Tag Archives: car
Ford begins sharing its driver-collected accident data with other car makers
Samsung is bringing SmartThings dashboard to Android Auto
The Future of the Formula 1 is edgy, enclosed, and electric, according to this concept
Take a quick glance at Meelis Lillemets’ concept car and you’ll instantly recognize it to be a racecar. It’s nailed all those proportions perfectly, but look a little closer and you see that while it broadly resembles your preconceived notion of what an F1 racecar is supposed to look like, Lillemets’ conceptual racecar is, in fact, quite different-looking.
Titled the Formula-E Concept, the automobile is a combination of contemporary and past styles, with a boxy exterior that’s reminiscent of F1 cars from the 70s and 80s, along with an electric drivetrain that’s a nod to Formula 1’s future. The car sports a dual-tone carbon-fiber outer body that boasts of an edgy, boxy aesthetic. While the aesthetic itself is a retro-inspired one, it gets a modern treatment thanks to the exposed carbon-fiber pattern paired beautifully with the car’s incredibly sleek paneling.
Perhaps one of the most noticeable details on the Formula-E concept is the closed cockpit, a pretty recent design mandate from the F1 regulating body. The cockpit’s transparent panel sits absolutely flush against the car body, with no visible seam or parting line. The entire panel opens upwards and forwards, accessible via latches on the back. The cockpit is positioned right at the front of the vehicle’s main mass, leaving the back area for the electric drivetrain and the battery-unit. Air intakes on the sides supply the motor and the brakes with cool incoming air, while a pretty large battery-pack means the car could potentially complete the entire race without needing a recharge!
Designer: Meelis Lillemets
This architectural cubism inspired Renault automobile’s interior is not meant for claustrophobic drivers
While we bask in the glory of massive leaps in the automotive sector, the next big thing to look forward to is innovative inspirations that challenge the traditional molds of automotive design. That’s why intuitive designers like Bruno Arena envision how things are going to be like a few years down the line. His Polestar concept was a good example of modular vehicle chassis that’s imbibed with the flexibility of use and also looks aesthetically pleasing. Bruno has another design up his sleeve which seems straight out of a Sci-Fi movie, fit for a Tron Legacy sequel. This is the Renault LC Zeroventi concept, made for the future of humanity which seems to be heading towards automated mobility while enhancing the commute experience.
While one would look for a nature-inspired or a retro vehicle inspired design, Bruno follows a very radical approach. He derives the basic inspiration for the Renault LC Zeroventi from the “architectural cubism” of Le Corbusier’s best works. He also infuses the traces of completely unrelated things like a USB storage drive and vinyl player (apparent in the side pods and the boot section) to add uniqueness to the blueprint. That explains the geometrical design of the concept, exemplified by the see-through solarium-like aesthetics. The driving position is similar to how a driver would seat in a motorsports car (Formula-1 to be precise), and the aerodynamic design points towards a high-speed adrenaline-inducing rush.
The car has storage space up front and 360-degree audio to encapsulate the driver with spatial audio for a sublime driving experience. Since it is a single-seated electric car, it is made for pure driving fun. And yes, the completely closed driving section can make a few people claustrophobic, so that needs to be kept in mind before jumping into the driving seat!
Designer: Bruno Arena
This gorilla-inspired trike adopts triangular geometry to be an edgy, futuristic one-man commuter
Trikes are a better bet for future transportation since they are more compact than four-wheelers and safer than two-wheelers. In a way, they bring to the fore the best of both worlds. The cornering and stability of a trike are also way better than two-wheelers – increasing the safety of the rider and adding another reason for trikes to be the vehicle of choice for city commutes or even highway rides.
Given that a trike has three wheels, and the significance of the number three along with the triangular geometry in the design and architecture industry – every bit of the project TRIKE by Hyun Jik Song is indeed inspired by the elements of the triangle. Thereby, giving the three-wheeled concept visual symmetry and sturdiness. The body frame of the TRIKE draws inspiration from the bold, muscular built of a gorilla, having a forward-leaning center of gravity. The stellar front wheels portray the aggressive nature of the vehicle while the rear wheel provides the much need traction to take corners at high speeds without toppling over.
No matter from which corner you observe the TRIKE, it has a definitive triangular character – be it the seating, windshield, or side pods. Even the dual color tone – dark grey and metallic silver, and the dark grey and blue – are so striking you just want to gaze at this futuristic vehicle. The electric-powered commuter geometric aesthetics pleases the eyes. Nothing is overdone and is perfectly in tune which is a requisite for a design to go past the drawing board. Song’s concept design is truly something that’s practical for solo commutes in the near future where compact, yet safe mobility is going to be the way to go.
Designer: Hyun Jik Song
