Mazda Design Americas, USA
Auto-Adapt concept
One of the more automotive referencing projects, Derek Jenkins’ team created a proposal in response to the impending demise of the 2025 driver. The designers studied the biological phenomenon of adaptation and specifically how insects have adapted, to create a vehicle that has the ability to adapt from being fully autonomous to a manual machine. These vehicles are geared directly to those true drivers out there that long for the excitement found with driving an automobile; the excitement expected to be completely eliminated from the autonomous cars of 2025.
Qoros Auto, China
Silk Road System
Acting as a control hub, the “Silk Road System” designed by Qoros will allow vehicles to operate harmoniously, actively eliminating accidents. Using the silkworm as its inspiration, Silk Road Vehicles and Silk Bots, in coordination with the overall system will serve to offer the drivers of Shanghai a fool-proof, sustainable and waste-free mobility system.
SAIC Motor, China
Roewe Mobiliant concept
Inspired by a simple ant’s distinctive body structure and the mutually beneficial relationship between ants and trumpet trees, SAIC Motors designed Roewe Mobiliant. The concept is a single-seat vehicle for urban public transit, which helps improve both transportation and operation efficiency for future urban ecological systems.
Subaru Global Design Team, Japan
Suba-Roo concept
The innovative, affordable and fun personal mobility vehicle from Subaru’s designers was created to change the man-vehicle relationship in a revolutionary way. The ‘Suba-Roo’ is a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle with a propulsion method which mimics the efficient yet powerful jumping motions of a kangaroo. With the SUBA-ROO’s all-road, go anywhere capability and Subaru’s Eye-Sight safety system, the path to your destination is unlimited. On the road, a trail, a beach, or in a building, SUBA-ROO will widen the boundaries of mobility and bring back the joy of personal mobility for everyone to enjoy.
CALTY Design Research, Toyota Design Network, USA
e-grus concept
Designed as the ultimate electric hyper-commuter vehicle, the Toyota ‘e-grus’ specializes in long-distance travel and minimal footprint city driving. Inspired by the resilient crane, e-grus can be driven autonomously, positioned at a full extension aero profile for efficiency and high-speed stability much like a crane in flight. The dual mode shifts through an active metal surface that sends electric currents for a pliable skin that hardens once positioned vertically or horizontally.
Entries will be judged on various factors including creative adaptation of nature’s laws (plants & animals); application of human intelligence to biomimicry in unique ways to improve the efficiency of future vehicles; comfort, convenience, aesthetics of the vehicle; sustainability of the building, servicing, operation, and life cycle; and the personality of the vehicle in relationship to the brand.
In addition to the nine competing studios, three additional studios — Hyundai Design and Research Center, Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center California and Nissan Design America — are joining this year’s Design Gallery to showcase their team’s capabilities making for a total of 12 auto design studios from around the world participating in the Show.
See more on the LA Design Challenge dedicated website.
