Volvo Air Motion Concept

Volvo Air Motion Concept

Imagine...

A vehicle lighter than a Formula 1 racing car... Experiencing the adrenaline rush of carving through the canyons with up to three friends... Not using a drop of gasoline... Now just imagine if these dreams could be brought together in a single vehicle.

Tipping the scales at under 1,000 lbs. the Volvo Air Motion Concept makes these dreams a reality and delivers this in a beautiful Scandinavian body. Designed like a clam shell and sculptured from ultra light carbon fiber.

Minimizing weight and complexity, while maximizing driving enjoyment, is the philosophy behind this vehicle. Thousands of fewer components are employed than in a traditional car, thanks to the powerful, yet simple, compressed air motors that replace a heavy internal combustion engine. The motors cool down under load rather than heat up, thus removing the need for heavy cooling systems. An integrated approach to designing the chassis, interior and suspension also contribute significantly.

To compress the air needed for the centrally mounted air tank, Air Replenishment Sites are used. Powered by air turbines floating 1,000 ft. in the air, they harness the power of the wind and convert it to electricity to provide the compression.
Aimed at the driving enthusiast, by a company synonymous with safety and environmental care, the Volvo Air Motion demonstrates the beauty and purity of Scandinavian design and delivers a guilt-free, raw driving experience.

Introducing a new form of exhilaration. The Volvo Air Motion Canyon Carver.
Design Team
Chris Benjamin
Dean Bakker
Steve Goodrich
Bjorn Wessman
Doug Frasher
Dean Shaw

Nissan iV

Nissan iV

In 2010, the innovative Nissan LEAF is introduced as the first mass-market electric vehicle (EV), planting seeds for Nissan's vision of a zero-emissions future. Fast-forward to 2035: EVs and the green energy infrastructures that power them have matured into a fully sustainable system, bringing this dream to life.

A NATURAL PERFORMER
Infused with Nissan's heritage of sports and performance, Nissan iV is a high-performance EV inspired by nature's intelligent beauty and crafted by human ingenuity. The iV is a super-lightweight sports tourer that showcases "organic synthetics," a revolutionary manufacturing technique in which automotive parts are cultivated like agriculture in a 100% sustainable, carbon-neutral process.

ALL GROWN UP
Less is more. Every detail of the Nissan iV is engineered toward renewable, lightweight strength and maximum efficiency. Featuring an interwoven organic frame, iV's chassis material is synthetically grown and formed into a stunning, aerodynamic shape. Derived from fast-growing ivy and re-enforced with spider silk composite, the biopolymer frame is flexible and ultra-light, yet extremely robust. The spacious, panoramic cabin comfortably seats four adults and is constructed from an innovative photovoltaic material that weighs 99% less than traditional glass. While the canopy collects solar energy, it also provides protective safety and unique, open-air views of the outdoors. Underneath it all, a slim bio-battery provides stability and a near limit-less range made possible by regenerative super-capacitor technology that recoups 60% of kinetic energy spent.

WHEEL 'N' DEAL
Nissan's patented concentric hub-less in-wheel motors not only propel iV, they do triple-duty by functioning as the vehicle's steering as well as its suspension system, via magnetic levitation and propulsion. Concentric magnetic rings amplify rotation with each outer ring to boost high-speed performance and provide independent wheel control for ultimate handling and maneuverability. Inspired by schools of fish and their fluid movement, Nissan's pro-active Safety Shield™ renders collisions a thing of the past and reduces weight by eliminating the need for heavy structures (bumpers, beams, airbags, etc.).

ZERO-HERO
Through industry-leading technology, Nissan iV maximizes the driving experience by eliminating excess. Nissan fulfills a deep nostalgia for the joy of driving with a strikingly beautiful EV that can deliver electrifying, agile performance with zero-guilt.

Our mantra: Innovation For All.
Design Team
Alfonso Albaisa
Yoshihisa Akiyama
John Cupit
Robert Bauer
Randy Rodriguez
Ryan Campbell
Ken Lee
Hirohisa Ono
Hiren Patel
Steve Moneypenny
James Cronin
Matt Wilson
Ann Ngo

Mercedes-Benz Biome

Mercedes-Benz Biome

Symbiosis: Light Technologies from Nature

The Biome:
The Mercedes-Benz Biome is an ultralight vehicle that utilizes technologies from nature to achieve unparalleled efficiency and seamless integration into the ecosystem.

Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis:
Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis is a system in which the vehicle becomes part of the ecosystem like the leaves of a tree. Symbiosis vehicles collect energy from the sun and store it in chemical bonds, in the form of a fluid called BioNectar4534. Mercedes has also developed technology to retrofit trees with receptors which can harvest their excess solar energy into BN4534. This creates an incentive to plant more trees and collect more energy, while also helping the ecosystem. The vehicle can be composted after its lifespan is complete or used as building material.

Partnership With Nature:
The Symbiosis vehicle forms a seamless part of the ecosystem through green technologies. Most of the energy used to power the vehicles comes from the sun. It is stored in a lightweight grown material called BioFibre. It is much lighter than metal or synthetic composites, but stronger than steel when mature. It is grown in the Mercedes-Benz Nursery through proprietary DNA. The customer's specific desires are genetically engineered into the Star and the vehicle grows when this combines with the Seed capsule.

Mercedes-Benz Nursery:
All Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis vehicles are grown in an ecologically sustainable nursery, using primarily organic materials.

Growth from Two Seeds:
The interior of the Biome grows from Mercedes-Benz DNA in the front star, when it fuses with the seed. The exterior grows from the rear star, creating the shape. The wheels are grown separately from four unique seeds.

Technologies from Nature:
Mercedes Benz Symbiosis vehicles release pure oxygen into the environment, helping urban areas to meet air quality standards.
Design Team
Hubert Lee
Christopher Rhoades
Nicolas Garfias
Alan Barrington
Daniel Kim
Benjamin Messmer
Jack Luttig

MAYBACH DRS - "Den-Riki-Sha" (electric powered rickshaw)

MAYBACH DRS - "Den-Riki-Sha" (electric powered rickshaw)

Gracing the Roads of Tomorrow
A radically new car culture will arise in the near future, which is aligned with modern architecture, infrastructure and nature. An astonishing variety of future automotive designs will grow, commensurate, with newly available energy sources, drive systems and alternative production methods. Light, transparent designs with sculptured elegance and an extensive range of comfort and safety options are finding their way into a new eco-conscious world.

The MAYBACH DRS "Den-Riki-Sha" (electric powered rickshaw) embodies these attributes and leverages the traditional values of the classic "Jin-Riki-Sha" (human powered rickshaw), which originated in Tokyo circa 1870.

Breathtaking beauty, ingenious luxury and technical brilliance characterize the sophisticated development of the "DRS." This MAYBACH is the first worldwide NMV (Naturally Manufactured Vehicle). Its production process is unique: Per a highly perfected and complex metamorphosis, a readily developed car is born out of a coded DNA-cocoon. Organic intelligence, aligned with advanced bio-mechanical engineering skills, created this special process being designed for a limited number of exclusive vehicles. A futuristic composition of ultra-light construction with a unique luxurious Exterior & Interior expression.

Powered by a self balancing electric drive unit and controlled by an onboard computer that is plugged into a mega city's transport infrastructure, the MAYBACH DRS delivers a smooth, luxurious journey cross town. To extend its range, this human-electric hybrid allows pedaling power to be supplemented by the driver. Meanwhile, the passengers enjoy the journey in their glamorous surroundings.

MAYBACH traditionally pointed the way to a modern era of luxurious mobility – the "Den-Riki-Sha" continues this heritage, gracing the roads of tomorrow.
Design Team
Holger Hutzenlaub
Hiroshi Yajimar
Hideki Takahashi
Yong Won Lee
Toru Nakano
Teck-Koun Kim
Masahide Yamada
Daniel Schlapp

Honda Air Concept

Honda Air Concept

The Honda Air concept is a vision of the future of lightweight and alternative fuel performance vehicles; a coastal cruiser for the aggressive lifestyle. Inspired by the modern roller coaster as well as skydiving wing-suits, the Air is powered by a compressed air and pneumatic regulator system. It utilizes turbo vacuums and external air-flow to regenerate tank pressure for extended range and increased boost for an estimated 100 miles. The chassis doubles as the master tank and all components, including seating, are mounted to the central chassis/tank to eliminate redundant structure and reduce overall weight.

Vegetable based polymer panels and fairings protect occupants, maintaining the solid Honda method; safety for everyone. The Air's cockpit and package maintain the aggressive human packaging of a modern roller coaster aimed at maximizing the open air experience. In order to reduce weight and increase dynamic performance, a hub-less wheel and drive system eliminates the use of heavy drive train components. Glass reinforced seating panels, urethane tire composition and skeletal sub-frame components combine for drastic weight savings. Using a Honda generator / air compressor at home or tire filler at your local filling station, the main tanks and reserves can be filled quickly and safely.

