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STALKER – Symbiotic exploration in the year XXII

In the XXII century, the Earth has become a technogarden. Humanity is gathered in gigantic green megalopolises, in which technology is implemented everywhere for the inhabitants’ security. Great wild spaces still exist but are super-protected. In this technical and ultracivilised democracy, there is little place for adventure and change of scenery. This can only happen in highly respectful conditions.

Designer: Kevin Judlin

Put the Pedal to the Medical

Ok, no Flintstones jokes please…this is serious business. Africans in rural areas often need ways to traverse vast distances to seek immediate medical attention. Most of the time a traditional ambulance or even any motorized vehicle is simply not available. Designer Benoît Angibaud addresses this issue with his “Jaambaaro” pedal car design.

Designer: Benoît Angibaud

FYI: The 411 on 2028 by VW

Let’s see what we can look forward to in the year 2028. Britney’s kids will be readmitted to rehab for the 14th time after getting caught being average and functional. The US is bought by two Chinese business men as a place to keep all their stuff and my girlfriend will still think she looks fat in her 9,763rd pair of jeans. Oh and Volkwagen will be releasing some pretty “safe, comfortable and efficient..” vehicles. Sure, these cars still won’t fly, but they will interact with traffic lights, park automatically and change color with the press of a button.

Ferrari “we give up, you do it…”

Seems Italian car maker Ferrari has had just about enough of their whinny customers wanting custom this and custom that on their mid-life crisis. More than enough customers have waltzed into their Maranello headquarters with their own design ideas of the perfect Ferrari to convince executives at Ferrari to launch a “One Off” program.

Italian True Love

I must admit, I am not really a fan of either Italian sport car maker Lamborghini or Italian fashion house Versace. Individually I find them both a little too macho, tacky, Euro-trashy. But when these two design powerhouses recently combined forces and delivered this stunning “Versace edition Murciélago LP640 Roadster by Lamborghini”, I was amazed. I guess the old adage “two wrongs don’t make a right” has officially been discredited.

Hot Tatra

The last ten years has seen the resurrection of legendary auto brands like the Maybach, Bugatti, Healey, Mini and recently announced Alpine car brand. Tatra Motors, the third oldest car company on the planet behind Daimler Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot was the inspiration for this new concept design by Czech magazine AutoDesign&Styling. They asked designer Mike Jelinek to create this concept vision of the Tatra of the future.

Designer: Mike Jelinek

Volvo + trucks + fashion = !@#$%&

OK, show of cursors, who here when thinking of big trucks (not SUVs) thinks of Volvo? Anyone? Anyone? Ok, you two in the Swedish diner..now of you two actually thinking of Volvo trucks who is thinking metro sexual fashions? Ok, so there you are. Now when thinking of metro-sexual fashion and Volvo trucks are you also thinking bibs, comforters, games and toy vehicles? Ha! I lost you didn’t I Mr. Volvo-truck-fashion-boy? Well you are not alone my friend trust me.

Baby Italian Stallion

What is Italian for Mini? Well if you ask the folks at Alfa Romeo they would say “Mi.To.” That is the name of their BMW Mini Cooper killer. Looking to compete in the premium subcompact segment dominated by the Mini, Alfa designers took inspiration from their 8C Competizione beauty. And if drop dead gorgeous looks were not enough, this bad boy Mi.To makes the Toyota Prius green(er) with envy over the little Italians estimated 49 MPG.

Another Way To Get Around

Nothing beats walking. You get fresh air, see the sights, and the much needed exercise you KNOW you’ve been procrastinating on. That’s why you need something like this unicycle transport by designer Regimantas Vegele. It works like an elliptical machine. You get on and pedal except it’s not stationary. Sure, little kids may point and giggle as you whiz by but who cares! You’re on the move, on the go, and doing it all while staying fit and healthy.

Designer: Regimantas Vegele

JAL goes LUX

Necessity has always been the mother of invention. That is why limited space is something the Japanese have become experts in. So it is no wonder the fine flying experts at JAL (Japan Air Lines) have created along with James Park Associates’ the new “JAL Suite”. This first class seating will be available in their new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER aircrafts.

Designer: JPA

Danish Do-It-Yourself

For those of you not aware, kit cars are cars that you purchase and assemble yourself, and are usually based on discontinued cars of the past. Unlike the original cars they are inspired by, kit cars take the frame and mechanics from whatever current automobiles have close-enough specifications. So you may find a Ferrari kit car riding on Corvette frame and engine. Got it?

Designer: Jesper Hermann

BMW – No More Dents and Dings

BMW is really thinking outside the proverbial box with their latest concept design exercise. If the previously featured M1 concept did not strike your fancy, maybe this GINA Light Visionary Model will do the trick. The GINA is a roadster concept wherein the use of sheet metal found on bodies of production vehicles has been replaced with a special, flexible, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material that stretches across a metal structure.

Speed Render a Speedster

If you like the creative process, you will love to see this video of a car sketch speed rendered in just 5 minutes using only photoshop. Jan Lim from Malaysia SEGi College’s industrial design department speeds us from pencil sketch to polished metal. If you can put up with the mind numbing music, you just might learn something.