Garage Door Opener dissolves boundaries between transportation and living space, integrating the car into the home ecosystem.

Blind Spot Intervention functions as subtle design intervention rather than beeping system. ProPILOT Assist emphasizes human-machine partnership, reducing fatigue by sharing control. The Around View Monitor provides spatial awareness that transforms parking and maneuvering into confident, stress-free interactions. Ten airbags integrate seamlessly into the design framework, ensuring protection without compromising clean surfaces.

Design Archetypes: SR Performance, SL Premium, SV Transitional

The SR embodies performance aesthetic through blacked-out grille, spoiler, 18-inch wheels, and two-tone roof treatment. Visual distinction emerges through design detail, not aggressive styling.

The SL represents crafted premium through quilted upholstery, ambient orchestration, and machined aluminum wheels. Attainable luxury positioning through designed refinement rather than badge engineering.

The SV Premium offers transitional luxury, combining ambient lighting, wireless charging, heated surfaces, and upgraded audio for buyers seeking premium design elements.

Motion: Supporting the Design Mission

A retuned 2.0-liter engine and CVT underpin the design focus, making the ride quieter and more composed. Rigid structure engineered for silence and smoothness serves spatial experience. The powertrain exists to support the design mission: making the compact sedan feel premium through every interaction, every surface, every moment.

The transformation earned validation in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Initial Quality Study, confirming that design excellence and reliability coexist. The 2026 Nissan Sentra reaches showrooms later this year, redefining what compact sedans can achieve through intentional design thinking.

The post The 2026 Nissan Sentra Redefines Compact Premium Through Daring Design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Porsche revealed the interior of its upcoming electric Cayenne on September 30, 2025, and I’m experiencing the kind of cognitive dissonance that only comes from loving something I fundamentally disagree with. The cabin features what the company calls the largest continuous digital surface in any Porsche to date. Translation: screens everywhere. As someone who prefers minimal dashboard clutter, I should hate this. But Porsche’s execution here is genuinely impressive, even if it represents everything wrong with modern automotive design philosophy.

Designer: Porsche

Let me be clear about my bias upfront. After reviewing vehicles for over a decade, I’ve developed a strong preference for physical controls. Give me a rotary dial for volume, actual buttons for climate control, and a small display for Apple CarPlay. That’s all I need. Everything else just creates more opportunities for distraction and frustration. The industry’s obsession with touchscreens has turned dashboards into iPad showrooms, and I’m tired of it. But then Porsche goes and creates something like this.

Three Layers of Interaction

Porsche’s approach to the Cayenne Electric interior centers on what I’d describe as three distinct interaction layers. First, there’s the glance layer: a 14.25-inch curved OLED instrument cluster that bends horizontally to favor the driver’s sightline, paired with an optional augmented-reality head-up display. This is information you consume without touching anything.

Second is the touch layer, anchored by what Porsche calls the Flow Display. This is where the interface design gets genuinely interesting, and where my skepticism starts to crack.

Third is the tactile layer: physical buttons for key functions that you use most frequently while driving. Temperature, fan speed, volume. The stuff that should never require diving through touchscreen menus when you’re moving at highway speeds.

This three-layer framework represents Porsche trying to reconcile driver focus with customer demand for integrated entertainment. Rather than creating a single wall of glass like some competitors, the brand is using curvature, AR guidance, and selective hard controls to maintain some connection to traditional cockpit ergonomics.

The Flow Display

Porsche’s Flow Display is the center of the Cayenne Electric’s interior story. It’s a curved OLED that drops from the dashboard toward the console, so your wrist meets the glass at a natural angle rather than an upright plane. The curve is functional for reach and for stabilizing taps on the lower interface zones. Directly ahead, the 14.25-inch curved OLED cluster bends along a different axis to favor the driver’s sightline, which keeps EV power, navigation, and assistance info legible at a glance.

Together they make the largest continuous digital surface Porsche has put in a production cabin, but the company still leaves physical buttons for key functions to reduce menu diving in motion. Five predefined color schemes can be applied across the cluster, Flow Display, and passenger screen through a Themes App, turning the software layer into part of the cabin’s material palette.

I’ve seen plenty of curved displays in vehicles over the years, from the Mercedes-Benz S-Class to the Cadillac Escalade. Most feel gimmicky, like the design team added curves just because they could. The Flow Display’s vertical curve actually serves a purpose. After years of stretching to tap screens in various test vehicles, I appreciate the thought behind meeting my fingers at a more comfortable angle. It’s a subtle detail, but one that suggests actual human factors testing rather than pure aesthetics.

The Themes App detail is worth noting because it shows Porsche treating digital surfaces as coordinated design elements rather than isolated screens. You’re not just picking a wallpaper. You’re establishing a visual language across the entire dashboard that integrates with your interior trim choices. For a brand that obsesses over material quality and color matching, this makes more sense than I’d like to admit.

When Two Screens Aren’t Enough

An optional 14.9-inch passenger display lets the right seat control media, apps, and navigation features, with video playback allowed while driving. Porsche says the setup avoids distracting the driver, and several reports add that a polarized layer limits visibility from the driver’s angle. Keep it for road trips and copilots who actually manage routes, otherwise it risks duplicating what phones already do better.

My personal preference would be to use my phone for entertainment content. It’s already configured with my accounts, my preferences, my content libraries. Why do I need a separate infotainment ecosystem that inevitably provides a worse user experience? But I recognize that many people want more integration, more seamless connectivity between their vehicle and their digital life. That’s the market speaking, and manufacturers are listening.

The augmented-reality head-up display projects guidance and speed into the driver’s forward view with an effective size of 8.7 inches. Use it if you like arrows on the road ahead. If you don’t, the curved cluster is already doing the glance work. I’ve used HUDs in countless vehicles, and my opinion on them remains unchanged. Some people swear by them. I find them distracting and unnecessary, one more piece of visual information competing for attention when you should be watching the road.

The Screen Debate

Stephan Durach, BMW’s Senior Vice President for UI/UX Development, recently told BMW Blog that passenger screens are in high demand, especially in larger vehicles. “People are asking for that,” he explained. “People say, ‘I want to have a dedicated screen for consuming content.’ There is room. So, you can think about that.”