At just under 800 lbs., the powerful anthem of pneumatic propulsion and a character unlike any zero-emission vehicle exemplifies Honda's concept of fun to drive. The pow[air] of dreams.

E-Concept, Flexibility That Is Inspired By Battle Horse

Entitled E-Concept, this is a concept of an electric car that features flexibility with a fossil fuel as main source of energy to power it. This zero emission car concept is an ingenious idea of an industrial designer Huynh Ngoc Lan. The shape of battle horse inspire the shape of this E-concept. An onboard batteries is included to run the electric motor on this E-Concept. in the middle part of the...

AMV-R, Fantastic Impression In Yellow Car

Entitled with AMV-R, this car is wrapped with yellow color. The AMV-R stands for Automotive Visual Racing. This amazing yellow car is designed by an industrial designer Alexei Mikhailov. AMV-R is a perfect combination between German and Italian car style that is presented in luxurious design. Despite it is just a vision, but it is planned to be made a prototype as the ingenious sample of this fantastic...

Cadillac Aera

Cadillac Aera

1000lbs/1000mi
The Cadillac Aera (Aero + Era) launches Cadillac's philosophy of "Art and Science" into new territory by taking an innovative and stylistic approach to ultra-light weight vehicle design. Aera is a 1000 lb, 2+2 touring coupe, with a range of 1000 miles before refueling; attributes achieved without compromising size, capacity and safety.

Optimum efficiency, minimum parts
Aera's highly advanced body structure utilizes a 3D lattice, mono-formed frame. This polyhedral structure is similar to configurations found consistently in nature, e.g., inside the grouping of bubbles. The structure is formed from unique, alloy-utilizing, semi-solid freeform manufacturing, creating a naturally strong, extremely lightweight frame. All major body parts, including interior components, are essentially "grown" into a single part lattice structure.

Renowned Cadillac smoothness and quietness are accomplished using the harnessed power of compressed air via a highly efficient Pneumatic Drive System (PDS). Its 10,000 psi composite air storage tank has ample capacity for a 1000 mile range. Flexible, pressurized air cells in the exterior skin, similar to material developed for the NASA Mars Rover airbags, enhance passive safety and interior comfort. The flexible polymer skin optimizes aerodynamics and functions as an ultra-lightweight alternative to conventional body panels and glass.

Additional technologies include an All-In-One (AIO) wheel system, combining rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions. A drive by wireless system decreases the mass of electrical components. Vehicle to vehicle communication (V2V) promotes active safety.

The Cadillac Aera embodies a stylistic, lightweight, minimalist approach to long distance luxury touring.
Design Team
Frank Saucedo – Director
Phil Tanioka – Project Manager
Jussi Timonen – Vehicle Designer
Brent Wickham – Concept Strategist
Shawn Moghadam – Layout Designer

DSC_7327-Inspire Motorsports Elan DP02 driven by Charlie Shears

Inspire Motorsports Elan DP02 driven by Charlie Shears / Houston, TX at the IMSA Lites event at the Northeast Grand Prix 2007 / Lime Rock Park

E-Concept, Flexibility That Is Inspired By Battle Horse

Entitled E-Concept, this is a concept of an electric car that features flexibility with a fossil fuel as main source of energy to power it. This zero emission car concept is an ingenious idea of an industrial designer Huynh Ngoc Lan. The shape of battle horse inspire the shape of this E-concept. An onboard batteries is included to run the electric motor on this E-Concept. in the middle part of the vehicle the batteries are located, wherein in this way, the vehicle will run more flexible. The four wheels is designed as if it has only three wheels, two wheels are set in the vehicle rear that will provides more stability to the vehicle.

This zero emission car concept is an ingenious idea of an industrial designer Huynh Ngoc Lan

E-Concept, Flexibility That Is Inspired By Battle Horse

Entitled E-Concept, this is a concept of an electric car

features flexibility with a fossil fuel as main source energy

Bloodhound Project races to National Electronics Week

Bloodhound Project races to National Electronics Week

Insecta Concept Car May Be The Future Of Automotive Design

Small is the new big. The Mini, the Fit, the ForTwo, the Peapod… it seems like cutting edge cars keeps getting smaller.
So it’s a perfect time for 22-year old designer Shao Yung Yeh’s single passenger, insect-inspired vehicle. The suspension is based on insect legs that can raise and lower depending upon traffic and road conditions. And instead of a central drivetrain, the car is powered by an electric motor at each wheel, while the battery pack sits in the car’s abdomen and is able to move fore and aft to adjust the car’s center of gravity.
Yeh told Wired.com, “(Insects) not only inspire the styling but also the entire structure and the package of the car.”
Check out pictures and a video of the Insecta:


