Autoblog

Stuart reports that the winner of the California Design Challenge was announced today at the L.A. auto show and the GMC Pad emerged victorious. GM describes the concept as an urban loft with mobility, or “a modern alternative for those priced out of Southern California’s escalating housing market.” Who knows where you’d park this mobile home, but the Pad’s diesel-electric hybrid system facilitates the vehicle’s Drive Mode, so you could at least stay on the move to avoid parking tickets.

The Pad also features onboard fuel and water supplies that can last weeks or even months thanks to onboard resource management technology, and while you’re waiting for the water to run out you have Direct TV, OnStar, XM, and Satellite Wi-Fi to keep you company. And get this, the Pad comes standard with a teraflop of onboard memory!

The rear of the Pad is a personal spa created in conjunction with Kohler and there’s a food prep/kitchen area developed with appliances by Thermador. When the confines of the Pad’s interior become to much, occupants can retreat to the SkyDeck on top to enjoy the gawking they’ll no doubt receive from L.A. pedestrians wondering, “Where can I get one of those?”

Tons of pics and full press release with more details on the Pad after the jump…


LA Auto Show \ California Design Challenge
Entry: GMC PAD, General Motors Advanced Design, California

Team Members:
Steve Anderson – Concept & Strategy, Design Manager
Senon B. Franco lll – Exterior Design
Jay Bernard – Interior Design
Digital Modeling:
Phil Tanioka, Sidney Levy, Brian Horton & Alessandro Zezza
Color:
Christine Ebner
Studio Director:
Frank Saucedo

Affordable Housing in LA?
The GMC PAD, an urban loft with mobility, a concept for living in the ever-changing cultural landscape of Southern California or, quite simply, a modern alternative for those priced out of Southern California’s escalating housing market. It’s a home ownership concept that enables cultural & geographic freedom for the modern city dweller. It’s a concept that represents a reasoned solution to the problems of urban sprawl, development, and it’s damaging effects on the region’s environment.

Why Commute?
With the PAD, your LA Adventure is your next stop. It’s where you live, where you work, or merely where you want to be. Whether located in walking distance from your job @ TBWA\Chiat\Day, spending a couple evenings along PCH, or wintering at Mammoth, with the GMC PAD, home is where you want it. And commuting is what other people do.

Sensible.
The GMC PAD features a Diesel-Electric hybrid system, which acts as a generator for the onboard power grid as well as propulsion for DriveMode. With the PAD’s resource management technology, onboard fuel & water supplies would last for weeks or even months on end. During daylight hours, the PAD’s SkyDeck features 6 M-Sq of photovoltaic cells that collect and store the sun’s natural energy. An electromagnetic suspension aids in leveling & stabilization when the PAD is being used in the LifeMode as well as remarkably easy handling while in DriveMode.

Life, connected.
Direct TV, OnStar, XM Satellite Wi-Fi and are continually online to provide an endless variety of entertainment, information and security options and the PAD’s LCD interior architecture creates a media rich environment unlike any other. Electronically variable exterior glazing means privacy is always at your fingertips. The PAD’s rearmost area is devoted to a personal spa created in conjunction with Kohler. The food prep / kitchen area features a full suite of PAD-specific appliances developed by Thermador and, with a teraflop of on board memory, the digital life has never been so deep & abundant.

Adapt.
The PAD has also been created with modularity in mind. As such, the vehicle could easily be adapted for use in government roles such as disaster response and emergency housing as well as public sector uses such as Star Waggons for the entertainment industry or on-site management offices for events, construction, and media.

Enjoy.
For outdoor living, the PAD features an integrated SkyDeck for enjoying the sights & sounds of LA culture.