I understand the appeal from a product planning perspective. American buyers love options and choices. If some customers want passenger entertainment systems, why not offer them? The counterargument is that just because people ask for something doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. We’re increasingly treating vehicles like mobile living rooms, with every occupant consuming their own content through their own screen. At some point, we’ve lost the plot on what cars are actually for.

What Porsche Isn’t Saying Yet

The interior recently revealed focused on the digital interface rather than full performance specifications. Porsche hasn’t disclosed final power output, acceleration figures, or detailed battery specifications in this announcement. Those details will presumably arrive with the world premiere at the end of 2025.

What we do know is that Porsche will offer an 11-kW wireless charging pad, launching first in Europe in 2026 before expanding to other markets. I’ve tested wireless charging systems in a few vehicles, and while the convenience factor is undeniable, the efficiency loss compared to wired charging makes me question the value proposition. You’re paying more for the privilege of slower, less efficient charging, though the 11-kW capability is reasonably competitive for inductive systems.

Standard air suspension comes on all models, with optional rear-wheel steering that reduces the turning circle. That’s genuinely useful in a vehicle this size, making parking lot maneuvering significantly easier. The Active Ride system from the Panamera and Taycan will also be available, providing impressive body control and ride comfort.

The Electric Cayenne in Context

Porsche’s commitment to keeping the combustion-powered Cayenne well into the next decade reveals something important about EV adoption. The market isn’t progressing as quickly as manufacturers hoped a few years ago. Rather than forcing a full electric transition, Porsche is hedging its bets by offering both powertrains simultaneously. The same strategy applies to the Macan, where the electric version will coexist with a new gasoline-powered model arriving in 2028.

This pragmatic approach makes sense given current market realities. Some buyers want electric. Many don’t, at least not yet. Offering both options maximizes potential sales while giving the charging infrastructure more time to mature. The Cayenne Electric represents Porsche’s best effort at making EVs appealing to luxury SUV buyers who might otherwise stick with traditional engines.

As for the interior’s screen situation, it’s simultaneously the most impressive and most excessive I’ve seen from Porsche. The execution is genuinely impressive, with thoughtful ergonomics and quality OLED displays. The three-layer interaction model shows more restraint than a pure touchscreen approach, and the Flow Display’s vertical curve actually solves reach and tap accuracy problems rather than just looking different.

But I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve collectively normalized maximum complexity when minimum would serve most people better. Porsche is doing this well because customers are demanding integrated entertainment and the brand is responding with curvature, selective physical controls, and coordinated design language. That doesn’t mean it’s the right direction, just that it’s the direction the market is pushing everyone.

The world premiere happens at the end of 2025, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026. Porsche hasn’t announced pricing yet, but expect a significant premium over the gasoline model. You’re paying for advanced electric powertrain technology, the largest continuous digital surface in any Porsche, and apparently, enough screens to satisfy the most demanding copilots.

The post The Porsche Cayenne Electric Wants You to Forget Physical Buttons Exist first appeared on Yanko Design.

Revealed during the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Charlotte is a six leg construction robot from Crest Robotics that targets speed as the central problem. The makers say the machine can complete the shell of a 200 square meter (2,150 square foot) dwelling in about 24 hours. Coverage compares that output to 100 bricklayers over the same period. The idea pairs a walking chassis with an under carriage fabrication system so the body hovers over the wall path while the legs step the machine forward.

Designer: Charlotte Robots

The housing crisis affects millions globally. Labor shortages, material delays, and weather sensitive construction methods create bottlenecks that prevent communities from building fast enough to meet demand. Charlotte represents an attempt to bypass those constraints through mobile robotics and locally sourced materials. The approach also addresses site first logistics by reducing material transport and minimizing the number of trades required on site, lowering both carbon footprint and project costs.

How the Six Leg Chassis Works

Charlotte uses a six leg walking system that keeps the center fabrication module stable while the legs handle uneven terrain and height adjustments. This mobility approach eliminates the need for large gantry systems. The body positions itself over the build path and advances continuously as walls take shape.

The hexapod design means the Charlotte robot adapts to site conditions without extensive ground preparation. Conventional construction robots either require fixed gantry installations or handle only single tasks like rebar tying. Charlotte combines mobility with complete wall fabrication in one machine.

The makers describe the system as semi-autonomous, meaning it can execute programmed building plans but requires supervision. Details about sensor systems, mapping capabilities, and safety rated control layers have not been published.

How the Fabric Forming System Builds Walls

The under carriage holds the fabrication system developed with partner Earthbuilt Technology. Rather than extruding concrete like many 3D printing systems, Charlotte’s process involves fabric forming and compaction. The system collects local aggregates like sand, waste glass, or crushed brick, meters material into a fabric sleeve, then compacts repeated courses to create layered walls.

Earthbuilt describes a cement free recipe that packs local aggregates and waste streams into fabric sleeves then compacts them into structural courses. The companies also claim flood and fire resistance, although independent test data and certifications have not been published.

This approach resembles engineered earthbag construction more than traditional contour printing. The process requires no firing and generates minimal waste when materials come from nearby sources. Local material sourcing lowers the carbon footprint when aggregate collection happens near build sites.

From Earth Construction to Lunar Habitats

Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt frame Charlotte as suitable for both terrestrial housing and future lunar base construction. The reasoning centers on two factors: Charlotte’s compact bio-inspired design and its ability to work with in situ materials. On the Moon, the same compaction approach would use regolith (lunar soil) instead of sand or crushed brick.

The teams showcased Charlotte through Australia’s Space Plus program during IAC week with support from the New South Wales government. SmartSat CRC helped coordinate the demonstration. Multiple outlets covered the reveal, connecting Charlotte to state funding for space capable technologies. The lunar application remains speculative and represents a long term roadmap rather than validated field trials.

The Development Reality Check

Charlotte exists today as a working prototype with a field ready unit still in development. The IAC showcase signals intent and funding momentum. Real deployment will depend on published structural numbers, code approvals, and a clear integration playbook for doors, windows, services, and roof connections.

Several critical specifications remain undisclosed. The maker pages do not provide nozzle bore, layer height, compaction pressure, compressive strength, or print tolerance data. Environmental operating parameters including temperature range, dust management capabilities, and wind tolerance limits are not documented.