This may signify the beginning of a shift in the whole automotive design world. For years, cars were modeled after big mammals, slung on their wheels like stalking cats. But the shapes based on animal shoulders and aerodynamic hawks may give way to beetle shells and grasshopper legs. New technologies can make those shapes workable. Instead of a steel inner frame like a skeleton, new materials can allow a rigid “exoskeleton”, among other things.
With those mew materials, it’s also easier to make small cars more efficiently. So instead of driving around in a full-sized car fit for 4-5 passengers, commuters can opt for a car fit for one, which is all they really need. Let’s hope some auto company has the vision to make something based on this design.

Hyundai 2020 Family City Car Project by Nicolas Stone

With brilliant features and an exceptional look, the final design of Hyundai 2020 City Car has already been exposed by Nicolas Stone. This car is designed to present a new idea of a compact car with a plug-in hybrid, based on the recent revolutionary technology developed by MIT. The exterior shell of this car is shown as latest transparent solar panels that will collect ambient light for generating electricity. This car is powered by a photosynthesis artificial system by utilizing the latest energy model. This super car needs sunlight and water only for its functionality, just like a plant needs.

Futuristic Audi Shark Sports Car Concept Just Won Desire Design Competition

If you are a sports car fanatic, chances are that you had heard about this very famous and award winning sports car design – The Audi Shark. This sports car concept was designed by Kazim Doku and had just won the top price in the recently concluded 2008 Desire Design Competition in Italy by the Domus Academy. Are you ready for the future? The Audi Shark is a flying vehicle. A two-seater flying car was inspired by the designs of the motorcycle and the airplane combined. With sleek shark-look, the lights are made of transparent tubes, sporty seats and cockpit-like interior design.

In Nissan NV200, Function Becomes The Aesthetic

Nissan NV200 is dedicated to small business professionals that always on the move. This car exterior might not appeal too much for design conscious people but the NV200 has a very nice interior design that worth considering. Take a look inside Nissan NV200, you’ll get the impression that this particular model is built for professional oceanic photographer, a full equipment-specific storage to a full computer workstation is ready to use. Definitely not just a regular small van but one with innovative and smart design to suit any people with different lifestyle.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 Supercar

Lamborghini has released the first pictures of its Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce supercar and those who have seen them will surely admire that this is one of their most excellent inventions. The LP 670-4 SuperVeloce is lighter, faster and more powerful than their previous version LP-640 which is already pretty fast. Lamborghini has increased the power of LP-670 to 670 hp and the 487 lb-ft of Lambo’s 605L V12 torque. This features has made it an extremely fast vehicle and all these was achieved through just optimizing the valve timing of the engine and tweaking the air intake mechanism.

The Lamborghini Insecta Car Concept for Extreme Racing

Iulian Bumbu, a Romanian professional car designer, designed The Lamborghini Insecta keeping an extreme racing supercar in mind. The design of this mid-engined 2-seater supercar combines the styling cues of the brand with elements encouraged by insect exoskeletons. The idea was based on introducing more organic and softer lines and combining them into the geometrical approach of Lamborghini. The inspiration mainly came from nature, particularly from the exoskeletons of insects which can be found in the top and back views of the car. Carbon-fiber is the main material of the panels and body structure of the car and powertrain is the same of a Gallardo.

Koenigsegg Quant Solar Electric Car

Koenigsegg Quant is a four-seater solar electric car which has been unveiled in Geneva by Koenigsegg together with NLV Solar AG. Featuring the FAES (Flow Accumulator Energy Storage) technology, Koenigsegg Quant is enable a full re-charge in just 20 minutes and has a range of 500 km.

Koenigsegg Quant needs just 5.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a stand still and the car is able to develops 512 bhp and 715 Nm of torque. While the top speed of Koenigsegg Quant solar electric car will be at 275 km/h.
The rear-wheel drive Koenigsegg Quant is powered by two electrical AC induction electric motors and features four-wheel brake regeneration, ABS, and ESP.

Infiniti Essence Concept Car

Infiniti Essence is a concept which designed to celebrates 20 year existence of the brand. Infiniti Essence concept has been premiered in Geneva Motor Show and features rear-wheel drive coupe, two-seater, and a front engine.

