Transportation
Jaguar XKX Goes Electric
The Jaguar XKX concept car by Bahrain-based design studio Skyrill and Albanian designer Marin Myftiu, is a totally new take on the classic Jag we all have grown to appreciate over the years. Ali Almossawi, co-founder of Skyrill, explained that “the concept tries to revive the glorious design lines of the brand, combining fresh solutions, a unique, new aerodynamics, tailored around the electrical elements of the power system as well as cutting-edge energy feedback.”
Aesthetically speaking, the designers wanted to avoid the “heaviness associated with many of today’s muscle cars, including actual Jaguar models.” Instead, the team decided to recreate a thin, elegant profile, while still showing off all the extra power and technological improvements. The XKX’s profile is an organic flow of lines that look almost like the company’s “pouncing cat” logo on wheels.
Over on the technological side, the electronic vehicle has carefully designed aerodynamics, where air is deflected away from the engine and around the car itself, said to be 60 per cent more power efficient. Also, the entire car body is covered by a layer of piezoelectric cells. when stimulated by
the pressure of air flowing over them during vehicle movement, the units produced electricity that is fed into the vehicle’s battery. Genius!
Designer Note: The Mirrors are another characteristic feature of the Jaguar XKX are the totally disappearing side mirrors. At about 1cm thickness, the mirrors perfectly fit the shallow hatch made in the door piece when the car is stopped and they unfold again in working position when it’s turned on. This adds to both the aesthetics, and protects the side mirrors from any damages when parked.
Designer Note: Given a much smaller and cooler power plant than conventional, the aerodynamics was conceived in a new innovative way. The side deflector intakes of the front were made broader, so a much larger amount of air does not get stuck by the engine, instead, it flows behind the front wheels, getting out behind them and sliding along the doors and then taking another shortcut through the rear wheels and out from the big rear openings, greatly reducing the total flowing path and subsequently drag.
Designer Note: Almost 60% of the energy used by a typical car at highway speeds is spent to counter air friction. Obviously, that is A LOT of energy spent for a function that is indispensable, but not the primary (to push the vehicle forward). The body of the XKX is covered by a layer housing microscopic ripples of piezoelectric cells, which, stimulated by the pressure of the air flowing over them (the actual air friction experienced by the car) produce electricity that is fed back to the vehicle’s battery, increasing both efficiency and performance.
Peugeot’s XRC concept car
There’s a reason that little tykes are obsessed with drag racing remote controlled cars over curbs, into mud puddles and generally wreaking havoc on the neighborhood. They’re fast. They’re versatile. They’re indestructible. Peugeot’s XRC concept car is like one such coveted remote-controlled cars, only blown up life-sized and built to be rallied.
The fundamentals are similar, but the Peugeot XRC packs a punch. This baby is one of a kind, forged to surf deserts and tackle tough terrain. Dreamed up by CGI specialist Tiago Aiello, the vehicle mimics a typical RC car and yet the unique design takes on a life of its own, an almost arachnid-like quality. One thing’s for certain, if the concept car takes life there will masses of middle-aged men across America reliving their youth like nobody’s business. (Let’s just hope that they stop at the car, and don’t revert back to footie pajamas.)
Diesel & Ducati Create a Monster!
Ducati Diesel? It’s not what you think it is. We promise. For one, Ducati’s have spark plugs. Secondly, “Diesel” refers to the Italian fashion brand that’s been sponsoring the Ducati Team in MotoGP, not the fuel. Confusing, we know. The matte army-green beast boasts the technical specs of the standard Monster 1100EVO, everything but the tank finished in “total black” with the acceptation of the bright yellow front break calipers. This bad boy launched last week at Diesel’s Soho store and goes for a cool $13,795. Can’t afford the bike? No worries, you can still settle for the accompanying apparel collection. We won’t tell anyone that you don’t have the bike to match. We promise.
(Photography: Ducati)
Cectek’s KingCobra ATV
Looking oddly like an oversized orange arachnid you might find in a sci-fi movie, Cectek’s KingCobra is a beast. This bad boy is an ATV (“all terrain vehicle” for you rookies out there) with rugged power, but also user-friendly maneuverability. It also boasts highly secure handling performance, not to mention some pretty sweet styling. The framework is built on Cectek’s “UCS” – ultra-secure chassis system, and allows for extreme stability. The KingCobra’s forged aluminum upper makes it incredibly lightweight, and yet it’s anchored with a four stroke, single cylinder, liquid-cooled engine for optimal performance. The only thing left to ponder is what color will go better with your helmet. Burnt orange or gunmetal grey…?