What Is Not Published Yet

Critical specs not disclosed include:

• Power draw and energy requirements
• Total mass and dimensional envelope
• Nozzle specifications and layer height
• Compaction pressure and print tolerance
• Compressive strength and shear resistance values
• Long term durability testing results
• Environmental operating envelope (temperature, wind, dust)
• Code approvals and structural certifications

The 200 square meter target in 24 hours represents maker claims rather than certified benchmarks. ABC coverage and press materials reference these figures from IAC briefings and demonstrations. The productivity comparison to 100 bricklayers provides context but lacks independent verification.

Addressing Real Housing Deficits

Labor constraints and project delays make it difficult to tackle housing shortages in markets worldwide. The Charlotte construction robot aims to address these bottlenecks through rapid shell construction. The 3D printed structures using Earthbuilt’s material system makers claim flood and fire resistant shells faster and cheaper than traditional building methods, though these performance claims await independent testing.

The cement free approach reduces embodied energy compared to conventional concrete construction. These environmental advantages depend on supply chain execution and final structural performance.

Such solutions will not suit all markets, climates, or customer preferences. Building codes vary significantly across regions. Aesthetic expectations differ. Climate specific performance requirements create additional hurdles. But for communities bearing the brunt of housing deficits, Charlotte represents a promising approach to partially tackling these issues.

The Bigger Picture

Construction robotics continues evolving from single task automation toward integrated systems that handle complete structural elements. Charlotte’s combination of mobility, material flexibility, and semi-autonomous operation pushes this evolution forward. The hexapod design solves ground preparation problems that plague gantry systems. The fabric bound compaction process accommodates locally available materials rather than requiring specialized supply chains.

The development timeline means years will pass before Charlotte demonstrates its capabilities on actual housing projects. That gap provides time for structural testing, code certification, and real world validation. It also allows the team to address the disclosed specification gaps and environmental operating parameters.

For architects, the interest lies in whether Charlotte evolves into a library of permitted wall assemblies as reliable as today’s block or timber standards. The promise depends on documented tolerances, comprehensive structural data, and code approved assemblies. Charlotte’s approach could enable rapid shell construction if the team publishes that technical foundation and works through regional approval pathways. Whether Charlotte achieves its 24 hour housing target or adapts successfully to lunar environments remains to be seen. The attempt itself illustrates how construction robotics continues pushing toward faster, more flexible, and more sustainable building methods. For the millions affected by housing shortages, any solution that accelerates supply deserves attention.

The post Charlotte robot aims to build a 200 square meter home in 24 hours first appeared on Yanko Design.

Porsche maintains one of the most conservative design philosophies in automotive history. For six decades, the 911’s distinctive silhouette has remained immediately recognizable, evolving gradually to preserve what purists consider sacrosanct. Heritage defines the brand’s design language more rigidly than almost any other automotive manufacturer.

Designer: Porsche + The Kyza (NOT A COLLAB)

Khyzyl Saleem (The Kyza) refuses to accept those boundaries. His latest Khyzyl Saleem render, the 911-X, transforms a 964-generation Porsche into something that challenges immediate recognition. This isn’t a Porsche 911 restomod in the traditional sense but something more provocative: a digital concept that functions simultaneously as love letter and act of vandalism to Porsche’s legacy. Building his reputation on cyberpunk-influenced renderings that pushed automotive design into science fiction territory, Saleem now demonstrates newfound maturity in technical execution while maintaining his confrontational aesthetic. His Instagram feed attracts millions of impressions, and his Live To Offend brand translates digital concepts into purchasable body kits, blurring the line between fantasy and physical reality. This digital-to-physical crossover positions Saleem as part of a generation reshaping automotive culture from outside traditional industry pathways, where social media engagement metrics rival manufacturer announcements in cultural impact.

Dissecting the Design Transformation

Tradition dies at the front fascia, where Porsche’s identity has remained most consistent throughout six decades of evolution. Gone are the 964’s signature circular headlights, replaced by elongated LED units extending horizontally across the entire width. This singular modification fundamentally transforms the car’s character, establishing a visual language reminiscent of classic Datsun Z-cars rather than traditional Porsche design. The front end now reads aggressive rather than friendly, menacing rather than approachable. It’s a provocative choice that immediately signals this isn’t a respectful homage to heritage but a deliberate rejection of constraints that define what a 911 should look like.

A comprehensive widebody kit dramatically extends the 964’s proportions beyond anything Porsche would sanction from Zuffenhausen. Fender flares don’t bolt on as afterthoughts but integrate seamlessly with the body panels, creating an aggressive stance that contemporary performance cars demand. Every surface flows deliberately into the next, calculated and thoroughly engineered despite its radical departure from orthodoxy. Nothing here suggests compromise or hesitation in the design direction. The widebody work reads as factory original rather than aftermarket addition, which speaks to Saleem’s understanding of automotive surfacing principles. Each panel transition maintains tension across the form, preventing the visual softness that plagues poorly executed widebody kits. Where amateur designers simply add width, Saleem reshapes the entire body architecture to accommodate the expanded proportions naturally.

At the rear, Porsche’s restraint collapses into spectacle. A Koenig-style spoiler dominates the tail, referencing the audacious Koenig Specials from the 1980s that similarly defied Porsche’s design conservatism. Rising from the decklid like a brutalist cantilever, the rear wing doesn’t merely sit on the car but erupts from it, reshaping the entire rear profile into something aggressive and uncompromising. Traditional taillights vanish beneath extensive carbon fiber work and the prominent spoiler assembly. Remove the subtle ‘Carrera’ text and the fundamental side profile, and nothing here reads as Porsche anymore. The rear treatment alone would trigger existential debates among Porsche purists about whether modifications this extreme still constitute a 911 or become something else entirely. This Koenig Specials inspiration channels an era when independent tuners challenged manufacturer orthodoxy, transforming conservative German sports cars into outrageous performance statements.

Carbon fiber dominates the material story across every functional surface. Front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, various accent pieces all receive the exposed carbon treatment, visible and unapologetic about their purpose. A two-tone paint scheme divides the body into distinct color zones, with warm orange contrasting against cream or beige panels. This approach generates visual complexity without compromising the overall compositional harmony that prevents the design from collapsing into chaotic excess. Materials communicate intent as clearly as form does throughout the entire composition. Matte finish swallows light, erasing reflections until the car reads like sculpture rather than transportation. Carbon weave remains visible in places, technical and uncompromising in its refusal to hide manufacturing processes behind smooth surfaces. The designer isn’t concealing how things are made but celebrating construction methods as design elements worthy of direct attention and appreciation.

