Category Archives: Design

Behold: the BMW AMBY concept – a crossover e-bike and e-motorbike that debuted at the Munich Motor Show last week. Available in two genre-bending versions: the bike-like ‘BMW i Vision AMBY’ and the more motorcycle-like ‘BMW Motorrad Vision AMBY,’. The i Vision has a lightweight aluminium frame, full-suspension, belt-driven pedal-assist, 186 miles of range and all manner of recycled components, plus the ability to use rapeseed oil as brake fluid.

The Motorrad Vision is basically an all-electric dirtbike on chunky enduro tires. 

Both share a modular drivetrain with an adjustable top speed. Capped at 24km/h  on paths, 45km/h  on urban roads and 60km/h in the wild.

hiconsumption

Behold: the BMW CE-02 – a lightweight concept electric motorbike/scooter with a 90km/h top speed and 90km of range on a full charge.

Sleek and simple, like the CE-04 production model, the CE-02 has quad-LED headlights, a translucent dual LED taillight, an underslung rack that can carry a skateboard (and use it as a footrest), a single-sided swing-arm, off-set mono-shock,  scrambler-style seat, colour display and 40cm disc wheels front and back.

See it (briefly) in action here.

hiconsumption

Behold: the Cake Makka – a lightweight, utilitarian ebike (probably destined for a Deliveroo fleet near you) from Swedish electric motorbike manufacturer Cake.

Available in two 60kg variants, the Flex and the Range: both upgradable with attachment points for passenger seats, cargo bins and racks, with fat knobbly tyres, LED lights, regenerative braking, TFT display, multiple ride modes and a 0-80% charge time of two hours.

The Flex has a top speed of 45km/h and a 50km range while the Range will do 25km/h for 56km.

Available to preorder (in white or, if you’re feeling especially frisky, grey) here.

hiconsumption

Bridging the gap between land and sea on the Chilean coast, Casa Izuga, aka 5 Beams House features, as advertised, five concrete beams supported by walls to the east and west.

The structure – built in 2015 and designed by Gubbins Poldura architects – offers privacy from the neighbours (such as they are), creating concealed spaces on the lower level, half submerged into the hillside, capped with a wall of sea-facing glass.

Public areas on the upper level are likewise encased in glazing with spectacular views of the landscape, expanding  via sliding panels into a pool and terrace overlooking the incoming South Pacific waves.

It’s a hard oul’ station, right enough.

uncrate

Behold: the Everrati Land Rover Series IIA – an all electric conversion of the most iconic of all Landys.

Each donor vehicle is filed down, smoothed out, fully restored, upgraded and fitted with luxuries it never had in its former life: premium leather seating, power steering, 150bhp all-wheel electric drive and a range of customer-specified goodies.

Yours for $150,000 (€127,000)

uncrate

Behold: the Land Rover Defender ‘Hue 166” – a celebration of the world’s first production SUV by Defender customisers Himalaya 4×4 – combining the vintage styling of the1948 Landy with a slew of modern tech.

To wit: a powerful (if, arguably, blasphemous to purists)  650bhp supercharged LT4 V8 Corvette engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and a four-link coilover suspension system, Dynatrac axles and Brembo disc brakes.

Inside the cabin, there’s a touch screen audio system and high grade leather custom seats and dashboard.

Yours for $300,000 (about €255,000).

hiconsumption

Behold: the BMW R1250 R ‘Reimagined’ – another custom take on Motorrad’s most customisable bike – in this case, a slammed and stanced rebuild by Renard Speed Shop.

To wit: a handmade aluminium body with a massive belly-pan, a precision-machined single billet front grille, a bobber style seat with integrated tail light and a titanium Akrapovič race exhaust system taken from a Ducati Panigale Superleggera.

Again, only for looking at.

Previously: BMW R1250 R ‘Hulk Edition’

hiconsumption

Behold: the 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, or rather, a spectacular one-off restomod of the 911’s immediate predecessor for the  2021 Porsche Classic Restoration Challenge by Californian auto house Galpin Motors.

The car’s original bodywork has been subtly enhanced with a louvred decklid, shaved rocker moldings and rear reflectors, smoothed-out rechromed bumpers front and back and custom gold alloys.

Outside, a deep, six-coat turquoise paintjob. Inside, an entirely period-plausible red leather and tartan interior. Round the back. an upgraded, air-cooled 1600SC flat-four engine.

Easy now. It’s just for looking at.

hiconsumption