The world’s first mass-produced aerodynamic vehicle, the Tatra 77, gets a stunning electrified makeover

The Tatra 77 homage pays tribute to the Czechoslovakian automobile that paved the way for the curvilinear cars we see today. Widely regarded as the world’s first serial-produced, truly aerodynamically-designed automobile, the Tatra 77 was designed in 1934 by Hans Ledwinka (an Austrian automotive designer) and Paul Jaray (an aerodynamics specialist and zeppelin designer). For that day and age, the Tatra 77 had a stunning drag coefficient of 0.2455 and was powered by a 2.97-liter air-cooled V8 engine.

The Tatra 77 Homage, however, brings a few upgrades to the nearly 90-year old automobile’s design. For starters, it comes with an electric drivetrain whose workings are made even more efficient by the car’s unbelievably streamlined body. If the original was designed by a zeppelin-maker, it’s not difficult to see that inspiration in the new Tatra 77’s design either, with its curved, bulbous front. In fact, the car’s silhouette is entirely comprised of beautifully aerodynamic lines that make it look like someone turned those smoke lines in a wind-tunnel-test into an actual automobile!

Designer: Radek Štěpán

The redesign for the Tatra 77 comes from the mind of Radek Štěpán, an automotive designer based out of Prague. Wanting to revisit one of the most iconic cars in his country’s history, Štěpán decided to redesign the Tatra 77 as if it were produced today. What started as a harmless exercise in 2020’s lockdown blossomed into an incredibly sleek and desirable car with a strong and memorable visual language, and some stunning details!

Aside from being an aerodynamic wonder, the Tatra 77 Homage really pays tribute to its ancestor, with the silver paint job as well as the circular element in the center, where the original car had its third headlight. This circular cutout, now, acts as the branding for the car, while the other two circular cutouts (sliced into semi-circles) become the car’s pop-out headlights, along with the slicing LED strip running along the front of the car. On the rear, the car sports yet another LED strip which becomes its taillight.

The way the Tatra 77 Homage deals with surfaces is sheer artistry. The car knows when to be curvy and when to have sharp edges, giving it an overall definition that’s instantly eye-catching. Every glass surface sits absolutely flush against the car’s body, with not so much as a slight depression or a visible parting line in sight. In fact, all the parting lines are crisp and thin, while details like the handlebars sit flush against the car’s body too. In fact, the only details emerging from the car’s design are the three cameras, two on each side of the vehicle (where you’d expect side mirrors), and one on the roof, right at the end, giving the rider a detailed rear-view of the road.

The post The world’s first mass-produced aerodynamic vehicle, the Tatra 77, gets a stunning electrified makeover first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cybertruck-inspired Rover concept was designed to explore the terrain on Mars

The Pandemax Concept by Radek Štěpán is unconventional, to say the least. It has a distinct Star Wars-inspired aesthetic and those all-terrain tires and that high ground clearance really implies the car could easily work on the roughest of alien terrain. Designed to be a sort of explorer vehicle or manned rover, the Pandemax comes with two seats that are at the absolute front of the vehicle, with a panoramic windshield that lets the explorers get a full view of the terrain and landscape ahead of them. Sure, there are a few questions that come to mind too, especially regarding driver safety and also the center-of-gravity, given that the drivers are sitting outside the car’s wheelbase. However, it’s a neat aesthetic exploration of an interplanetary vehicle if you ask us. I’m especially loving the Cybertruck vibe, and I’m sure the driver gets a hell of a view! Just hope that windshield glass is sturdier than the Cybertruck’s…

A look at the car’s unusual placement of the cockpit. The passenger cabin overhangs off the front, giving the car a distinctly different aesthetic altogether. I guess we could just chalk it up to conceptual creative freedom. As the cockpit door opens upwards, the base descends downwards too, giving you a stepping surface as you climb into the vehicle. When the cockpit door and floor finally close together, you’re left with a car that has surprisingly large ground clearance, making it perfect for rough terrain.

The headlights and taillights on the Pandemax are rather ‘Cybertruckian’ too, with the LED strip design present on the front and back, as well as the top. Its boot at the back has a shutter-style cover too, almost perfectly mimicking the one found on Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Designer: Radek Štěpán

Check out more designs by Radek Štěpán here

Sit back, Relax and Enjoy the Wild Ride

The one time I’m dying to drive a concept and it doesn’t even have a steering wheel! You’re sure to feel this first world problem too when you take a look at the NV01 by Radek Stepan.

This wicked looking roadster is entirely autonomous. Just hop inside the cockpit made completely of glass, use your voice to tell it where to go and it will take you there at breakneck speed. Riders immediately find themselves in a comfortable laying position where they can take in the passing surroundings or watch movies or surf the web on the haptic holographic screen projected on the glass canopy. Without a steering wheel or other manual controls, there’s more room for fun accessories like a mini-bar and snack cubby. I’ve never been so upset something was autonomous because all I want to do is drive it!

Designer: Radek Stepan

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If Baja and F1 had a baby!

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Designer Radek Štěpán has conceptualized not only an innovative roadster, but an entirely new style of racing which he calls FORMUL2… and it makes F1 seem like a total snoozefest!

The track idea is a hybrid consisting of half tarmac, half dirt. You can imagine the challenges and excitement that take place as drivers must switch between two completely different styles of driving. Additionally, this calls for an entirely new type of vehicle that can be modified mid-race to tackle the varying terrain. The result is a transforming racer that relies on autonomous droids to metamorphose its chassis and tires at specified pit stops between track types. Of course, this means an entirely a new wheel designed specifically for the unpredictable dirt terrain.

Designer: Radek Štěpán

Off-road Version

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On-road Version

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