Aerodynamic wheel covers conceal the underlying rim design, contributing to the car’s futuristic aesthetic while serving functional purposes that extend beyond pure visual drama. These aren’t rims in the traditional sense but bronze sculptures locked in motion, art pieces that happen to rotate at highway speeds. Roof fins introduce another layer of visual interest and presumably provide high-speed stability benefits that justify their presence beyond aesthetics. Intakes carved into the rear glass panel suggest functional cooling requirements for a mid-mounted engine configuration that may or may not exist in this digital concept. Every element claims aerodynamic or functional justification, though separating genuine engineering from aesthetic theater becomes difficult without wind tunnel data.

Maximalist Coherence Without Chaos

Despite the abundance of design elements competing for attention across every visible surface, the 911-X maintains surprising visual cohesion that prevents sensory overload. Each component connects to the next through deliberate surfacing techniques and proportion relationships that tie disparate elements into a unified whole. Maximalist approaches easily devolve into visual chaos when restraint disappears entirely, but Saleem’s execution demonstrates how complexity can remain harmonious when every element serves the overarching design narrative rather than existing as isolated flourishes. The discipline required to balance this many competing visual elements without descending into automotive maximalism’s typical pitfalls reveals Saleem’s design maturity.

The 911-X avoids that trap because every vent and splitter ties back into a unified visual language. Nothing feels arbitrary or added as an afterthought. Where early-career digital artists often add elements simply because software allows it, experienced designers understand subtraction matters as much as addition. Too often, widebody kits pile on visual elements without considering how each addition affects the overall composition, resulting in designs that look busy rather than purposeful. The concept walks that line successfully, proving maximalism and coherence need not be mutually exclusive in automotive design.

From Digital Fantasy to Physical Products

The path from audacious renders to tangible products mirrors how car culture itself has evolved. Early work featured seemingly impossible cyberpunk renderings that prioritized visual impact over engineering feasibility, digital art unconstrained by physics or manufacturing limitations. Those concepts established his reputation and attracted attention from automotive enthusiasts worldwide who craved visual experiences that production vehicles could never deliver. His Instagram feed became a gallery of automotive science fiction, each render more audacious than the last.

Evolution accelerated when he began translating digital concepts into tangible products that enthusiasts could actually purchase and install. His design for the TWR Supercat demonstrated that his aesthetic sensibility could function on actual roads, with real aerodynamics, meeting actual regulations. Live To Offend, the brand he established, manufactures body kits, spoilers, and aerodynamic components that transcend mere digital fantasies to become physical products. This transition from digital artist to product manufacturer fundamentally changed how his concepts are perceived and discussed within automotive culture. Suddenly, Saleem’s renders carried commercial weight beyond artistic expression.

This progression makes the 911-X particularly compelling from both artistic and commercial perspectives. Every element could theoretically be manufactured using current production methods without requiring breakthrough technologies or impossible materials. Widebody panels, the front fascia, wheel covers, carbon components all represent achievable modifications rather than pure fantasy that could never leave the rendering software. If sufficient demand materializes among Porsche enthusiasts willing to radically transform their 964s, Saleem has demonstrated the infrastructure and capability to bring at least portions of this concept to market as purchasable components. The business model exists. The manufacturing relationships are established. The distribution network functions.

Translation from pixels to products becomes increasingly plausible with each successful Live To Offend component release, suggesting the 911-X might eventually transition from provocative rendering to actual street presence. Whether the market exists for such extreme modifications remains uncertain, but Saleem’s track record suggests he understands better than most which digital concepts can successfully transition to physical products. The 911-X exists in that provocative space between impossible dream and achievable reality, where controversy generates demand and demand justifies production.

Sacred Heritage or Creative Constraint?

Automotive manufacturers face constraints that independent designers can ignore entirely when creating concepts for personal portfolios. Brand heritage limits what forms feel authentic to a marque’s identity, preventing radical departures that alienate existing customers. Production economics demand compromises between vision and manufacturing reality, where beautiful designs get value-engineered into mediocrity. Regulatory compliance restricts aerodynamic possibilities that look dramatic but create pedestrian safety concerns that invite lawsuits and government intervention. Market expectations constrain visual risk-taking when billions in development costs require broad appeal across diverse demographics and global markets.

Porsche couldn’t produce the 911-X even if internal designers desperately wanted to, because it violates too many brand principles that fundamentally define the company’s identity and market position. Conservative evolution rather than revolutionary transformation has been Porsche’s design strategy for decades, a philosophy that has served the company extraordinarily well financially. This is precisely why concepts like the 911-X matter significantly within automotive design discourse. Independent designers explore trajectories that brands cannot pursue, revealing possibilities that challenge prevailing assumptions about what functions visually within established design languages. Some elements from radical concepts might influence future production designs in subtle ways that mainstream audiences never consciously notice. Others serve primarily as artistic expression that expands the discourse about automotive aesthetics without ever directly influencing what gets manufactured.

The 911-X poses a fundamental question that divides automotive enthusiasts along philosophical lines. Is Porsche’s iconic design language sacred heritage deserving preservation, or creative constraint preventing exploration? Answers depend entirely on perspective and personal values regarding tradition versus innovation. Purists perceive the gradual evolution as essential to maintaining brand identity and ensuring each generation remains unmistakably Porsche, arguing that continuity represents strength rather than limitation. They see the 911’s consistent form as a feature, not a bug, that distinguishes Porsche from competitors chasing fleeting trends. To them, the 911-X represents automotive blasphemy, desecration of design principles that have defined excellence for six decades.

Others view the conservatism as boundaries preventing exploration of alternative visual directions that could attract new audiences while potentially alienating existing devotees. They see opportunities constrained by nostalgia for forms that originated in a different automotive era when performance, safety, and aerodynamic requirements differed dramatically. Progress, in this view, requires occasionally abandoning what came before rather than endlessly iterating on the same fundamental shape. Revolution, not evolution. Disruption, not refinement. To them, the 911-X represents liberation from dogma, imagination unshackled from marketing committee consensus. The controversy itself validates the concept’s cultural significance.

