atohmsFiled under: automotive, Materials, technology | Tags: BMW, car, concept, textile
Concept cars give automotive designers a chance to let their imaginations run wild, often with outlandish results. But even by that measure, BMW has come up with something as strange as it is innovative — a shape-shifting car covered with fabric. Instead of steel, aluminum or even carbon fiber, the Gina has a body of seamless fabric stretched over a movable metal frame that allows the driver to change its shape at will. The car — which actually runs and drives — is a styling design headed straight for the BMW Museum in Munich and so it will never see production, but building a practical car wasn’t the point.
via:: Wired
Filed under: automotive, technology | Tags: car, concept, slipstream, Volkswagen
Volkswagen’s people car ethos has a downside: everyone has a car – and it’s even worse in 2057. In an effort to combat the unimaginably dense future, VW has created an autonomous vehicle that houses one occupant in glorious, muscle-atrophying conveyance. The Volkswagen Slipstream, will stand upright when toddling around at low speeds, and once you’ve hopped on the motorway in one of the designated “Slipstream” lanes, you can roll along at over 250 mph lying down, with only a duo of wheels and set of rear fins preventing an untimely demise. The aerodynamic shape of the tapered top, partnered with the aforementioned fins, keeps rolling resistance at a minimum, with power provided by “hyper-efficient” solar panels. Love the idea since I had a similar one some years ago 😉
via:: LAmotorshow
Filed under: automotive, Product Design, technology | Tags: airtrax, Omni directional, wheel
The year is 2025 and we have race cars that set tracks ablaze with their ferocious looks alone. . MMR25 comes with a description that’s beyond reality, just like its renderings. A look from the rear and MMR25 Mitsubishi is a bad-ass robotic insect of some sorts. It is an omni-directional vehicle that can move along any axis. This power train has four in-wheel electric motors, and eight supplemental motors in each wheel. Each wheel has eight motors within, making movement possible in any which way.
A great application of this technology are the AIRTRAX vehicles. You can see them in action here.
via:: TheDesignBlog
Filed under: automotive, biomimicry & Ecology, energy | Tags: car, concept, energy, Kim Gu-Han, solar
The Helios Concept is a design study of a solar energy-powered off-road sporty vehicle. The body integrates a system of large photovoltaic panels that increases the energy charging capacity. It was designed by Kim Gu-Han from Universität Duisburg-Essen – Germany. The Helios is an electric off-road vehicle use powered by solar energy. To increase the surface area of the photovoltaic panels, when not in motion the upper surface of the car transform into a large “fan” with four wings to store more energy or to serve as an energy station. This transformable design was inspired by natural evolution – some animals have developed a stretchable skin to absorb more sunlight.
via:: carbodydesign
First seen in 2005 the Yamaha Deinonychus is a BMX style electric bike concept that uses two electric motors, one in each wheel. This feature means there is no mechanical link between the chassis and wheels, this allows for a fully adjustable chassis where the geometry and dimensions can be quickly and easily altered to suit the rider or the terrain. The two electric motors provide 100% of their thrust from 0 rpm giving the Deinonychus great off road potential.
via:: diseno
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