While powered by a hybrid system, Infiniti Essence concept may develops 600PS (592bhp). Infiniti Essence also features 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine that develops 440PS (434bhp) as it has been fitted with twin turbochargers.

Infiniti Essence also showcases a new type of electric motor, called a 3D Motor, that takes the power output up by 160PS (158bhp). The electric motor is particularly slim, disc-shaped and offers twice the torque of a conventional unit.

Rinspeed sQuba - The Underwater Car

Rinspeed sQuba - the world’s first diving car, will be premiered at the Geneva Motorshow this year. This wonderful Rinspeed sQuba car may dive up to 10 m on water depth. However, this car is the real deal, unlike Roger Moore when drove a submersible car in ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’… That’s just a movie trick. This marvelous car will be the Car of the Year because of its technology for diving at underwater area.

The Future Of Car Technology, As Seen From The Recent Past

Futuristic concept products—especially gadgets—always inspire the same thought: in about ten years, this is going to seem ridiculous. Jalopnik takes a look back at the technological dreams of the car industry, circa 1999.

Gym Concept Car Inspires You to Exercise

The concept car design by Coventry University design student Da Feng is something that is far more than just a fragment of imagination. Made from carbon fiber frame, GYM as this concept car is called as a single seat concept car. This concept car is designed by being inspired by a gym as the car is more like a mini gymnasium. The adjustable seat and pedal are placed in a manner that the usage of the same makes the driver feel as if he is in a gym. So if you missed your morning exercise routine, then do it on the way to your office!

Saab 2025 – best future car

With the increase of vehicles on the road and urban space in the narrow road safety remains the cardinal concern. Consequently, designers from around the world are developing vehicles considering the future scenario in which these problems will be even more severe. A designer is Yungho Jung, who designed a car to Saab in 2025.

The concept was developed as a project to study the course of transportation design at Umeå Institute of Design – one of the great schools that prepare transportation designers. Yungho maintaining security as the main theme of the project, said that most accidents occur due to the negligence of drivers or speeding.

Therefore, the concept is to encourage and inspire participants to take active part in the movement of self-preservation. On the other hand, the body of this Saab is made of a composite flexible and can change shape depending on the situation.

National Electronics Week UK 2010

As an added attraction for the day the Bloodhound SSC (super-sonic car) was represented at the day. This vehicle is aiming to break the land speed record, raising it from the current 763 mph (1228 kph) figure up to 1000 mph (mach 1.4).
As the organisers say, Building a car quicker than a fighter jet is not, however, the primary goal of the project. Rather, it is to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way.
The exhibition area for the car, not only showed a vehicle, but it also showed the engine that will be used, as well as the fuel pump - a 4.5 litre racing car engine capable to developing 620 shaft horse power.
In all this looked to be a very interesting project, and one we undoubtedly hear more about.

2009 Mazda3 will inspire the entire future mazda line-up 

Saab Aero X Concept

The Saab Aero X was designed as a way to explore future design directions. Its innovative features preview the development of an enhanced design language that will inspire future Saab products.

One of the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s no doors at all or windshield pillers. This is because the car has a cockpit canopy, just like you’d find on one of Saab’s aircraft. This is to give you a full 180 degree view of the world around.
The car features a 400 horsepower twin turbo BioPower V-6 engine. This will cut significantly on C02 emissions.

On the inside, Saab has applied techniques derived from Swedish glass and precision instrument making, displaying data on glass-like acrylic 'clear zones' in graphic 3-D images.

Because of the use of carbon fiber bodywork, with a lightweight powertrain, electronically controlled suspension and all-wheel drive, the Saab Aero X promises performance to match it’s stunning looks. Computer simulations by Saab anticipate 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds.

In the back there is a twin storage facility. This features a conventional hatch for opening and a sliding drawer underneath.

futuristic bikes and cars

Who would have thought that prehistoric animals like dinosaurs could inspire automotive design in the future? Yaroslav Chumachenko, 25, transportation design students at the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin, Italy planned exactly on these lines and has developed a niche concept futuristic flexible design of the Maserati. Given the exponential rate of change in vehicle technology, Maserati Quattroporte 2030 Yarslov Concept pass minor amendments designed to act as a rear-engine super car, SUV or a sedan with great ease. The concept also draws some inspiration coveted design model and the Zeppelin Maserati Birdcage history

The emphasis of the basic skeleton, as the forum is to provide flexibility when it comes to change your cars performance, with a production technology of additives for stereolithography needs. Coming to the safety aspects Maserati concept car, the ribs of a structural support spar to ensure maximum safety of the cab and to support the body.