How Instagram Renders Shape Automotive Reality

This generation of digital designers built careers on Instagram, ArtStation, and online portfolios rather than traditional studios, and Saleem stands at the forefront. No formal automotive design education required, no years spent erasing whiteboards at manufacturer studios, no automotive industry gatekeepers controlling access to audiences. Just talent, vision, and social media algorithms that amplify compelling visual work to global audiences instantaneously. This democratization of design visibility enables talented artists to reach massive audiences and influence automotive culture without traditional industry approval mechanisms that once determined who got seen and who remained obscure.

The artist now functions like a parallel brand, building devoted followings that rival established automotive publications in reach and engagement metrics. His renders generate more online engagement than many manufacturer announcements, attracting millions of impressions within hours of posting. His aesthetic influences other designers, both digital and traditional, creating ripple effects throughout automotive design communities. Studio designers at major manufacturers follow his work closely, aftermarket companies reference his forms when developing their own products, and enthusiasts debate his concepts in forums and comment sections with the same intensity previously reserved for discussing actual production vehicles.

The influence flows bidirectionally now. Digital artists like Saleem draw inspiration from automotive history and contemporary production vehicles, then manufacturers observe which digital reinterpretations resonate most strongly with online audiences. Traditional hierarchies collapse when Instagram engagement metrics matter as much as industry recognition. This matters because audience reception on platforms like Instagram now carries weight that rivals traditional automotive journalism and professional design criticism. When a digital concept generates millions of impressions and thousands of shares, manufacturers notice these signals. They observe which design directions resonate with audiences that traditional focus groups miss, particularly younger demographics that will define the automotive market’s future.

Digital designers like Saleem effectively conduct massive, ongoing market research through their social media presence, testing visual ideas at a scale and speed impossible through traditional automotive development processes. The feedback arrives immediately rather than months later through focus group reports. The sample size reaches millions rather than dozens. The cost approaches zero rather than hundreds of thousands in research budgets. Digital automotive design culture has become a parallel R&D department operating outside manufacturer control, exploring aesthetic territories that corporate risk aversion would never permit. The 911-X exemplifies this dynamic perfectly, asking questions about Porsche’s future that Porsche itself cannot afford to ask publicly.

The 911-X is not about consensus. It’s about forcing a choice. To purists, it’s vandalism: the destruction of a sacred form that Porsche itself has guarded for decades. To others, it’s liberation, proof that icons can evolve through imagination unburdened by corporate restraint. Either way, the concept succeeds because it makes the debate unavoidable.

Whether you see it as sculpture, sacrilege, or the future of digital-to-physical car culture, the 911-X leaves only one certainty. Porsche may own the badge, but visionaries like The Kyza now shape the conversation.

The post The Kyza 911-X: How a Digital Artist Rewrites Porsche’s Most Sacred Icon first appeared on Yanko Design.

My iPhone 17 Pro Max sits on my copper desk right now, glowing in Cosmic Orange against the warm metal surface. No case. No screen protector. Eleven days of daily abuse since launch on September 19. According to YouTube, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter), this phone should be covered in iPhone 17 Pro Max scratches. The camera plateau edges should show silver aluminum bleeding through the finish. Keys in my pocket should have etched permanent marks across the back glass. My daily-use test period did not reproduce those claims.

Design: Apple

The Viral iPhone 17 Pro Max Scratchgate Panic

Within hours of the iPhone 17 Pro Max launch, social media exploded with scratch complaints. YouTube creators uploaded videos titled “Scratchgate is Real” showing close-ups of damaged store demo units. Reddit threads collected photos claiming Apple Store displays looked “wrecked” after just a few hours. Tech reporters amplified the narrative with the hashtag scratchgate, warning that the new Pro models scratch easier than any previous iPhone.

The claims focused on one specific area: the camera plateau. This redesigned housing for the rear cameras wraps around with what some called sharp edges. Videos showed silver aluminum showing through colored finishes on Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange models. JerryRigEverything posted durability tests highlighting damage at the plateau edges during controlled Mohs hardness testing with mineral picks.

I decided to test it myself with an anecdotal real-world durability test. Do not put much stock in what you read and see on the internet without evidence. Keys in the same pocket as the phone during every commute. My desk setup includes a copper work surface, rough wood sections, and glass panels. The phone migrates between all of them throughout the day. I set it down carelessly while checking stock charts on my monitor. I slide it around to make room for notebooks and cameras.

My watch clasp has created visible wear on my MacBook Pro’s left edge over the years from repeated contact. This proves aluminum can show damage from daily friction over extended periods. The iPhone can experience similar abuse and is expected to wear over time. It rests on copper desk surfaces, rough wood sections, and sits in the same pocket as my keys during every commute. Will the plateau aluminum eventually show micro-abrasions over months or years of use? Probably. Anodized aluminum is not indestructible. But if the plateau were as catastrophically fragile as viral videos claimed, I should see significant damage after eleven days of deliberate abuse. My test period resulted in zero visible scratches on the plateau edges.

What Early Videos Got Wrong About Material Transfer

Apple made an official statement about the store demo “scratches” that most creators ignored. Apple says many store demo marks came from material transfer off worn MagSafe stands and can be cleaned with a microfiber cloth. That is different from permanent etching. Worn charging accessories in Apple Stores transfer dark residue onto phone backs, creating cosmetic marks that look like scratches in photos but wipe away with gentle cleaning.

This distinction matters tremendously. Material transfer is removable. Actual scratches are permanent etching that penetrates the protective coating. You cannot clean off a real scratch. Store fixtures magnified residue that wipes clean. I tested this with my Cosmic Orange unit after a week of pocket carry. A microfiber cloth removed the cosmetic marks completely, revealing pristine finish underneath.

The Ceramic Shield 2 Reality Check

Apple says the front uses Ceramic Shield 2 with a new coating for three times better scratch resistance. For the first time, the back is Ceramic Shield, and Apple claims four times better crack resistance versus prior back glass. My testing focused on day-to-day scuff and scratch behavior in real-world use.

