Kahn Design
{{Short description|British automobile modification company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox company
|name = A Kahn Design Limited
|logo = Kahn Design logo.png
|type =
|foundation = 1998
|location_city = Bradford
|location_country = England
|location =
|locations =
|key_people =Afzal Kahn
|area_served =
|industry = Car modification
|products =
|services =
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|num_employees =80 (2011)
|parent =
|divisions =
|subsid =The Chelsea Truck Company
|homepage = {{URL|www.kahndesign.com}}
|dissolved =
|footnotes =
}}
Kahn Design is a British-based company that specialises in the modification of motor vehicles. Founded by Afzal Kahn, the company has its headquarters in Bradford and showrooms in both Chelsea and Kensington in London.{{cite web|title=Kahn Design opens 'boutique' showroom in Kensington|url=https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/kahn-design-opens-boutique-showroom-kensington/140475}}
Initially the company designed and sold alloy wheels, but in 2003 developed into car design modifications and coachbuilding. As of 2011, the company employs 80 people, including 20 designers.{{cite web|title=Interview: Afzal Kahn|url=http://www.gtspirit.com/2011/10/26/interview-afzal-kahn/|work=GT Spirit|accessdate=18 July 2012|date=26 October 2011}}
Work
Kahn, who has been called "the king of car customisation" by the automotive magazine, Autocar, pulled out of architecture to pursue his love for cars.{{cite news|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/meet-king-car-customisation-afzal-kahn|title=Meet the king of car customisation - Afzal Kahn|accessdate=31 August 2014}}
File:2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara CRD 197 Automatic (Kahn Design) 2.8.jpg
In 1996, Kahn designed the RS-R alloy wheel. The design, in which the spokes gave the appearance of continuing all the way to the rim was considered a first in the industry. Using capital derived from the initial sold-out production run of 1,000 RS-R wheels, Kahn founded A. Kahn Design in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the late 1990s.{{cite web|last=Batchelor|first=James|title=Welcome to Kahn Design|url=http://www.cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/kahn-design-welcome-to-the-laboratory/61723|work=Car Dealer Magazine|accessdate=18 July 2012|date=5 March 2012}}
Kahn continued in the role of creative director, releasing further wheel designs, and adding exterior styling and vehicle interior design to the company's product range. He also sought partnerships with other fashion brands to collaborate on the interior designs, such as Harris Tweed.{{cite web|title=Driven:Kahndefender|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/driven-kahn-defender-2012-01-08?&pager.offset=0#commentsListBottom|work=Top Gear|accessdate=24 January 2013|date=9 January 2013|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121923/http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/driven-kahn-defender-2012-01-08?&pager.offset=0#commentsListBottom|url-status=dead}}
By 2002, Kahn Design had diversified into production of complete vehicle upgrades,{{cite web|title=Moving up a gear in world of luxury cars|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/moving_up_a_gear_in_world_of_luxury_cars_1_3321228|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=18 July 2012|date=26 April 2011}} necessitating a move to new, purpose-built premises in 2004, which incorporated body shop and leatherworking facilities. Kahn bought some Land Rovers and once the cars were in his studio he re-styled and re-engineered them.
In 2013, Kahn opened a showroom on the King's Road in Chelsea, London for his Chelsea Truck Company which specialised in customising Land Rover Defenders and Jeep Wranglers.{{cite web|title=Venture in £25m move to showcase in capital|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/business-news/venture-in-25m-move-to-showcase-in-capital-1-5947848|work=Yorkshire Post|accessdate=3 July 2014|date=13 August 2013}}
This was followed by the launch of a flagship showroom on Kirkstall Road in Leeds.{{cite web|title=Kahn Design showroom in Leeds, England|url=http://www.motorauthority.com/image/100509462_a-kahn-design-showroom-in-leeds-england|work=Motor Authority|accessdate=3 July 2014|date=13 August 2014}} A second Kahn Design boutique in London was launched in October 2017 on Kensington High Street.{{cite news |url= http://cardealermagazine.co.uk/publish/kahn-design-opens-boutique-showroom-kensington/140475 |title= Kahn Design opens 'boutique' showroom in Kensington |work= CarDealer |date= 6 October 2017 }}
In 2014, Kahn moved into production of special edition vehicles, beginning with the release of a series of Land Rover Defender models under the Flying Huntsman brand, including extended bodywork, upgraded engine, suspension and braking systems and luxury interior design. The first two models to be announced, the 4x4 Huntsman 105 Longnose and the 6x6 Huntsman 110 Longnose, were revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.{{cite web|title=Land Rover Defender-based Kahn Flying Huntsman|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-show/land-rover-defender-based-kahn-flying-huntsman-prices-and|work=Autocar|accessdate=13 February 2015|date=6 January 2015}}
In 2015, Kahn released official images of a new supercar, based on the Aston Martin DB9, entitled Vengeance. In development for close to six years, the body, made from aluminum, was crafted using traditional hammer-formed methods, with each vehicle built by Kahn's team of craftsmen and automotive experts. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.{{cite web|title=Kahn Vengeance - DB9-based sports car revealed in Geneva|url=http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-show/kahn-vengeance-%E2%80%93-db9-based-sports-car-revealed-geneva|accessdate=1 March 2016|date=1 March 2016}} Following the WB12 Vengeance, the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show saw the unveiling of the Vengeance Volante, a convertible version of the WB12 model.{{cite web|title=Kahn Vengeance Volante DB9 based supercar revealed at Geneva|url=http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/98522/kahn-vengeance-volante-db9-based-supercar-revealed-at-geneva|work=Auto Express|accessdate= 8 March 2017}}
Officially unveiled at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show, the Chelsea Truck Company Jeep Wrangler Black Hawk Edition has been described as a customised creation that combines glamorous finishes with bold body work.{{cite web|title=City to coast cruising in a Chelsea Truck Company Black Hawk|url=http://www.caradvice.com.au/535242/city-to-coast-cruising-in-a-chelsea-truck-company-black-hawk/|work=Autocar|accessdate= 28 April 2017}}
In April 2017, Kahn unveiled the Project Kahn Range Rover Sport SVR Pace Car, a bespoke version of Land Rover's 542bhp V8 SUV edition.{{cite web|title=Project Kahn Range Rover Sport SVR Pace Car revealed|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/project-kahn-range-rover-sport-svr-pace-car-revealed|work=Autocar|accessdate= 28 April 2017}}
In May 2017, it was announced, The London Taxi Company (LTC) had commissioned Kahn to create a run of bespoke versions of its TX4 cab, which will go out of production this year.{{cite web|title=Bespoke Last of Line Edition Black Cabs to be created by Kahn Design|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bespoke-last-line-edition-black-cabs-be-created-kahn-design|work=Autocar|accessdate= 31 May 2017}}
At the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Kahn unveiled the Chelsea Truck Company Defender-based 6X6 Civilian Carrier.{{cite web|title=Kahn Design's Chelsea Truck Company rolls out Defender-based 6x6 Civilian Carrier|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1115677_kahn-designs-chelsea-truck-company-rolls-out-defender-based-6x6-civilian-carrier|work=MotorAuthority|accessdate= 9 March 2018}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}
- {{official website|http://www.projectkahn.com}}
- {{Commons category-inline|Kahn Design vehicles}}