Obauhaus.

Check out this sa-weet poster for Barack Obama’s speech in Berlin yesterday. It’s a very Bauhaus-inspired design, which oddly enough lends itself well to whole patriotic/hope/change vibe he's got going on. It’s an awesome piece for sure. So here’s the question, is it bad to want to vote for a guy just cuz of good design?

Seriously Though, Why So Serious?

So Struck shut down on Friday and took everyone to see The Dark Knight on opening day. Yeah, pretty awesome… it may or may not have been my idea. Anyways, it’s taken me a couple of days to compose my thoughts about the flick—and I don’t even know if I’ve fully processed it all as of yet. But I want to at least get my impressions out there.

The Dark Knight is a serious flick. Why so serious, you ask? Uh, cuz it’s awesome. If you thought that Batman Begins was a fairly “realistic” comic book movie—you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. I mean, Batman Begins still had its share of surrealism, what with the several hallucination scenes. But this is something quite different.

The Dark Knight takes the comic book genre and flips it on its head. In fact, there are several parts where you completely forget you’re watching a “superhero movie” and it feels much more like you’re watching a very realistic, very awesome action and/or suspense flick. A majority of this vibe is accomplished by the combination of an ultra tight script, fantastic and raw cinematography, and of most of all by the buzzworthy performance of Heath Ledger—that you buy into—hook, line and sinker.

This is easily the must-see-movie-event of the summer, easily. The action sequences were absolutely legit. You get some great Batmobile/Batpod scenes. But oddly enough the automotive scene-stealer is in some ways Bruce Wayne’s gorgeous graphite grey, not-so-subtle Lamborghini Murcielago. (And I don't even like Lambos!) Bottom line: go see this flick. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a massive Batman fan—and this flick has instantly catapulted itself to become my fave Batman movie yet. And word on the street is, if it’s at all possible; see it on an IMAX screen.

Electricooper.

Yesterday, BMW officially announced that they will create 500 electric versions of the MINI, which will all be exported to California. 490 of them will be leased to selected customers with the remaining 10 set to be saved for display purposes.

The electric MINIs will be built at the MINI Factory in Oxford ,UK, then shipped to Germany without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks. They’ll have a unique color scheme as well. Apparently, they’ll feature a silver body and a yellow roof, which eludes (I mean alludes) slightly to the project Struck's currently doing for MINI. (Check out my sweet, wannabe Photoshop skills pictured above.)

Once in Germany, BMW will equip the models with an electric powertrain, before heading across the pond all the way to California. This whole endeavor is meant to keep BMW in check with the Golden State's strict emission guidelines that will requires that automakers offer a certain percentage of zero emission vehicles. The success of the project could then lead to the mass production of the vehicle, sources state BMW are likely to make an official announcement later this year.

Bottom line is that MINI has the opportunity within its grasp to change the entire equation. And if anyone can do it, it’s MINI. But they've got to do more than lease a measly 490 cars! There’s currently an online petition requesting that BMW make the electric MINI for the masses sooner than later. Let’s face it, if the electric MINI’s performance is anything like the Tesla, we’ll be in good shape!

Thanks for the heads up Southern J.

Bringing The Art To The Kart.

Between 1975 and 1999, BMW has commissioned fifteen world-class artists to use BMW vehilces as canvases for original artwork. Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein were just some of the artists invited to participate in the BMW Art Cars Collection. In 2006, even interactive design legend Joshua Davis was asked to use custom algorithms to create original art based on the Z4 Coupe. This year, artist and vinyl toy designer Tristan Eaton—of Kidrobot fame—was commissioned to create a MINI art car for Garage419. So basically, this is more or less the result when MINI meets MUNNY.

Using a new type of highly reflective vinyl decals, Tristan turned this typical Mk I MINI Cooper S, with some sweet John Cooper Works accouterments, into a sooped-up, surrealistic Super-Cooper. I’ve researched a ton of custom MINI’s and I can easily say this is one of the best treatments I’ve come across. Besides the amazing artwork, I’m especially stoked on the 18” JCW Matte Black Wheels and the JCW Carbon-fiber Rear Wing. Nicely done, gentlemen, nicely done.