These numbers are not marketing fluff. My test period validated them. I deliberately subjected this phone to scenarios that damage most devices. Keys share a pocket with the phone during every commute. The phone sits on various desk surfaces throughout the day, including rough wood and metal edges. I handle it constantly without the careful placement most people use with expensive electronics.

The front display shows no visible marks. The back Ceramic Shield glass remains flawless. Even the camera plateau edges look factory fresh. The phone genuinely resists everyday abrasion exactly as Apple claimed.

Why The Camera Plateau Actually Enhances Durability

The most criticized element in early videos may actually improve day-to-day durability. Apple redesigned the camera housing into what they call a plateau. This larger surface area wraps around the camera lenses. Apple places antennas around the perimeter. The plateau increases internal volume for components and battery, and it defines the primary contact zone when the phone rests on its back. Many creators called this design controversial or even ugly. They claimed it creates a weak point where the anodized aluminum shows damage easily.

The opposite is true in practice. The raised plateau concentrates contact on a defined area of the back rather than distributing pressure across multiple points. This design choice appears to limit how much of the back panel contacts surfaces during normal use. My test period showed this geometry working as intended, with plateau edges remaining pristine despite regular desk and surface contact. Edge wear concentrates at corners on any anodized aluminum, which explains why that zone got attention in early videos.

The Aluminum Confusion That Misled Everyone

Many people claimed the iPhone 17 Pro Max should behave identically to MacBooks and iPad Pro models because they all use aluminum. This comparison seems logical but misses critical details about alloy choice, surface treatment, and manufacturing priorities.

Yes, all three product lines use aluminum as the base metal family. No, they do not use identical finished parts or surface treatments. The iPhone 17 Pro Max features what Apple describes as heat or laser-forged, thermally conductive aluminum. This aerospace-grade alloy gets optimized for maximum thermal management. The company switched from titanium specifically to improve heat dissipation for the integrated vapor chamber cooling system.

MacBooks and iPad Pro models often use 100 percent recycled aluminum that Apple emphasizes for sustainability. These devices have different structural and thermal requirements. Laptops sit on desks and dissipate heat through keyboard decks and bottom panels. Tablets get held but experience less intensive thermal loads than phones running AAA games or professional video capture. The alloy compositions differ to serve these distinct use cases.

Surface treatments vary even more significantly. iPhone anodization gets applied in thin, consistent layers over complex curved surfaces and sharp edges. MacBook enclosures use thicker anodization on simpler geometries with rounded edges. These manufacturing choices affect how visible wear appears and where micro-abrasions show up first. Edges show wear first on any anodized device, which aligns with material science and with my expectations for long-term use.

What iFixit’s Microscopy Actually Shows

The Verge reported iFixit’s microscopy findings that supposedly proved the iPhone 17 Pro Max scratches easily. This reporting created significant panic across social media. People pointed to professional analysis with microscopic imaging as definitive proof of fragility. The context matters more than the headline.

iFixit examined the camera plateau at high magnification and found microscopic spalling and surface disruption at the anodized edges. The microscopy shows brittle behavior at sharp anodized corners that can expose silver base metal through color finishes on darker models over extended time. This sounds damning until you understand what microscopy reveals about all anodized surfaces. Every anodized aluminum product shows micro-abrasions at the molecular level under sufficient magnification. These imperfections exist on MacBooks that people consider durable. They appear on previous iPhones that held up well. They are present on any anodized surface exposed to handling and environmental contact.

The critical question is visibility to the naked eye during normal use. My iPhone 17 Pro Max plateau edges show no visible marks after my test period. No exposed metal. No scratches you can see without laboratory equipment. Microscopy reveals micro-features that do not map one-to-one to daily appearance.

The Content Creator Incentive Problem

YouTube’s algorithm rewards controversy. A video titled “iPhone 17 Pro Max Scratches in 24 Hours” gets more views than “iPhone 17 Pro Max Holds Up Well After Testing.” Creators understand this. They optimize for engagement, not accuracy. Early controversial takes about new products drive traffic and revenue. Affiliate case sales add another incentive layer. Many creators who warned about easy scratching linked to protective cases and screen protectors in their video descriptions. These affiliate links generate commission on every sale. Creating urgency about protection needs directly benefits the creator financially.

Testing methodology failures compounded these incentive problems. Most durability videos came out within 24 to 48 hours of launch. Creators received review units or purchased phones on launch day, ran quick tests, and published fast to capture search traffic. They did not distinguish between removable residue and permanent etching. They did not test whether marks cleaned off. They certainly did not conduct eleven-day real-world use tests before declaring the phones fragile.

JerryRigEverything’s testing exemplifies this methodology gap. His Mohs hardness test uses mineral picks to measure coating removal thresholds under controlled scratching with progressively harder materials. This does not model keys, coins, or normal desk surface contact. His findings show damage concentrated at sharp plateau edges, matching the iFixit microscopy analysis of edge geometry effects. The Mohs test measures material hardness under deliberate scoring with geological specimens, not real-world abrasion resistance during daily use.

The YouTube Shorts format made this worse. Creators could extract the most dramatic ten seconds from longer videos, add alarming text overlays, and spread panic without context. These shorts spread across platforms faster than full reviews with methodology explanations. People saw clips of plateau edge damage without hearing that it came from deliberate hardness tests or removable transfer marks.

I understand why this happened. Creators need views to survive. The algorithm punishes nuance and rewards alarm. But the collective effect created a false narrative that contradicts my actual testing experience. The iPhone 17 Pro Max does not scratch easily. It scratches exactly as you would expect from anodized aluminum with Ceramic Shield protection.

What Apple Got Right That Few Believed

Apple issued a measured response during the peak of scratchgate panic. The company addressed the store demo concerns directly, explaining that many reported scratches were actually material transfer from worn MagSafe charging stands and display fixtures. This residue accumulates on phone backs and looks like permanent damage in photos, but a microfiber cloth removes it completely. Apple distinguished clearly between removable cosmetic marks and actual etching that penetrates the protective coating.

The statement also covered the camera plateau design that drew the most criticism. Apple confirmed the edges use standard anodized aluminum finish identical to other products in their lineup, including MacBooks and iPad Pro models. The company acknowledged that sharp anodized edges naturally show micro-abrasions over extended use periods. This counts as normal wear characteristics for this surface treatment, not a manufacturing defect or design flaw.

