It's official, 3 entries have been selected by Specialised Covers as part of the Art Cover Designer Project.

The 3 selected artists are as follows; Stephanie-Rose Turner, Emma Burton and last but not least Bryony-Rose Atkinson. Each have been selected for their unique take on the requirements for the project and have entered art that reflects not only very personal influences, but their artistic capabilities.

Stephanie-Rose Turner's work was chosen for it's raw perspective and visual representation of speed. Turner's work is a modestly masculine piece which has derived from natural forms such as floral influences.

Emma Burton's work is known as the 'Pyjama Cover' here at Specialised Covers and is very commercially viable. The cover can be customised to show patterned images of customers cars and can be produced in several different colours, without demolishing Burton's design.

Bryony-Rose Atkinson's art cover entry was difficult to overlook due to its high impact and immediately attention grabbing designs. Her aesthetically pleasing designs and bright floral patterns attract those that are not typically attracted to feminine designs.

Overall Specialised Cover's have been instilled with excitement in terms of seeing what the future might hold for working alongside innovative artists. We are grateful for all entries and have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of work received.  The 3 chosen covers will be manufactured and presented at the end of year show on the 15th June in the University lecture theatre.  The final decision took much deliberation and was a difficult one at best. Once again, thankyou to those who entered and we look forward to what the future might hold.

Specialised Covers

Joel Wilson has released his custom car cover design.

Joel Wilson has created an abstract car cover which contains a combination of broken shapes and retro colour schemes. Wilson's cover contains a fine level of detail in some of his designs, whilst others fashion multiple shapes put together in one formation.

His designs are inspired by architecture and the ability to, 'illustrate movement in a mechanical and abstract way'. Wilson used the passions of future enthusiasts to inspire his designs, through this he has been able to create a combination of elements to result in an overall inspiring range of artwork.

Like Joel Wilson's work on our Facebook page and find his work in the Art Cover project board on Pinterest.

Today, the Ferrari F40 celebrates its 25^th birthday and swiftly blew out its birthday candles as a group of enthusiasts celebrated by racing a convoy of F40’s. The F40 was released in 1987 and since then has been the portrayal of everything that Ferrari stands for. In the present tense, Ferrari have modernised their designs, but still show signs of using ideas that helped culminate the F40. A combination of lightweight machinery, 471hp engine and a rear spoiler that cut through the air like a knife made this not just a supercar, but a superstar.

The Ferrari F40, the pinnacle of classic supercar, a truly revolutionary machine combined with a delicious design that screams awe inspiring power. Considering the actual quality of the car in terms of, a car to use regularly, then it is not the best car to be buying. The interior was basic and the quality of the paint was poor [so sources quote]. For this reason the F40 was popular. It was ‘raw’ and few cars have been able to replicate this since. However, if you value its showmanship, iconic design features and unrelenting gravitas, then the Ferrari F40 is something that ought to be on the top of your wish list.

The success of the car meant that it was only going to be a short while before it was thrown about a race course. This saw the birth of the F40 LM and Competizione’. The death of the F40 was certainly a shock to the world, at the time it was comparable to the death of a celebrity. Thankfully, many F40’s remain, therefore the machine has not entirely left our lives. We can still enjoy the F40 on special occasions where fleets of the monster congregate to entertain the masses.

To really investigate why the F40 was so popular it needs to be compared to one of its modern day equivalent, notably the 458 which I believe to be the complete opposite of the F40. This is because the 458 is a very precise and modern car compared to the F40. Computer aided and interior superior, the 458 is a much better everyday supercar. However, this entirely depends on your opinion of what defines ‘Ferrari’ to you. Buying a Ferrari should be for the enjoyment of your own, not to satisfy crowds. Therefore in my opinion there is no real need for an everyday functional Ferrari as it is something to refer to now and then to shock the system. On the other hand, Ferrari are a business and therefore need to satisfy the demands of the market and within that market are people who can afford to have their everyday car to be a Ferrari, to which I fully appreciate but would not personally do myself. Sadly, many are not in the position to have to quarrel over which Ferrari to be buying, but for those lucky few the F40 is one car that has remained a passionate favourite of the extensive range and would be my personal choice.

AF

When driving abroad many become to accustom to driving a particular side of the road and inherently struggle to remember to drive on a different side. Alas, RAC release the answer to many problems with the ‘Lane safe – Heads up Display’. A small £30 stick on utility which visually projects arrows to instruct you which side to drive on.

A very clever and innovative utility which could save a lot of close calls with foreign motor vehicles. The RAC Lane safe utility is a cheap and simple yet effective gadget which can rely on either batteries or charge from the cigarette lighter socket in your car. Its bright LED display projects onto your windscreen day and night, making the nifty gadget visible in a variety of lighting situations.

Overall, a clever product made for the forgetful explorers of foreign lands.

Available from: WallaceCameron.com

AF

Lamborghini are well known for manufacturing luxury super cars that populate the market with sharp, aerodynamic designs. However, a new concept SUV has emerged from the Lamborghini factory. Boasting lower C02 emissions than competitors, the concept SUV boasts the same sleek styling as its older brothers. With its brash air vents and sharp solid defining lines the Urus sets a new precedent in the SUV family.

For some, the name Lamborghini is associated with its rural beginning of a tractor factory in North Italy. For others, the name is defined by the chorus of roars that come from the fierce engines. For me, Lamborghini represent a sense of ridiculousness and impossible attractiveness. The Urus has big boots to fill with family members like the Aventador LP700-4. However, from the onset, mixed opinions have been formed. Many are perplexed by the combination of an SUV being made by Lamborghini. The Urus has been designed to fill the need for a high class everyday vehicle with luggage space providing room for various needs.

Porsche made the tricky transition from building sports cars to building SUV’s with the release of the Cayenne in 2002. Lamborghini have been fairly late in joining the SUV market in relation to their competitors. However, some would say that the move was long overdue and it has expanded their horizons to building cars that are considered to be the backbone for many large families. Lamborghini have climbed aboard the SUV bandwagon yet the Urus still remains only a concept. However, in true Lamborghini fashion, its heart beats with a v12 5.2 litre engine with the ability to reach 130mph. Comprehending the price of a Lamborghini usually leaves you feeling slightly faint, yet the Urus is set at a fairly modest price. Expected to be priced at £100k, the Urus outlines the future of the SUV market and navigates the way for future designers. In any market, recession or boom being able to buy a brand new Lamborghini for £100k is considered to be a sports car bargain. Overall I believe that the Lamborghini Urus is a game changer, something to broaden the designing mind-sets of the world. A interesting combination of sports car expertise implemented to the design of a typically boring looking class of cars has inevitably created something which is a fusion of the two. A SUV with a sports car appeal, something never seen before and something which I assure, will be seen again.

AF