Oscar
development
'15
google auto There is a rumour circulating that Google's first 'auto' was a slight of hand - drawing attention away from a genuinely mainstream offering in development. Whether true or not, a Google car concept is an interesting design question: what rules may be re-written for autonomous e.v?
late in 2014 MIT developed 'programmable' fibre. this is incorporated to the concept. the flanks of the car are programmed to roll up and back when a charge is applied. this creates a single magnetically sealed shutline from which the car unfolds, rather than splitting at a hinge.
vehicle autonomy opens new avenues for interior design and innovation. emphasis moves from 'driver focus' to 'flexibility and passenger comfort' [the key themes for this concept interior and the body that accommodates it].
The final design is a mid-range vehicle straddling the current c/d segments. it combines the ease of use and low local pollution of a hatchback, with the dimensions utility of a larger vehicle. it aims to satisfy the needs of most commuting families and commercial urban taxi and car share applications.
silverado CDN and gm ran a competition looking at the next generation silverado. Although not eligible for entry it led to the development of three concept silverados (with a more global appeal) for 2020, 2030 and 2040.
the concept for 2020 considers a more european-automotive approach to truck design, with softly radiused volumes to the flared arches and flanks. The aim: to broaden global aesthetic appeal without losing the inherent visual strength of the silverado. It also added utility, applying the truck's size to innovative storage and loading aids.
the concept for 2030 dealt with pick-up trucks needing to pickup as well as truck. A five-rotor drone mounted on the bonnet provides limited loading ability, and when in transit can provide smart cooling to the horizontal radiators and engine bay as necessary.
with the drone covering any forward visibility, driver and passengers look through an augmented reality windscreen - improving driver awareness and safety.
by 2040 silverado takes itself to work. With l.L.A. abilities for traversing impassable terrain, the drone truck can be engaged in civilian, humanitarian or military applications. An on-board messaging system communicates with those around it. load markers and the onboard crane take care of loading functions.
the nv200 taxi concept of 2012 generated ongoing debate - with cabbies rejoicing at a quantum leap in their working conditions, but the hailing public bemoaning the loss of a true british icon. The successful heatherwick NB4L demonstrates the value of change - and initially inspired the design of this taxi.
nt4l
the design is dictated by taxi usage. the passenger side is entirely devoted to ingress/egress of passengers, facilitated by a large glass door cantilvered over to the cabbie's side of the roof. this provides a panoramic view of the london skyline, and prevents passengers stepping into the path of oncoming traffic when leaving the taxi.
with proportions dictated by the functionality of the interior, visual interest is added to the exterior design via a rubberised protective section around the belt line. this provides practical protection for the bodywork of the taxi, but also visually infers the classic lines of the tx4 and its predecessors.
nissan ndx
ndx is conceived as a competitor to the nsx, 4c and lotus mid-rear engined segment performance cars. The IDX and IDX nismo concepts of 2014 were massively desirable. ndx applies the graphical and surfacing cues from those concepts to a genuinely driver focused sports car.
The strong graphic break along the side of the car visually cradles the mid-rear mounted engine (the natural focus point of a design in this segment). It also provides a natural edge to the full volumes of the front and rear wheelarches, as well as the dramatic negative sill surface.
ndx nismo
misc
rolls royce pavilion
bmw 1-series waterline
alfa tazione
nissan compact-gt
volvo xc40
Oscar
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