Wednesday 1st November 2006

VW shows whacky concept

Nanospyder: fuel cells and nano-crash zones

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Volkswagen Nanospyder

A team of Volkswagen designers based in California have unveiled their own unique take on the future of modern transportation.

The result is the Volkswagen Nanospyder. Futuristic nanotechnology supported by hydrogen fuel cells, solar power, wheel-mounted electric motors and inflatable organic body panels combine to form the unusual shape of the two-seater concept.

Nanospyder is the work of a team of three young designers – Patrick Faulwetter, Daniel Simon and Ian Hilton - based at the Volkswagen Design Center in Santa Monica. They created the Nanospyder in response to a challenge laid down by ‘Design Los Angeles’, a conference set to take place at the upcoming Los Angeles Motorshow in November. The brief – unlike the solution – was simple. To design a vehicle able to make the most of California without harming the environment.

The team met its brief by thinking well beyond current manufacturing techniques. According to its creators the Nanospyder would be formed out of a latticework of billions of tiny programmable nano devices measuring less than half a millimetre in diameter. Each of these tiny devices can be programmed to be as strong or weak as required meaning active crumple zones can be created. The ‘spine’ of the vehicle, onto which the rest of the components are attached, remains immensely strong.

Clothing the nano-lattice are panels formed out of a mix of organic materials some of which can inflate to provide further cushioning in the result of an impact. The material doubles as a power source as polysynthesis generates small amounts of electricity. This coupled with hydrogen fuels generates power to drive the tiny electric motors mounted within the hubs of all four wheels.

The Nanospyder, although purely intended as a concept vehicle, gives an insight into the depth of thinking going into the search for sustainable forms of modern transport.

The concept was created to be entered in the third Los Angeles Design challenge – the winner of which will be announced on 30 November at the Los Angeles Motorshow.

The Volkswagen studios, established in 1991, won the very first challenge in 2005 with the innovative Mobile Lounge concept.

[Lord-Flasheart]

I would have an Ariel Atom myself

Good idea I think tho, lightweight concepts always intrest me.

Edited by Lord-Flasheart on Wednesday 1st November 11:26

[skint_driver]

Surely it should read:

article said:

The Nanospyder, although purely intended as a concept vehicle, gives an insight into the effects of recreational drug use while going into the search for sustainable forms of modern transport.

[marctwo]

article said:

...based in California...

Enough said.

[heelantoe]

Maybe i'm missing something here, but is this why cars are so expensive if design studios funded by large companies are turning out this sort of drug induced design during work hours.
How about designing some stuff that actually might become reality?

[oagent]

The mushrooms in the VW omlets must be pretty damn good this season. Story should read:

"drug crazed car designers who have spent a few too many late nights tripping while watching blade runner (directors cut) have sketched a futuristic car made from unobtanium. Should the car ever be made, it will be powered by fairy dust to 400mph before taking off and traveling across the universe at the speed of light + 100mph. Lets put some lazer photon guns on it man. Cool, way out dude"

[Road_Terrorist]

oagent said:

The mushrooms in the VW omlets must be pretty damn good this season. Story should read:

"drug crazed car designers who have spent a few too many late nights tripping while watching blade runner (directors cut) have sketched a futuristic car made from unobtanium. Should the car ever be made, it will be powered by fairy dust to 400mph before taking off and traveling across the universe at the speed of light + 100mph. Lets put some lazer photon guns on it man. Cool, way out dude"

Exactly my thoughts

[sprinter885]

OK...but where do wife & kids sit?
Anybody remember TRON ??

[Fat Audi 80]

heelantoe said:

Maybe i'm missing something here, but is this why cars are so expensive if design studios funded by large companies are turning out this sort of drug induced design during work hours.
How about designing some stuff that actually might become reality?

As a designer myself I could not agree more.

What an absolute load of bollocs. Great rendering and artwork, but which SINGLE piece of it is remotely likely to be at all feasible in the next 20 years?

A. None...

Cheers,

Steve.

[BoRED S2upid]

Can the PH Massive enter this competition? Im sure we could come up with something as mad in our lunchbreak.

[kingb]

its a lovely picture thou

but put it in a gallery dont tell us to drive it

[beasto]

Yum.

Not that you'll ever see anything like it of course.

Ref the Skoda Roomster -- tasty looker in concept, crap looker in the showroom

[victormeldrew]

I may be missing something. but even if this nano tech was available, surely the "designers" have missed some really obvious real world constraints here? How can any vehicle shaped like an axe head be pedestrian friendly? And those exposed suspension arms may, nano technology permitting, shear off in an impact with a solid object, but no matter how clever the material are pretty likely just to sever pedestrians as the ankle.

[midnightDriver]

Recreational drugs....
they open ur mind....
take shit loads more and u'll find..
they make talk from ur behind...
snortin crack off a toilet seat...
will make u conceive of a motor you can drive with two left feet...
you could study automotive design at uni but wots the point?...
stay at home and smoke a joint..
wot did car bosses expect...
didnt they know their designers taking crack,would lead to a wacky concept...

Edited by midnightDriver on Friday 3rd November 20:37

[mc_blue]

The future - maybe?? Who are we to know. I like concepts like this though.

[errek72]

Another great attempt to try and make us forget how incredibly dull the Golf is.
And Jetta, and Passa..ZZZ

[gadgeroonie]

i think an electric version of the Ariel Atom is already available !!