My eleven-day testing period validates every element of Apple’s technical explanation. The material transfer claim proved accurate when I cleaned my Cosmic Orange unit after a week of pocket carry. The anodized aluminum durability matched the company’s specifications exactly. The plateau edges remained pristine despite the rough handling that viral videos claimed would destroy them immediately. Apple told the truth while the internet amplified panic.

The Real Durability Story After Eleven Days

The phone resisted all of it. This is not lucky sample variation. This is Ceramic Shield 2 and proper anodized aluminum working exactly as Apple’s engineering team designed them to work. The material science behind these protection systems is sound. The chemistry is proven. The real-world performance matches the specifications.

I compared this to my iPhone 16 Pro after a similar eleven-day period last year. That phone showed minor micro-scratches on the back glass that were visible under bright light. The titanium frame picked up small marks at the corners. Nothing serious, but noticeable if you look for it. The iPhone 17 Pro Max shows none of this. The improvement in scratch and crack resistance is measurable in direct comparison. Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back make a real difference.

The darker Cosmic Orange color that creators claimed would show damage worse actually helps reveal the truth. Any exposed metal would be immediately obvious. My phone shows none of this.

Should You Use A Case? An Honest Assessment

I ran this test without protection to prove a point about durability. That does not mean everyone should carry their iPhone 17 Pro Max naked. Case decisions depend on personal risk tolerance and use patterns.

For scratch protection specifically, you do not need a case. Ceramic Shield 2 works. The anodized aluminum holds up. My testing proves the phone resists everyday abrasion from keys, coins, and desk surfaces. If your primary concern is cosmetic damage from normal handling, the engineering protection is sufficient.

For drop protection, cases still matter. Ceramic Shield 2 improves crack resistance but does not eliminate it. A six-foot fall onto concrete can still shatter glass regardless of coating improvements. If you drop phones frequently or work in environments with drop risk, a case provides valuable insurance. Your decision should be based on drop likelihood, not scratch panic.

The Material Science Early Coverage Ignored

Understanding the difference between material transfer and permanent scratching changes how you interpret phone condition.

How To Tell Transfer From Scratch

• Microfiber test: Gently wipe the mark with a clean microfiber cloth. Material transfer removes easily, scratches do not.
• Bright-light inspection: View the surface under direct lighting at an angle. Permanent scratches appear as etched lines or grooves, transfer looks like surface residue.

Transfer happens when softer materials like plastics or rubbers leave residue on the phone surface. A microfiber cloth removes this easily. Permanent scratches require harder materials to etch the protective coating and cannot be cleaned away.

Trust Testing Over Panic

My test period produced no visible damage on the display, back glass, or camera plateau edges. Ceramic Shield 2 delivers exactly what Apple promised. The plateau design enhances durability rather than compromising it. Make your phone protection decisions based on evidence rather than viral panic. Early coverage was wrong about scratchgate. Your phone will hold up fine too.

Apple has moved to an aerospace-grade aluminum unibody for thermal reasons. AppleInsider quotes Apple that the aluminum alloy used here has roughly twenty times the thermal conductivity of last year’s titanium. This matters for sustained performance, but it also affects durability. Aluminum, when properly anodized, resists abrasion effectively. The finish Apple applies includes corrosion-resistant treatment that holds up to daily wear.

The post The Internet Is Lying to You About iPhone 17 Pro Max Scratches first appeared on Yanko Design.

Coachmen’s new RVEX is an all-electric Class B motorhome built on GM’s BrightDrop delivery van platform, targeting an MSRP of about $150,000. The company pairs BrightDrop’s largest available Ultium traction pack with an RV-specific living buildout and quotes an estimated 270 miles of range for the finished vehicle. That price point places the RVEX well below some BrightDrop-based rivals on the market, and it puts electric van life into reach for more buyers who have found full EV conversions prohibitively expensive.

Designer: Coachmen

Grounded’s G3, the closest BrightDrop-based competitor, is offered in multiple trims with reported pricing from roughly $165,000 to $200,000 depending on options. Both vehicles share the same BrightDrop 600 chassis, but Coachmen found cost savings through innovative lightweight materials that don’t compromise functionality. The company worked with Genesis Products on lightweight cabinetry, panel systems, and other interior components. Genesis reports a roughly 45 percent reduction in cabinet weight and savings of about 290 pounds versus conventional RV construction, which directly benefits range and performance.

Grounded RV

Design That Prioritizes Function Over Form

The RVEX makes no apologies for its boxy, utilitarian silhouette. Coachmen retained the BrightDrop’s angular commercial van profile because it maximizes interior volume and simplifies the buildout process. Where traditional RVs waste space with rounded edges and decorative molding, the RVEX uses every cubic inch for living space or storage.

The exterior maintains the BrightDrop’s distinctive front end with its wide windscreen and modern LED lighting signature. Large side windows flood the interior with natural light, a significant upgrade from the windowless cargo van that typically serves package delivery fleets. The design language reads purposeful rather than sleek, which makes sense for a vehicle targeting practical adventurers over luxury travelers.

Coachmen’s most significant design departure appears at the rear. The split-opening tailgate replaces the standard cargo doors with an innovative two-part system. The upper section features a large electrochromic glass panel that switches between transparent and opaque at the press of a button, allowing occupants to control privacy and ambient light independently. The lower section functions as a traditional hinged door for access. This indoor-outdoor connection transforms how you interact with your surroundings compared to conventional RV layouts with small windows and solid walls.

The vehicle retains the sliding front doors of the BrightDrop van, providing easy access from both sides. The front passenger door received a power upgrade, operating via buttons on the door panel or a remote control, adding convenience over the manual operation typical of commercial vans.

Real Range for Real Travel

Under the skin, Coachmen uses the BrightDrop 600 architecture fitted with the platform’s Max Range battery option, which is roughly 172 to 173 kWh in published Ultium configurations. The company quotes an estimated 270 miles of range for the finished RVEX. In BrightDrop form, GM advertises different combined range values depending on battery and drivetrain choices, so the RVEX’s 270-mile estimate reflects the weight and systems added by a full motorhome fit rather than the base cargo van’s advertised figure.

The BrightDrop 600 powers a dual-motor all-wheel drive system generating 300 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This provides confident acceleration and all-weather capability that matters when you’re hauling a fully loaded RV through varied terrain and weather conditions.

