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Lap Time Luminary
As this year’s L.A. Auto Show creeps up the entrants for the fourth annual Design Challenge have been revealed with eight mainstream carmakers vying for the title. The competition is an opportunity for designers to present their vision for the future of motoring without being limited by engineering or financial constraints, which explains why the cars look so bizarre. The winning design will be announced at next month’s show but until then click ahead to see all the entrants for this year’s challenge as well as a short description on each.
Audi Virtuea Quattro
For the year 2057 Audi has envisaged its latest model to be environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered single-seater. Its most interesting trait has got to be its holographic exterior, which allows for an infinite range of possible designs to be displayed.
GM OnStar ANT
Imagine a car that could tell how bad traffic was 3km away and then act to help optimize it. That car is GM’s ANT. Powered by three omni-directional ‘nanorb’ wheel systems, it can move in any direction and have its body panels reconfigured for optimal spatial use.
Mazda MotoNari RX
Named after a legendary Japanese warrior, this car is designed to make you feel like you’re going into battle thanks to a special driving suit you’ll need to don just to start it. Using millions of microscopic actuators, the suit makes the driver literally ‘feel the road’ with electronic stimulation to the muscles.
Honda Power Four
The ultimate carpool solution, this is really four cars in one. Up to four people can travel together in total on a journey, however once near the end the car is able to split into four individual vehicles taking each occupant to their individually desired destination.
Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow
Never again will a dent ruin your day thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s SilverFlow concept. With complete magnetic assembling, the car’s exterior can be reshaped at the click of a button on the key fob. Parking won’t be a problem either as it can easily transform into a pool of liquid metal saving time and space.
Nissan OneOne
The Nissan OneOne combines a car and pet into one uber-complicated piece of machinery that will do everything from fetching your morning paper to helping you avoid speed cameras.
Toyota Biomobile MECHA
Running on pollution drawn from the air, Toyota’s Biomobile MECHA sees transportation travelling vertically as well as horizontally. Nano-laser wheels allow it to move in all directions and sophisticated nano-technology advancements will allow it to expand and contract its body to suit the user’s immediate needs, whether it be for a city car or a even place to spend the night.
Volkswagen SlipStream
The VW SlipStream is a solar powered vehicle that stands upright in the city to reduce congestion and sleeps on the freeway to reduce drag coefficient, which should also allow it to reach speeds in excess of 250mph.
Source: Motor Authority » Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge 2007
Audi Virtuea Quattro
For the year 2057 Audi has envisaged its latest model to be environmentally friendly hydrogen-powered single-seater. Its most interesting trait has got to be its holographic exterior, which allows for an infinite range of possible designs to be displayed.
GM OnStar ANT
Imagine a car that could tell how bad traffic was 3km away and then act to help optimize it. That car is GM’s ANT. Powered by three omni-directional ‘nanorb’ wheel systems, it can move in any direction and have its body panels reconfigured for optimal spatial use.
Mazda MotoNari RX
Named after a legendary Japanese warrior, this car is designed to make you feel like you’re going into battle thanks to a special driving suit you’ll need to don just to start it. Using millions of microscopic actuators, the suit makes the driver literally ‘feel the road’ with electronic stimulation to the muscles.
Honda Power Four
The ultimate carpool solution, this is really four cars in one. Up to four people can travel together in total on a journey, however once near the end the car is able to split into four individual vehicles taking each occupant to their individually desired destination.
Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow
Never again will a dent ruin your day thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s SilverFlow concept. With complete magnetic assembling, the car’s exterior can be reshaped at the click of a button on the key fob. Parking won’t be a problem either as it can easily transform into a pool of liquid metal saving time and space.
Nissan OneOne
The Nissan OneOne combines a car and pet into one uber-complicated piece of machinery that will do everything from fetching your morning paper to helping you avoid speed cameras.
Toyota Biomobile MECHA
Running on pollution drawn from the air, Toyota’s Biomobile MECHA sees transportation travelling vertically as well as horizontally. Nano-laser wheels allow it to move in all directions and sophisticated nano-technology advancements will allow it to expand and contract its body to suit the user’s immediate needs, whether it be for a city car or a even place to spend the night.
Volkswagen SlipStream
The VW SlipStream is a solar powered vehicle that stands upright in the city to reduce congestion and sleeps on the freeway to reduce drag coefficient, which should also allow it to reach speeds in excess of 250mph.
Source: Motor Authority » Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge 2007
