All posts by Francis Mitterrand

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Lancia Loraymo: When American Vision Met Italian Craft

In the world of industrial design, few names shine as brightly as Raymond Loewy. Celebrated for shaping icons like the Coca-Cola bottle, Shell logo, and Lucky Strike packaging, Loewy left an indelible mark on everything he touched — including, perhaps surprisingly, the realm of Italian supercars. Among his lesser-known but most fascinating creations stands the Lancia Loraymo: a one-off marvel that fused American design audacity with Italian engineering finesse.

A Unique Chapter in the Supercar Story of the ’60s

Amid the stylistic explosion of 1960s Italian automotive design, the Loraymo occupies a singular space. Not only was it a one-of-a-kind vehicle, but it also carried the distinctive signature of a man who helped define the visual identity of the 20th century. Designed purely for personal use, the Loraymo was Loewy’s reinterpretation of the Lancia Flaminia Coupé, executed not as a production concept, but as a personal design manifesto.

Behind the project was a Franco-American mind and a passion for elegance, speed, and innovation. For the bodywork, Loewy turned to Turin’s aluminum artisan Rocco Motto, while the mechanical enhancements were entrusted to Enrico Nardi, a legend in tuning Italian engines. The V6 engine was tuned from its stock 119 horsepower to an impressive 150 hp, pushing the car to a top speed of around 190 km/h — a serious number for the era.

Design Beyond Convention

Visually, the Loraymo was a bold departure from anything else on the road. Loewy applied the same streamlined sensibilities that shaped locomotives and spacecraft to the automotive canvas. The front end featured a slim, rectangular grille — outlined by a chrome frame that doubled as a spring-mounted bumper. The effect was futuristic, minimalist, and aerodynamic.

The profile of the car echoed aircraft design, with fully enclosed wheel covers and flowing lines that culminated in a rear spoiler — a feature that wouldn’t become widespread until years later. The rear end was just as forward-thinking: smooth and seamless, with flush-mounted taillights and twin exhausts emerging as the only visible appendages. A panoramic wraparound rear window offered a unique visual finish, and the trunk could only be accessed from inside, preserving the purity of the exterior lines.

The car’s name, “Loraymo”, is itself a creative imprint — a combination of Loewy’s first and last name, and also the telegraphic code for his design studio.

A Legacy Rediscovered

First unveiled to the public at the 47th Paris Motor Show in 1960, the Loraymo immediately drew attention for its radical aesthetics and advanced features. Yet after its brief moment in the spotlight, the car disappeared from public view, becoming a near-mythical object among design and automotive historians.

Years later, the Loraymo resurfaced thanks to the efforts of the American Lancia Club president, who tracked down the vehicle and returned it to the brand. Today, it stands as a proud piece of Lancia’s historical collection, a testament to what can be achieved when visionary design meets artisanal excellence.

An Automotive Work of Art

The Lancia Loraymo is more than a car — it’s a rolling sculpture, a cross-continental design experiment, and a reflection of Raymond Loewy’s relentless pursuit of beauty and function. In a time when the automobile was quickly becoming a symbol of personal freedom and style, Loewy showed that it could also be a canvas for high design — a principle that still resonates in today’s automotive world.

Source: Lancia

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Lancia Loraymo: When American Vision Met Italian Craft
EV

BYD SEAL 5 DM-i Debuts in Europe: A Chinese Challenge to the Octavia Dynasty

BYD continues its European push with the discreet yet significant arrival of the SEAL 5 DM-i, a sleek plug-in hybrid sedan that marks a strategic step in the brand’s ambition to dethrone segment leaders like the Škoda Octavia. First launched in Poland and Slovakia, the SEAL 5 DM-i is setting the stage for a broader offensive across the continent.

This isn’t just another new model – it’s a declaration of intent. BYD is not hiding its ambitions: it wants to occupy the space once dominated by mainstream European marques, and it’s betting on the SEAL 5 DM-i to shake the market foundations. And while the Chinese brand continues to wrestle with internal conflicts and an increasingly hostile price war, its European expansion presses on.

Understated Arrival, Bold Aspirations

Unlike some competitors who enter the market with high-profile launches and aggressive marketing, BYD has chosen a quiet rollout for the SEAL 5 DM-i, offering it initially in Poland and Slovakia without any major announcement. Yet, the car speaks for itself. With a length of 4.78 meters, it stretches beyond the typical compact class, challenging D-segment sedans in both space and stature. For reference, the Octavia measures 4.69 meters, while Toyota’s Corolla Sedan comes in at 4.63 meters.

