It’s safe to say that the launch of the most anticipated game of the year, Cyberpunk 2077, did no go as planned. Following several delays, the actual release has been plagued by glitches, bugs, and unmitigated (and occasionally misplaced) customer outrage.
It’s all part of the game, and customers shouldn’t be taking it too seriously, says world-renowned designer Frank Stephenson. Though he’s an automotive designer whose stellar work includes the McLaren P1 and the Maserati MC12, Stephenson is game for a thorough breakdown of fictional cars as well.
Case in point: his recent critique of the cars of Cyberpunk 2077. You can see it in full in the video at the bottom of the page.
As you probably know, Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world, choose-your-own-adventure game set in Night City. Cars here are divided into several classes, named in no misleading fashion: Economy, Executive, Heavy Duty, Sport and Hypercar. According to your budget or needs at any given moment, you can choose one of these cars to complete your mission.
Stephenson includes at least one vehicle from each category in his critique, as well as sweeping observations about how the designs are all retro-futuristic because they all seem to be based on ‘70s or ‘80s cars. They’re an ‘80s interpretation of the future, he says.
None more so than the hero car, the Quadra Turbo-R V-Tech, which Stephenson describes as Detroit’s take on an Italian exotic. It’s a muscle car on steroids that draws on the Ferrari Testarossa for inspiration but which, design-wise, is a complete mess. He labels it “krazy kool,” both with Ks because no other spelling would do it justice.
The massive, aggressive, and sinister Chevillon Thrax 388 Jefferson is the car Stephenson can’t stop laughing at. It’s somehow elegant but very in-your-face about it, yet it still commands respect. One detail Stephenson absolutely loves about this one is the asymmetrical grille, which he calls “magnificent.” “Who’s ever thought of that?” he asks.
The cheap Makigai Maimai is “tough to love” and looks like the lovechild of a Cybertruck and a Smart. The Galena G240 is also cheap and ugly but stands out for being plug and play, and, as such, it’s something Stephenson looks forward to seeing in the future.
The designer’s favorites are the bikes, specifically the Arch-designed Arch Nazare, which is loosely based on the real-life Method 143 model, and the Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X, which he says it’s the bike he would choose today if he could. He also praises the Porsche 911 Turbo for being done very sympathetically and with little change to the iconic design, and the striking Rayfield Aerondight S9 Guinevere, which he describes as a masterpiece.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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