Design Studios of Major Automakers Are Asked to Draw 1,000-Pound, 4-Seat Vehicle
By Scott Doggett August 18, 2010
With all the importance being placed on making automobiles more fuel efficient, it makes perfect sense that this year's Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge asks design studios to envision the 1,000-pound, four-seat vehicle that is "both comfortable and secure, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the emotional connection and beautiful styling consumers demand."
We know what you're thinking and the answer is, no, that weight limit does not include four fat occupants. Judging criteria will be based upon not only meeting the weight constraint (1,500 pounds maximum with occupants), but also for the artistic beauty, comfort, uniqueness of design, roadworthiness, sustainability, performance and user-friendliness of the vehicle.
The auto show has been challenging design studios for the past seven years, and clearly this year the designers have their work cut out for them. The winning design will be announced Nov. 18 during the Design Los Angeles conference at the auto show.
In a first for the annual competition, participating design studios from not only the U.S. but also from Germany and Japan will compete against each other to showcase their talents. Designers from General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Smart, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volvo will contend for the top annual design honor.
"More than ever, automotive designers are able to experiment with hi-tech materials and alloys and this year's Design Challenge has provided them with the opportunity to use their creative talents to look into the future, exploring the hottest technologies to fulfill the needs of the consumer and the environment," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.
Entries will be judged by Tom Matano, director of Industrial Design at San Francisco's Academy of Art University; Imre Molnar, dean of Detroit's College for Creative Studies; Stewart Reed, chairman, Transportation Design, Pasadena's Art Center College of Design; and Clive Hawkins, president, Aria Product Development.
The Design Challenge is sponsored by Faurecia, an automotive supplier specializing in seats, interiors, front ends and exhaust systems, as well as Yokohama Tire, which works closely with automakers in the U.S., Europe and Japan to develop tires for the latest concept vehicles.
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