(Photography: Cectek)
The Bald Terrier 1200 By Deuc
We’re not going to lie, we have a slight infatuation for Deus Ex Machina, a custom motorcycle shop that never lets us down! Not only does the team travel around Australia and South East Asia setting up custom motorcycle shops in small villages where they can surf and enjoy life, but they are super talented at creating design notable bikes. Their most recent motorcycle is called the Bald Terrier 1200, 1200 because it has 1200 powerful cc’s behind it and is built on an old Kawasaki W650. What we love about this bike is that it holds back from being over designed, it’s not ostentatious, or in your face. Instead, it is beautiful in its own simplicity!
A Carefully Considered Motorbike
We’re here to officially tell you that girls with dragon tattoos aren’t the only thing coming out of Sweden these days. The Swedish motorcycle brand Husaberg has made a name for itself since 1980’s as a leader in fabricating uncompromising Enduro racing machines. Their lineage links back to a passion for racing through the forests in Sweden. The most recent addition to their fleet of off-road bikes is the line of FE 390 Enduro bikes, designed by New York City based firm Carefully Considered, where they artfully waived the obnoxiously garish bike decals we normally see and opted for beautifully pixilated graphics inspired by military camouflage. This may be the first instance of camouflage standing out rather than blending in.
The Donkervoort GTO
After two and a half years of development Donkervoort Automobielen in Lelystad – in close collaboration with Audi Quattro GmbH – have unveiled their next gen of open sports cars: the Donkervoort GTO. Honestly, how can you resist a sports car with a roll cage, a bold body, and a capacity of 400 HP with a torque of 450 Nm from about 1600 RPMs? This is, without a doubt, one of the fastest European sports cars on the market!
The two companies decided to do a private unveiling of their creation where they constructed 25 specially designed versions of the car, which we sold in a matter of hours. Because this vehicle is the marriage of two top contending teams – it is essentially a brand new designed car, not a sequel to its predecessors.
The Wiesmann Spyder
If you’re looking to get frisky in a sports car this ride isn’t for you. The Wiesmann Spyder is equipped with two, completely separate front seats. The seats aren’t the only unconventional twist to the open-top car. If you notice this blue beast is lacking doors and a windshield. We have to admit, bugs in the teeth have got to be a major factor with a vehicle that can go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds. The ultra-light concept car was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show tops out at just under 2,200 lbs and boasts a 420-hp V8 high-speed motor. Wiesmann has yet to decide if the Spyder will be into production. If it does go into production, this won’t be before 2012. It’ll have to go on next year’s Christmas list.
JetLev’s Water Jet Pack
All this time we’ve been under the impression that good ol’ J.C. was the only one to walk on water. Well the new JetLev-Flyer JF 250 is bringing some serious competition. Designed by MS Watersports of Germany, the jet pack is completely carbon fiber, equipped with a 4-stroke engine and has a solid 250 HP. The water nozzle reaction force provides for stable, controlled flight that’s light and intuitive. The JetLev-Flyer can cruise for 2-3 hours and tops out at about 30mph. At least J.C has still got the whole turning water to wine thing under his belt…
Ferrari Aliante Prototype
This year’s 2011 Ferrari World Design Contest in Maranello, Italy debuted some pretty hot rides! Young and aspiring transportation designers turned out to submit their design for the Ferrari Aliante. Amongst the talents was design trio Daniel Soriano, Magnus Grettve, Arun Kumar, who came together to create this beautiful red beast! Ferrari should definitely take a stab at bringing this sleek scarlet vehicle off the drawing board, and onto the streets!
(Photographs by Daniel Soriano)
Daniel Simon Designs The Captain America Fleet
There was a whole lot more that went into the making of Captain America than beefing up Chris Evans’ bulging biceps. We’re talking about the incredible fleet of awesomely retro airplanes, automobiles and army tanks. Brainiac vehicle Designer, Daniel Simon, former Senior Designer at Bugatti and Volkswagen, captured the vintage 40’s aesthetic in creations that were titled with monikers like the ‘Hydra Schmidt Coup’ and ‘Hydra Flying Wing.’ “Intense research of both historically correct engineering and the Marvel Comic universe was part of every day’s work.” Miraculously enough, Simon created seven machines between November 2009 and June 2010 at Marvel Studios in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles (Yes, you read that right). Now that’s flexing some serious muscle!
