Awards shows, a new Autoworks challenge, and promising creators show a possibly brighter future for the RAI as Carblox digests the news for you one last time.
Photo Credits: Carblox
Letter from the Editor
I'd like to extend a congratulations to the winners of this year's Wheelys, alongside urging all nominees to pat themselves on the back. This year marks the final major Carblox release, the long overdue Industry Digest 35. Reason for that delay is a combination of poor memory, lackluster motivation, and a busy life, alongside a litany of other projects I'm trying to take up.
But rather than explain myself, let's round up the news one last time, for all the developments of early May. Also note there is no Industry Updated because I wrote two stories for it, but I fear I cooked so hard that they were basically full stories in their own right. Let me pat myself on the back one last time, eh?
Release Radar
Image Credits: hackerkm (Gallus)
Now, onto the news!
Ceinder Teases Their Revival
Image Credits: lookitswierdo (Ceinder)
Ceinder is back with a vengeance as the no-longer-young automaker takes a dramatic leap forward, as they dropped this photo of a model that is a distinct shift from the design of their most popular models: the Vaike and Moethus. Pairing a lot more polygons with a more sculpted design, we know literally nothing about it, and the Neifon has been MIA for a while. But if there's anything we do know, it's that Ceinder may just be getting back into the driver seat.
This follows a trend with many CSG brands leaping forward in recent times, as their build quality begins catching up with their Blender-built contemporaries. With this, Ceinder has retaken the attention that it had during it's most active years of late 2021 to early 2023, and here's to hoping that this unnamed coupe drives as well as it looks.
Aura Announces Deios Preorders Come June
Speaking of Blender automobiles, while everyone knows the young brand for it's nomination for Bust of the Year at the 2024 Wheely Awards, it seems the company is unfettered by the somewhat unflattering award. Owner Danielismyboiiii dropped the below photo with an announcement for a June preorder release for their debut electric sedan, the Aura Deios.
Image Credits: Danielismyboiiii (Aura)
This comes at a somewhat weird time, because as brick builders set the stage and steal the show with bold new Blender-based designs such as the Shogun Athens or Zoflr Zeanon, the Aura Deios is, to put it bluntly, following the Elektrisk formula to a tee, which has been the downfall of similar brands such as MOZA. The car, which has been in a delayed state of development since late summer and early fall of 2023, fails to grab eyeballs or attention as it clones the 2022 Elektrisk Pluto's homework, of which even the newer model strays from.
But preorders are one of the best ways to build hype as eager owners anticipate their own customised version of the upcoming auto. As we all know, the order-based release strategy is truly what gave PIO the exclusivity that expanded it's relevance. But it's left to be seen if the Deios will be able to forge a new path for itself amidst the "Bust of the Year" nomination due to it's current vapourware status, or will it succumb to the industry's desire for differentiation as other young ambitious Blender-built brands have before. Either way, b8ta should take notes, and aim to avoid the same shortcomings that were revolutionary when they were introduced in 2021 by the Elektrisk team, but nowadays are as commonplace as electric cars from Swedish companies.
2024 Wheely Award Winners, and What's Next
Image Credits: Adinsapo
Let's start with the thing everyone's wondering: winners, nominees, losers. Well, have no fear, because this year we're releasing it now! We'll dive into more news and information afterwards, but let's get the real reason you're on Carblox's site out of the way first. (Side note, Wix Blogs loves adding features that look great but work horribly and break the whole site. I've saved this article more often than usual during the writing process in response.)
We had a total of 47, smashing the 38 from last year. Note that nominees are not listed from most popular to least popular, aside from the winner and runner up.
Design Awards
Exterior CSG Auto Design
Winner: 2023 Volattolo Stradagna by colfedu_911
Runner Up: 2025 Atai Yasmin by Adinsapo
Nominee: 2016 Alkazar Worldstar by KASH1R0
Nominee: 2011 Raffine 616 by chanyeon600
Nominee: 2023 Xennon Eviona by TheJellyNinja_XD13
Interior CSG Auto Design
Exterior Mesh Auto Design
Interior Mesh Auto Design
Body Class Awards
Luxury Automobile
Winner: 2024 Vector RS5 by rdSVFSh2 (AreDee)
Runner Up: 2023 Saregati Valioso by QWERTY123qwerty
Mainstream Car
Mainstream SUV
Compact Vehicle
Sports Automobile
High Performance Automobile
Classic Car
Utility Vehicle
Concept/Anticipated Vehicle
Unique Bodystyle
Debut Automobile of the Year
Bust of the Year
Brand Awards
Automaker of the Year
Winner: Montt by losotros01
Runner Up: Vector by rdSVFSh2
Nominee: McCormick by mlritc01
Nominee: Atai by Adinsapo
Nominee: Ciazzi by Eromax156
Young Brand of the Year
Best Presented Brand
Creator Awards
Creator of the Year
Winner: KASH1R0 (Alkazar, Portocello, Shogun, DeBarge)
Nominee: veratech (Zanic, Norasu, Proton)
Nominee: lilswaggjr (Ömis-Stuttgart, Ebisu)
Nominee: Adinsapo
Nominee: Subpartikel
Most Improved
Community Impact
Editorial Awards
Editor's Choice Automobile
Winner: 2016 Alkazar Worldstar by KASH1R0
Editor's Choice Brand of the Year
Under the Radar
Now that we've gotten our winners announced and revealed, let's move onto the next part of the article: what's next? With Carblox closing down this year, what happens to the Wheelys? Well, I'd like to announce that the Wheely Awards will in fact be returning next year for 2025! After listening to your feedback and insights, me and the Wheelys Team decided to bring it back once more for a chance to continue improving the presentation, because as beautiful as the venues by BlindedEpisode, Adinsapo, and hackerkm are, my public speaking skills are slacking, making the actual award part the low. So we will be back once more, and I can't wait to see what you all create!
But the most exciting part is the Wheelys are now going to accept title sponsors, since for the past two, it's been Carblox-presented. Expect a lot of changes for next year, especially as we try to move the date around, alongside try to prevent the lack of nominees who actually showed up, which hampered the mood this year when the likes of Hipas_Account and Ono_Three skipped the ceremony, if they knew about it at all.
More information will be given out later this year!
The Digest on Carblox
Originally I was planning on having someone interview me for a final SPECIAL REPORT, but quite literally it slipped my mind. Oh well!
Well, this is it, enough delaying. Carblox officially closes once this goes live. I won't be taking the site down (it makes for excellent addition to my portfolio), and I guess that'll be that. Now, question is, is there a chance Carblox returns? Totally! For all I know, a young journalist joins this server, asks to join Carblox, and takes on the role of Editor-in-Chief.
But can I just say, it has been an honour to report on all of your creations, brands, and events. As the old guard pass on the torch, I have more confidence in the future of ro-automotive than I've ever had before.
Image Credits: Adinsapo
I'd like to thank you all for the interesting 3 years of Carblox, and I'd like to say one last time...
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