Cars That Feel by Soap Creative

VIVID Sydney "Cars That Feel" Time Lapse from Soap Creative on Vimeo.

For arts festival VIVID Sydney this year, digital agency Soap Creative used lights, sound and visuals to imbue a series of Toyota cars with human characteristics and personalities. Programmed to 'wake up' as the sun set, the cars invited affectionate interactions from passersby - such as hugs and tickling - and responded in different ways.

For more insight on how domestic objects are taking on emotion and personality, subscribers can read our technology report Animated Appliances.

Audi Sport Quattro Laserlight at CES 2014

On show at CES this week, Audi's Sport Quattro Laserlight uses lasers in place of LEDs. The concept hybrid also features a sleek, branch-like wheel structure and a bright red exterior finish.

Automobile: Landrover by Studio Job

Photo by Zero40, fashion by Viktor & Rolf

Studio Job have created a custom Landrover Defender 90 decorated with materials including Swarovski crystals, satin lining, silver and gold leaf, stained glass and leather. Called Automobile, the model is on show at art fair PAN Amsterdam until 1 December.

For more art and automobile crossovers, Homebuildlife subscribers can see our report, Designer Concept Cars: key launches.

Premium Brand Project by Yanmar

Japanese diesel engine manufacturer Yanmar has launched the Premium Brand Project aiming to raise awareness of the brand, which is mostly known for its farming equipment.

New Stable Atmospheres by Stefano Conticelli

Bottega Conticelli

Italian craftsman Stefano Conticelli showcased three new projects for his solo exhibition at the Triennale during Milan Design Week 2013, each one inspired by his love of horseriding.

Bentley Home Collection preview

Charles sofa by Carlo Colombo for Bentley Home

Automotive brand Bentley has partnered with luxury interiors company Club House Italia to develop a range of furniture and homewares. The Bentley Home Collection will be aimed at residential, commercial and executive office interiors.

Key concept: Twin'Z by Ross Lovegrove for Renault

Ross Lovegrove has collaborated with Renault on a concept car that is inspired by nature and organic growth forms. Unveiled today at the Triennale, the all-electric Twin'Z features neon yellow wheels and rippling back lighting.

Prospective design at Saint Etienne International Biennale 2013

Aire Concept by João Lammoglia: a wearable mask that could create energy and charge small appliances when breathed into

With Empathy as the general theme for the 2013 edition of Saint Etienne International Design Biennale, designers across all exhibitions are contributing their own personal vision of how to improve our lives in the near or not so near future.

One exhibition in particular, Demain C'est Aujourd'hui (Tomorrow is Today), is showcasing prospective ideas to do so. While some projects are conceptual ideas that have no technical possibility of hitting the market soon, others could become our reality in a few short years.

Silver Cross for Aston Martin: limited edition pram

Aston Martin has teamed up with baby travel brand Silver Cross to create a limited edition luxury pram. Features of the Silver Cross Surf baby travel system include spoked wheels, an Alcantara-lined seat and a leather trimmed handle and bumper bar.

Only 800 will be manufactured worldwide, priced at £2000 each. The product will be exclusively available at Harrods in April 2013, supplied with its own certificate and plaque of authenticity.

100% ToBeUs: designer toy cars

BarberOsgerby

Designers including Matali Crasset, Front, the Campana brothers, Alfredo Haberli and Marcel Wanders have created their own distinctive take on the wooden toy car for a new exhibition at Milan's National Museum of Science and Technology.

Called 100% TobeUs, the show is the brainchild of designer Matteo Ragni, who produced his first series of model cars back in 2007, and then invited 100 designers to design their favourite toy car, creating a highly original and varied new collection.

Future Primitivism/Instinctive Overide by Ross Lovegrove

Photo by Simona Cupoli

As the Special Guest at last month's Interieur Biennale in Belgium, Ross Lovegrove exhibited a futuristic car concept made up of streaming surface patterns projected onto a fluid fibreglass form inspired by a drop of water.

Handpresso Auto

The latest on-the-go device for making coffee allows users to create in-car espressos. Using just water and a coffee pod, the Handpresso Auto can make fresh coffee in 2 minutes at a 16 bar pressure.

Mercedes Drive Thru by Bompas & Parr

British experience designers Bompas & Parr's latest interactive food event is a diner-style drive-through created in collaboration with the Avant-Garde Diaries and Mercedes-Benz. Taking place 14 - 16 September at the Old Selfridges Hotel in Mayfair, the Mercedes Drive Thru will invite guests to explore luxury dining in-car - and promises to combine food with light art in spectacular fashion.

Guests will drive along the marbled hotel lobby floor to place their food order; then, with the accompaniment of a light show, they will be free to relax whilst awaiting the deliverance of their meal by staff on roller skates.  The event is to highlight the staging of the new A-Class Mercedes Benz, which is now available to order in the UK.

Get Smart for Hearts by Alfa Romeo

Luxury car brand Alfa Romeo has collaborated with six figures from the sport, business and creative industries to design a series of unique Italian silk pocket squares in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Design ME: customisable electric transport

Created by a group of Italian companies after an extensive period of research and planning, ME is a new electric scooter that can be completely customised. Thanks to a special online configurator, customers can have fun choosing colour frames, covers, knobs, wheels, tyres, seats and plenty of other options.

Bug Jam 2012: Volkswagen Classic Car Festival

The 26th annual Bug Jam festival saw VW enthusiasts at the Santa Pod Raceway, Northampton for cars, camping, beer, mud and music.

Pininfarina in London

Maserati GranTurismo

This summer the Italian Cultural Institute in Belgrave Square will host Pininfarina in London, an exhibition which celebrates some of the landmarks of Italian innovation.

Colour One by Scholten & Baijings for MINI

One of the most colourful exhibitions seen by WGSN-homebuildlife today at Milan Design Week was Colour One by Scholten & Baijings for MINI. By dissecting the basic MINI One model, the Dutch designers demonstrate how their approach to design and colour can be translated into automotive design.

MINI in New York International Auto Show

MINI John Cooper Works Countryman

The New York International Auto Show, which runs now through April 15, brings the world's best automobiles to the American market, including the latest from MINI USA. MINI John Cooper Works Countryman made its North American debut at the show, and offers the updated model with optional automatic transmission. In addition to the John Cooper Works Countryman, three special-edition models – MINI Convertible Highgate, MINI Bayswater and MINI Baker Street all made their first public appearance in North America.

Mercedes-Benz x Formitalia

Mercedes-Benz Style x Formitalia; image via Luxury Issues

Mercedes-Benz Style will launch its new range of furniture, in collaboration with Formitalia, at Salone next month. The pieces will be on display at the Milan Mercedes-Benz showroom, Via Daimler, 1 from 16 - 21 April 2012.

To see how other auto brands have expanded their design language into the home, WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can read our interview with Roland Heiler, managing director of Porsche Design Studio.