Hydra Schmidt Coupé
Hydra Schmidt Coupé
Hydra Bike design
Simon says “The Hydra Bike is a classic example of movie design.” He went on to explain that he “worked the most time on it of all Hydra vehicles, though what you see in the final film is a quick sketch from my very last day on the show. Film making is an organic process, things change every day, which is a great challenge.”
Hydra Tank
Hydra Tank
Hydra Flying Wing
Simon says that these renderings of the Hydra Submarine have “Subtle weathering, stickers, and a good stereo, maybe.” but explained that “some details were removed for the final film.”
These are Simon’s “very first flimsy pencil doodles for the 40ies Hydra Submarine at Marvel Studios, fall 2009. I went a little overboard with the configurations, awesome director Joe Johnston (Mr. Star Wars X-Wing himself!) and Oscar-winning Rick Heinrichs guided me towards a more classy concept as seen in the final design. Top left mini sketch foreshadows that direction.”
The Fuse Project’s Mission Motorcycle
There’s nothing like the roar of a souped-up chopper blowing by you on the freeway hosing the tic-tac of a mini-cooper your spouse talked you into buying. Well, for now you won’t have to endure the loud pipes, you will however still experience a twinge of jealously deep in the pit of your stomach watching a beautifully engineered electric bike blaze by you. The ambitiously talented industrial designers at Fuse Project have taken their skills to the streets with their captivating street bike design for Mission Motors.
“The challenge was to create a design that would be accepted by motorcycle enthusiasts while also being immediately recognizable as a vehicle fueled by alternative energy. A central goal was not to appear as an ‘eco-toy’ but instead, a performance bike augmented by electric power. Ultimately, the bike needed to balance innovation with tradition, overcome the stigma of a silent ride and define what an electric Bike should look like.”
The team streamlined the bike and eliminated the gas tank and tail pipe. Then added a lightweight battery pack that is protected by honeycombed detailed angular skins that integrate all mechanical elements.
“Mission Motors is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles,” the team explained. “Designed to express speed and efficiency in it’s overall sharp lines, the Mission One bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new generation of performance transportation.”
Fuse is like a modern-day Renaissance man of design. In addition to the design and development of the physical product, Fuse also created the company name and brand logo, website, launch display and the entire brand collateral! Whoa! Talk about jumpstarting a brand.
(Photographs: Fuse Project)
The Bertone Mantide
Generally, flashy red sports cars are reserved for balding, middle-aged men having mid-life crises. The Bertone Mantide is a whole different beast entirely. Stile Bertone’s flashy one-off echoes elements of modern aerospace and Formula One racing. The futuristic design utilizes the mechanics of the Corvette ZR1 and boasts a LS9 engine that provides a total 638-hp. The vehicle aims to be the world’s greatest street legal performance car and is said to go from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph. Taking cues from sensual Italian sports cars, the innovative and beautiful lines of the Mantide are driven (pun intended) by performance: the low-slung nose, jet fighter style teardrop canopy and ‘gull wing’ doors, as well as the air inlets and exhausts for maximum air efficiency. Aging baby boomers can only dream.
(Photography: EGM Car Tech)
Mac Motorcycles
Rolling out custom bikes that go by monikers like, ‘Spud’, ‘Pea Shooter’, ‘Ruby’, and ‘Roarer’, Mac Motorcycles definitely does things a bit differently. The trio that makes up Xenophya Designs fabricate with the idea of taking something standard and improving upon it. Founder Ellis Pitt explains. “I wanted to take something from the simplicity and non-
VTM Spacester Motorcycle
Poised to take the AMD World Championship of custom bike building by storm next year at Sturgis, the custom VTM Spacester looks like something out of Tron Legacy. The man behind the beast isn’t Jeff Bridges, but rather Bernard ‘Buck’ Massart of the French custom motorcycle shop VTM (V-Twin Mechanic). The silver, streamlined bike’s fluid frame was shaped entirely by hand and built around a Harley-Davidson V Twin Sportster engine. The Frankenstein bike’s suspension comes from a set of Yamaha R1 inverted forks, affixed to an 18” wheel. Aerodynamics are an integral feature in the design, with no visible wires or cables the custom frame houses the lubrication fluid. Looks like a machine to be reckoned with…
The Citroen Taranis
Looking like a wickedly futuristic Batmobile prowling the streets of Gotham, the Citroen Taranis is actually a hybrid vehicle – part car, part bike. Created by British-born video game designer Peter Norris, the streamlined, charcoal grey fairings are interrupted by sleek ‘gullwing’ doors and sits like a tarantula, poised to pounce. The vehicle’s moniker was borrowed from the Celtic god of thunder, which is fitting seeing that the car is powered by electric motors within each wheel hub. With the motors sitting at a lower center of gravity, the design allows for improved handing, not to mention the double-jointed swing arms that provide unparalleled turning abilities. Taking design cues from Hollywood crime-fighting vehicles there’s no arguing that the Citroen looks like it drove right off the set of Transformers 7.
