Tag Archives: beetle

Beetle-inspired acoustic panels explore unique bug-like shapes and vibrant color palettes

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It isn’t often that people look to bugs for inspiration, especially for home decor and color themes, but Alberto Sánchez and Mut Design Studio are paving the way for a new kind of biomimicry in design. The Beetle Acoustic Panels, rather simply named, explore unique acoustic panel shapes and colors that take inspiration from the vast world of arthropods. Teeming with variety, the world of beetles offers a lot of flexibility for how these panels can be shaped, and the patterns and color palette options are practically endless. Moreover, this effectively takes something utilitarian as a sound-absorbing panel and turns it into an artistic wall-mounted accent piece that’s sure to add a pop of vibrancy to any space!

Designers: Alberto Sánchez & Mut Design Studio

The Beetle Acoustic Panels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, paying a fine tribute to beetles that can range from tiny and vibrant to large and dull. The beetle’s rounded exoskeleton was the inspiration for the acoustic panel’s pill-shaped design, with the various sub-surfaces inspired by the different parts of a beetle’s body. A central spine connects all the panels together, although beetles don’t really have spines. In a way, however, it does reinforce the bilateral symmetry of the panels and their invertebrate inspiration.

The real takeaway from this design experiment is that inspiration can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be found pretty much anywhere if you look with the right mindset. The Beetle Acoustic Panels just spark joy with their quirky shapes and eye-catching color palettes. They can be used in singular formats or you could alternatively turn your entire wall into a sound-absorbing ode to beetles. I’d personally have just four of them and name them John, Paul, George, and Ringo…

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Volkswagen Beetle merges with the Porsche 911 GT3 in this wildly exciting concept

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This Volkswagen GT3 is the result of a creative artist’s imagination going wild, mashing up two iconic cars into one. It’s like having the best of both worlds, and reason enough to stick this baby on your wall!

The classic Volkswagen Beetle is the longest-produced vehicle in history, and for good reason. Courtesy of the flowing contoured design and the fact that it is one of the easiest vehicles for modification, the VW was the first-ever car to sell more than 20 million units. This bug-eyed beauty has featured in numerous movies and adorned the walls of avid automotive fans for decades. Stack it against the 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 of the new age, and we’ve got two icons of contrasting generations. So, what would be the outcome if these two cars were mashed up into one? A VW Beetle’s core shape with the modern additions of a 911 GT3?

Designer: Khyzyl Saleem

Concept artist Khyzyl Saleem got down to this very task for Hagerty’s latest episode of Rendered video. Taking the Volkswagen Beetle’s classic proportions and the aggressive features of the 911 GT3’s exterior, the final design came out to be nothing less than stunning. It’s the perfect result of passionate lovemaking that the creative artist managed to achieve. I like to call it “Volksche” and why not!

The new upbeat Beetle now has a much lower ride height and the sleek elements borrowed over from the Porsche add the zing. Just pop some attention at those front splitter, side mirrors, tail fenders, rear diffusers and the sharper lights. Khyzyl put in a lot of effort shaping the side body from the front and rear to achieve a flowing look that doesn’t seem out of place. Hop on those Rotiform BTL rims with the sporty Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and this concept car is all dressed up to set the city streets on fire.

Interiors also get the artistic treatment, as the Beetle now has slim bucket seats to carry over the sporty design. Kyzyl said, “I’ve imagined what a modernized Beetle in the styling of the new Porsche 992 GT3 would look like for quite a while now, so figured, why not finally try it!”

The post Volkswagen Beetle merges with the Porsche 911 GT3 in this wildly exciting concept first appeared on Yanko Design.

1969 Volkswagen Beetle turned camper design for a nostalgic vibe is actually available for sale!

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Camper trailers come in all options, sizes, and shapes – but rarely does one come across a camper that’s not only different from the conventional ones popular these days, it also has that retro classic vibe to it. One the same lines, this custom build 1969 Volkswagen Super Bugger Camper based on the 1969 VW Beetle is a rarity. The mere presence of the iconic yellow-colored Beetle on the front lends this camper its weight worth in gold. All the power for the four-wheeled house on wheels comes courtesy of the 1600cc 1973 super beetle engine.

The VW camper has preserved a good condition thanks to the upbeat maintenance by the owner who hasn’t changed for more than five decades. Nor has the original builder of the camper been altered. Most of the parts of the vehicle are in their original state – the interiors too can claim that laurel. Including period-correct nostalgic things like the AM/FM CB radio. To make things as comfortable as possible, some parts have been replaced by newer components. The original tires have been replaced by Continental wide tires for better handling and stability. The same goes with the suspension which had to be upgraded due to the requirement of accommodating two people on board.