The interior is familiar to those who’ve seen the electric SEAL, featuring a shared dashboard layout, compact digital instrument cluster, and a rotating 12.8-inch infotainment screen mounted prominently in the center console. Despite being a plug-in hybrid, the SEAL 5 DM-i promises a driving range of over 1,000 kilometers, giving it a distinct edge in long-distance usability.

Efficiency Meets Performance

Technical specifications for the SEAL 5 DM-i are still emerging, but early details suggest a promising balance between power and efficiency. The car features a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 163 hp, paired with an electric motor for a combined output of 212 hp. Acceleration from 0–100 km/h is a respectable 7.5 seconds, and top speed is rated at 180 km/h.

Fuel consumption is particularly impressive, averaging just 3.9 liters per 100 km—a figure that rivals some of the best diesel models on the market. However, the charging power of 6.6 kW won’t win any awards for speed, a minor drawback in an otherwise well-rounded package.

Well-Equipped, Competitively Priced

BYD plans to offer the SEAL 5 DM-i in two trim levels: Design and Comfort. Standard features are generous across the board, including automatic climate control, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, electric front seats, reverse camera (or optional 360° view), and a premium sound system.

Most importantly for European buyers, BYD is keeping pricing competitive. In Poland, the SEAL 5 DM-i starts at €30,000, a compelling figure for a plug-in hybrid with this level of equipment and performance.

More Markets to Follow

With its entry into Poland and Slovakia, BYD is only just beginning its European tour. Next on the list are the Czech Republic, Romania, and Croatia, with broader market penetration expected later this year.

While the Chinese carmaker still faces skepticism from some quarters – not least because of its internal challenges and combative pricing tactics – the SEAL 5 DM-i could prove a turning point. If BYD’s formula of tech-forward design, extended range, and value-driven pricing holds up, European rivals may have more to worry about than they anticipated.

Source: BYD

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BYD SEAL 5 DM-i Debuts in Europe: A Chinese Challenge to the Octavia Dynasty
News

Subaru Bets Big on the New Forester Amid Rising Tariff Pressures

In a year dominated by geopolitical turbulence and shifting trade policies, Japanese automakers find themselves in an increasingly difficult position. And among them, none are feeling the heat more than Subaru.

The small yet fiercely loyal brand from Japan is the most exposed of its peers to the 25% auto tariffs recently imposed under the Trump administration. These tariffs, targeting vehicles imported from Japan, threaten to derail Subaru’s financial stability — unless one model can rise to the occasion: the Forester.

Through the first five months of 2025, Subaru has sold 84,629 Foresters in the United States — a modest 3.9% increase year-over-year. Yet this slight uptick carries enormous significance: the Forester is now Subaru’s best-selling model in its largest market, accounting for a major share of the brand’s U.S. presence.

Subaru’s reliance on the American market is staggering. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, the automaker sold 936,000 vehicles globally, with 662,000 — a full 71% — going to U.S. buyers. But that success has come at a cost. Roughly half of the vehicles Subaru sells in the U.S. are still imported from Japan. With the new tariffs in place, the company expects to take a $2.5 billion hit to its operating profit — nearly erasing its $2.79 billion profit from the previous fiscal year.

At the heart of Subaru’s strategy to weather the storm is the new-generation Forester. Launched last year to mixed design reviews, the SUV has now gained a hybrid variant aimed at bolstering its appeal in a fiercely competitive compact crossover market.

Production of the Forester is currently based in Japan, but that’s set to change. Starting this fall, Subaru will begin manufacturing the Forester at its Indiana plant — a significant step toward tariff mitigation. According to Nikkei Asia, the automaker is preparing to boost capacity at the U.S. facility, with company president Atsushi Osaki noting the potential to scale beyond 400,000 vehicles annually.

In Japan, the new Forester is already showing strong momentum. Subaru received nearly 12,000 orders for the model in April — more than double the previous monthly record. By comparison, the U.S. market saw just 19,330 Foresters sold that same month, a sign that there is still room for growth in America.

However, expanding U.S. production is easier said than done. Speaking at Subaru’s recent annual shareholder meeting, Osaki emphasized the challenges of relocating more manufacturing stateside. “It’s true that it would improve our ability to deal with tariffs [to produce more cars in the U.S.], but it would be difficult without the cooperation of all our suppliers,” he explained. “We need to think about this holistically.”

For now, the Forester’s performance in the U.S. market could well determine the trajectory of the entire company. With rising pressure from tariffs, changing consumer preferences, and limited domestic production capacity, Subaru’s future hinges on whether its star SUV can truly live up to its name.

Source: Automotive News