Adastra Yacht
Slightly resembling the Starship Enterprise, the Adastra Superyacht is in a class of it’s own. The sleek, 4.2m Power Trimaran has been taking shape, designed by John Shuttlewoth, it’s currently under construction by McConaghy Boats in Zhuhau, China. In creating the luxury yacht, stability and comfort were key factors that influenced the design.
“No effort has been spared in the challenge to produce a beautiful yacht that will have low fuel consumption and yet provide excellent sea keeping qualities and luxurious accommodation.” The sleek vessel is composed of a superstructure of carbon fiber with Nomex honeycomb core, a glass/Kevlar sandwich composes the hull, and the posh interior offers lightweight oak cabinetry.
Virtually every facet of the yacht was custom fabricated to reduce weight, including carbon fiber hatches, port lights, ladders and hinges.
Okay, now for the cool stuff. The main deck houses a shwanky saloon with panoramic views, a lounging and dining area and command station, all leading out onto a sun bed on the foredeck (swoon!). The super yacht also offers a garage that can store a 3.1 meter tender. But that’s not all, the garage door has a secret of it’s own – it folds out to create a large diving platform. Genius!
If you head below deck you’ll find a luxe master cabin, two guest cabins, crew accommodations and a galley. Boat International described it as “one of the world’s most amazing super yachts that could spell the future for efficient, long-range cruising.’ We’d have to agree.
(Images Provided by John Shuttlewoth)
Electric Terrain Bike
Dan Hanebrink is building quite a reputation for himself in the biking industry. Dan has been credited with helping to revolutionize mountain biking with his suspension system, back in 2003 he created a custom ice bike, and now we are looking at an electric all-terrain vehicle!
These bicyces are engineered and handcrafted 8,000 ft above sea level in Big Bear Lake, California. Dan says the HANEBRINK bike ” combines state-of-the art green technology with an on-demand hybrid electric system and the latest in bicycle technology.” You can crank this puppy up to go 20 miles per hour over the toughest terrain, but if you want it to go faster, start pedaling.
Three design features help the HANEBRINK achieve outstanding on and off-road performance; The widest tires in the industry, A mid-mounted, bracket supported motor optimizes the vehicle’s center of gravity beneath the rider and enables tight turns, rapid weight shifting, and provides more stability, and 4 speed gearing tuned for a wide variety of surfaces, grades, and utility applications. Overall, the HANEBRINK sounds like a fun bike to take on and off roading!
(Photographs Provided by fortune hanebrink)
Frii Recycled Plastic Bike
Made from recycled plastic, the Frii Bicycle is a solution to urban transportation, and using more of that plastic waste floating around the world. Israeli industrial designer Dror Peleg, explains that “components would be injection molded into modular shapes that snap together to form a strong, lightweight and very colorful single-speed bike for quick trips through the city streets.”
Peleg is encouraging the Frii Bicycle system to be implemented into cities where local government can manufacture and produce the bikes from local waste, as opposed to being imported from elsewhere.
The body of the bike is the largest component, all other elements snap into the body. At the bottom of the split frame sits the pedal crank, which would have bearings inserted into the mold before the injection process begins. A belt runs from this to the rear wheel hub.
There are no external brakes as such on Frii, Peleg says that he sees such matters being handled in a similar way to the way BMX hub braking operates – when a rider pedals backwards, the bike comes to a halt.
The forks to the 20-inch plastic wheels are kept short for added strength and the solid tires are injected over the rims during manufacture. The saddle looks slightly uncomfortable, but the intention of the Frii is not to have a lengthy smooth ride, it’s to get from place to place quickly.
Concept Super Yacht To Be Built
Last year we reported on the Strand Craft 122 – a concept super yacht design by Eduard Gray. Today, we have received word that the beautiful yacht is going to be brought to life!! Gray selected Ned Ship Group, who will build the design to the highest possible standards! This news puts a big smile on our faces! Why? because in the world of transportation design it is rare to see a luxurious concept yacht, such as the Strand Craft 122, come to life because of the excessive amount of time and capital needed for testing and building.