To ensure you don’t miss anything on the classic camper while on an adventure, there are things like an outside stove and a propane set. The camper is fitted with all the basic amenities and the interior is planned out well for a road trip for two individuals. That said, don’t expect it to go fast on freeways or you may even find yourself struggling to climb steep hills. Anyways, the Volkswagen Super Bugger Camper nice nostalgic camper in its original condition, up for grabs – complete with all the paperwork. Perfect for laid-back trips to the city outskirts for a week or two!

Designer: Mecum

This Volkswagen Beetle is a Batman worthy crime fighting machine that loves high octane racing!

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Volkswagen Beetle was, is, and will be the darling of automotive enthusiasts and custom shops – be it for pure driving bliss or giving the iconic four-wheeler a custom remake. Eveeeeen though the car has been out of production, its charm is unlikely to die any time soon. London-based automotive concept designer Al Yasid Oozeear (a.k.a. Al Yasid) has experimented with quite a few rides until now. His lucky date with the Beetle has brought forth a unique blueprint that gives the car a morphing character of a muscle car and Le Mans racer. One that fuses perfectly to be a modern Batmobile.

Yasid has refreshed the way a custom Beetle ought to look like compared to the countless custom designs the chubby four-wheelers has seen in the past. Now it oozes with a very boyish charm with the looks of a killer machine on the road, and he calls it “Max”. Gone are the buffed-up cheeks, rounded wheel arches, and the countered headlights. The makeover now boasts a Le Mans styled persona with classy fenders, square LED headlights, and a very muscular low-positioned splitter. The car gets side skirting, a roof scoop for aerodynamic balance, and a carbon embellished lightbar for a very masculine feel.

Move over to the rear, and you realize the amount of muscle it can churn out of that protruding V12 engine. Somehow it gives an overall feel of a product of a night out between Beetle and 917 Porsche in the garage. I won’t even deter from calling it a “Batmobeetle” – a car made for fighting crime scenes in the city’s dark corners. And of course, who wouldn’t want to be the protagonist Batman, driving it around. When it’s time to experience the need for speed, just take it to any drag race, and you’re destined to end the night with a pocket full of moolah!

Designer: Al Yasid

This Volkswagen beetle wrapped in matte black is worthy of being Batman’s next ride!

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Imagine vigilante Batman driving this hot roadster in Gotham City, with those worthy weapon upgrades to take on the bad blood brewing on the streets. A minimalist look that’s fit for the 21st century, and yes, being open roof does help in getting out of the vehicle if need be. Now that we’ve let loose our imagination, let’s get back to reality for a while. This 1961 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe converted into a roadster with a matte black treatment is the work of Danni Koldal, who’s virtually facelifted the vintage four-wheeler into a hotrod that’s not overdone, still maintains its masculine appeal.

The front windshield has been trimmed down to the bare minimum, giving the ride a mean attitude that matches its personality. The black is contrasted by the silver-white trims on the doors, hood and alloy wheels. There’s a superman logo near the top of the hood and “Superman” etched on the back, so Danni indeed wanted it to be a Batmobile for the modern crime-fighting superhero (though I’m sure Batman will change that or make it a common DC-crime fighting mobile). Those fat wheels also go with the upper body of the Volkswagen that Danni has managed to turn into hot property – we want to own it right away. Interiors carry forward the sleek appeal which shouts out loud for a midnight drive on the freeway. We are already daydreaming, aren’t we?

There’s a lot we would love to know about how this custom job was achieved, and this design leaves us craving for more. Perhaps, that’s what Danni intended – leaving everyone who comes across this roadster, bamboozled to bits!

Designer: Danni Koldal

This Volkswagen beetle wrapped in matte black is worthy of being Batman’s next ride!

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Imagine vigilante Batman driving this hot roadster in Gotham City, with those worthy weapon upgrades to take on the bad blood brewing on the streets. A minimalist look that’s fit for the 21st century, and yes, being open roof does help in getting out of the vehicle if need be. Now that we’ve let loose our imagination, let’s get back to reality for a while. This 1961 Volkswagen Beetle deluxe converted into a roadster with a matte black treatment is the work of Danni Koldal, who’s virtually facelifted the vintage four-wheeler into a hotrod that’s not overdone, still maintains its masculine appeal.