DC fast charging can add roughly 160 miles in about an hour in ideal conditions, according to GM. Early owner reports show the BrightDrop platform may sometimes top out at charging rates near 120 kW. These are important caveats when you plan long road legs. Unlike a passenger EV where slower charging means a longer coffee break, an RV charging stop affects your entire travel day and campsite arrival time.

For extended trips, Coachmen specifies the RVEX includes roughly 1,000 watts of solar panels and a 1,000-amp-hour 48-volt house battery system, allowing off-grid camping without constantly seeking charging stations. A 50-amp shore power connection handles campground hookups when available. These systems are designed to keep living loads off the traction battery during stops and reduce the frequency of propulsion charging. You can run your refrigerator, lights, and climate control from the house battery while preserving the main pack for driving.

Interior Design Breaks RV Convention

Step inside and you’ll notice the RVEX abandons traditional RV aesthetics. Where most motorhomes lean heavily on wood-grain laminate and brass fixtures that scream 1990s vacation rental, Coachmen opted for a cleaner, more contemporary approach. The Genesis Products cabinetry uses lightweight materials with a modern finish. Corrugated metal accent panels add industrial texture without the weight penalty of solid wood construction.

The galley-style kitchen runs along one side, maximizing the central living space. Coachmen specifies a stove, convection microwave, and a 12-volt refrigerator for full meal preparation capability. An 18-gallon fresh water tank and grey water system support the bathroom facilities, creating a self-contained living environment for extended trips without campground hookups.

The dual sofa arrangement defines the flexible sleeping area. The rear lounge converts into a king-size bed from paired sofas, adapting to solo travelers or couples without compromise. The tan upholstery and wood-tone accents maintain warmth without falling into dated RV styling tropes. When you’re not sleeping, the sofas provide comfortable seating for meals, work, or relaxation with sight lines to those large side windows and the electrochromic rear glass.

This design approach reveals where Coachmen saved money versus the more expensive Grounded G3. The G3 underwent what the company calls a “ground-up reimagining” with aluminum frame construction, no exposed hardware tracks, and extensive customization options for colors and textures. The RVEX takes a more utilitarian path with visible functional elements and a standardized finish. Both strategies work, but they serve different buyers at different price points. If you prioritize custom finishes and hidden hardware, the G3 justifies its premium. If you want functional space and proven RV manufacturer support, the RVEX delivers.

Up front, the cockpit retains the BrightDrop’s standard layout, including an 11.3-inch central touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Coachmen added a passenger seat for convenience during travel, a practical upgrade from the commercial van’s single driver position. The driving position sits high with excellent sight lines, maintaining the delivery van’s urban maneuverability despite the added living quarters.

How It Compares

Grounded’s G3, one of the closest BrightDrop-based campers, is offered in multiple trims with reported pricing from the mid-$160,000s up to about $200,000 for a fully equipped version. That makes the RVEX’s targeted $150,000 MSRP notable as a lower-cost, production-backed option from an established RV manufacturer rather than a small startup.

Still, the vehicles aim at slightly different buyers. Grounded’s high-trim builds put more emphasis on bespoke interiors and heavy customization, whereas Coachmen’s approach leans on scale, materials engineering, and standardization to reduce cost while keeping capability. Grounded caters to buyers who want their electric RV to feel like a custom build. Coachmen targets buyers who want a proven RV brand’s dealer network, warranty support, and parts availability.

The base BrightDrop 600 commercial van that both companies start with has a combined range that GM advertises differently depending on configuration. The RVEX’s 270-mile estimate and the G3’s similar range claims both reflect the reality that adding living quarters, systems, and occupants reduces the theoretical maximum range of an empty cargo van.

The Electric Van Life Value Proposition

Electric RVs face a unique challenge. Range anxiety intensifies when your vehicle is also your home, and charging infrastructure designed for passenger cars doesn’t always accommodate larger vehicles with specific power requirements. You can’t just pull up to any urban fast charger when you’re driving a van that won’t fit in a parking garage or narrow charging station.

The RVEX addresses this through its solar panel integration and substantial house battery capacity, reducing dependence on external charging for daily living needs while the main battery handles propulsion. This separation matters more than it might seem. A passenger EV driver worries about making it to the next charger. An RV driver also worries about running their refrigerator, water pump, and climate control overnight without draining the driving battery.

The targeted $150,000 price point positions the RVEX competitively within the traditional RV market while offering electric propulsion benefits: lower operating costs, quieter operation, and reduced maintenance compared to diesel alternatives. The pricing advantage versus the Grounded G3 provides budget room for charging equipment installation at home or additional accessories like awnings, bike racks, or upgraded solar panels.

Coachmen’s approach demonstrates that electric RV pricing can reach practical levels through strategic material choices and engineering efficiency rather than simply accepting premium positioning. The RVEX proves that electric van life doesn’t require six-figure budgets that exclude most potential buyers. For families ready to explore electric adventure travel, this represents an accessible entry point from an established RV manufacturer with 60 years of experience and the financial backing of Forest River and Berkshire Hathaway.

That backing matters. Small RV startups come and go, leaving buyers with orphaned vehicles when warranty issues arise or parts need ordering. Coachmen’s established dealer network and parts supply chain provide insurance against those risks.

Bottom Line

The Coachmen RVEX offers a pragmatic route to electric van life. It pairs a large Ultium battery and BrightDrop drivetrain with lightweight materials and a full living fit, and Coachmen is emphasizing practicality and dealer support as part of the package.

For anyone weighing an EV motorhome, the key checks remain the same. Verify the vehicle’s real-world charging speeds for your routes, since the 120 kW limitation affects trip planning more than the optimistic one-hour claims suggest. Confirm dealer pricing and options at purchase, as targeted MSRPs don’t always match showroom numbers once destination charges and dealer markups apply. Compare trim-for-trim equipment against rivals like the Grounded G3 to understand whether the price difference reflects missing features or simply different business models.

The RVEX won’t set range records or win design awards, but it brings electric RV ownership within reach for buyers who’ve been priced out by six-figure customs builds and startup premiums.

The post Coachmen RVEX: This 270-Mile BrightDrop-Based Electric RV Targets $150,000 first appeared on Yanko Design.