The Strand Craft will be build in light weight composite materials such as Epoxy and Carbon, which Ned Ship Group specializes in. The shipyard where the yacht will be built is in Antalya, Turkey; all work will be completed on site. The yacht will come fully equipped with it’s own custom super sports car which will be able to drive from the dock, directly onto the boat through an electronically operated portal which opens and closes.
This is a high performance, streamlined, 38 meter, open, super yacht has a total of over 14,000 horsepower and can break speeds over 50 knots. It consists of four spacious bedrooms, a grand stateroom, heads, reception, salon, and generous crew cabins. The chocolate colored interior is plush, detailed, and tailored to perfection! It might be hard to get ‘lost at sea’ when there are 52? LED TV’s and a Bang Olufson sound system in all rooms!
Deus Ex Machina’s Surf Motorcycle
The gents behind Deus Ex Machina are beyond inspirational! The team of motorcycle enthusiasts who are “united in their belief that modern motorcycling has been hijacked by marketing forces and their desire to introduce a new generation of rider to that same pure enthusiasm that kick-started their own love of motorcycling,” joined forces to create custom motorcycles. Deus is traveling the world and setting up shop in beautiful destinations all over, most recently Bali, to build motorcycles. It seems that Bali may have inspired their recent addition, the Surf Bike! The motorcycle is based on a Yamaha Scorpio and features a Japanese aluminum tank, handmade exhaust, and a removable surf rack for your board of choice!
Deus has extended their good taste for motorcycles into the fashion industry, dabbling with T shirts, collared shirts, accessories, and hats; all reflecting the active & surf culture.
(Images Provided By Deus)
The Honda RA-X
This week we took a moment to catch up with one of our favorite transportation designers Xuacu Pérez to check in and get the scoop on his latest concept vehicle, the Honda RA-X. You can tell his excitement when communicating the intracate details of the RA-X because he instantly says “The model is a two-seater MR engine and rear transmission with a capacity greater than 350/400 hp, the position of the exhaust pipes is inspired by the RA300 F1. The measures are: length 4050 / height 1163 / 1940 Wide.” (We kept in the details of that last part for all you car enthusiasts out there!).
We asked Perez to touch a little on the design on the RA-X and he explained that he “wanted to innovate the surface on the side which makes smooth crossing lines that form a theoretical X. The engine is visible through a glass. Predominate at the rear of the engine vents and optical technology-led groups with a triangular shape. On the front inlets merge with optical groups. Although dominated by steep ridges has sought a soft and smooth surfaces which give character and dynamism to the model.”
Momentarily, the RA-X is a concept car waiting to come to life, but we can’t help but recognize that it is visionaries such as Perez who are raising the bar in transportation design. Hopefully in our lifetime cars with this amount of detail and integrity will be obtainable by the masses.
(Photographs Provided By Xuacu Pérez)
Bonobo Plywood Bicycle
Polish designer Stanis?aw P?oski’s new design will take you for a ride. He recently unveiled a bent plywood bike, the Bonobo, at Berlin’s 2011 International Design Festival. He’s putting a new spin on things with an angular frame composed of manipulated composite wood. The prototype’s strong, lightweight frame allows for a smooth, comfortable ride. P?oski furnished the bike with a single gear drivetrain and dependable set of hydraulic disc brakes for rough terrain. And check out the lime green chain, pedals and handlebar grips. It gives ‘going green’ a whole new definition. That’s how he rolls.
The Vanmoof Bicycle
City dwellers have all shared the misfortune of getting one’s bike snatched surreptitiously. Well now they can rejoice in a two-wheeler with anti-theft hardware built right in. The young, enterprising Dutch company Vanmoof has come out with the ultimate urban ride. Its rust-free aluminum frame is surprisingly lightweight, making cab dodging a cinch, and its durable, Schwalbe road cruiser tires deflect ill-fated potholes with ease. Now here’s the cool part, there is a high quality X-plus cylinder chain lock from ABUS is integrated into the frame, perfect for curbing bicycle bandits. Plus, there’s a solar LED light system built inside the tubes. Not only are the LEDs solar powered, but can be charged through the micro USB cable on your cell phone. With a bike like the VANMOOF No. 5, it’s time to let the good times roll.