The front windshield has been trimmed down to the bare minimum, giving the ride a mean attitude that matches its personality. The black is contrasted by the silver-white trims on the doors, hood and alloy wheels. There’s a superman logo near the top of the hood and “Superman” etched on the back, so Danni indeed wanted it to be a Batmobile for the modern crime-fighting superhero (though I’m sure Batman will change that or make it a common DC-crime fighting mobile). Those fat wheels also go with the upper body of the Volkswagen that Danni has managed to turn into hot property – we want to own it right away. Interiors carry forward the sleek appeal which shouts out loud for a midnight drive on the freeway. We are already daydreaming, aren’t we?

There’s a lot we would love to know about how this custom job was achieved, and this design leaves us craving for more. Perhaps, that’s what Danni intended – leaving everyone who comes across this roadster, bamboozled to bits!

Designer: Danni Koldal

The Volkswagen Beetle’s beloved fender benders get repurposed to build this cool kart!

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While futuristic cars are everyone’s focus, it is refreshing to see creative takes on vintage cars – especially if they are made with something old, something new, something borrowed and something…green? When you see this kart there is only one car that should come to your mind – the original Beetle!

Aldekas Studio created this quirky vehicle called ‘Bugkart Wasowski’ using repurposed the fenders from a Type 1 beetle model. The fenders, headlights, and turn signals are melded to transform them into a custom mini kart that retains the car’s iconic round shape. It is painted with a retro olive green with a red frame to add some contrast. A round, tall handlebar acts as the steering system, and to keep some of the old charm the original chrome side mirrors are incorporated.

The Bugkart Wasowski pays a tribute to the “bug” we all know and love. While we wait for more information on the engine transmission, I can’t help but wonder that if Volkswagen had to make a sleigh for Santa Claus, this would be it – two global icons ‘collaborating’ if you will! If this project goes into production, it will be fun to see in competitive kart racing tournaments or maybe in car shows for how unique it is.

Desinger: Aldekas Studio

Think a GoPro on Your Dog Is Cool? How About Video Cameras on Beetles?

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Strapping a GoPro onto your pet can result in some pretty amusing video footage. But what if you prefer insects to mammals? There’s no way you could fit a regular action camera onto one of those, unless it’s one of those giant bird-eating spiders you find in South America maybe. Now, thanks to the miracles of modern science and technology, we have a video camera that’s tiny enough to attach to a beetle.

Photo: Mark Stone – University of Washington

Researchers from the University of Washington’s Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, working under a fellowship grant from Microsoft have come up with a miniature camera that weighs just 250 milligrams. That makes it light enough to be carried by some sturdier insects, including the death-feigning beetle and a pinacate beetle.

Photo: Mark Stone – University of Washington

The teensy camera unit includes an image sensor, processing circuitry, a Bluetooth transmitter, and a battery. But given the size limitations, its image quality isn’t very good at this point, capturing low resolution greyscale images at a very low frame rate. It streams images at somewhere from 1 to 5 frames per second, with a 160 x 120 resolution, and is capable of being remotely steered so a wider field of view can be observed.

The research team also developed a tiny, 2cm long robot that can also carry a steerable camera, which has the potential to reduce robot power consumption needs, since it doesn’t need to move the whole robot to survey a scene. I can only imagine the potential for building tiny camera robots that look like insects to carry out espionage.

If you’re interested in learning more about the beetle-cam, the full research paper is available from Science Robotics.

[via Gizmodo]

Miniature robotic camera backpack shows how beetles see the world

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After creating tiny sensor backpacks for bees, researchers from the University of Washington have built a more advanced model for beetles. Dubbed “a GoPro for beetles,” the robotic backpacks carry a tiny steerable camera that can stream video at 1 to...

This beetle-inspired table spreads its wings to double its tabletop surface!

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In an unusually beautiful case of nature-inspired design, the Elytra table by Radhika Dhumal expands in size by ‘spreading its wings’! The table comes inspired by beetles and they way their wings nest perfectly around their body. The table itself comes with perfectly natural bug-like proportions that fits in well as garden decor, and uses two ‘wings’ to expand in surface, much like the beetle.

Elytra’s design is dominated by rounded forms that give it a friendly, pet-like demeanor, and feature four legs that are positioned in a way that gives the Elytra its unique, animalistic stance. The table’s surfaces are split into four broad parts, including a wooden ‘head’ and ‘body’ as well as two glass-inlay wings that can be opened out expand the table’s surface to store an extra few cups of tea, a planter or two, and perhaps a notebook to doodle your ideas on!

Designer: Radhika Dhumal