Greg from Cardesign.ru just sent us some info and several high-res pics of this concept vehicle by Alexey Bykov. Known as the Audi Quattroflex, it has won a "Best Use of Technology Award" in the Interior Motives Design Awards – 2006. The designer, Alexey Bykov, is a student of Ural State Academy of Arts and Architecture, Russia. While our Russian is limited, Greg's English translation is at least Borat-level so we were able to discern that Alexey's Quattroflex project first sprang to mind a couple of years ago, but this competition caused him to revisit and polish the idea.
The basic concept is two cylinders, front and rear, that house the mechanicals, with the passenger area slung between the two over a variable platform. A control joystick is used and centrally mounted to allow right or left hand drive on the same vehicle. Flexible materials would allow not only the wheelbase to expand or contract, but also for customizable seating with chaise-like sheets that can allow drivers to assume any position from perfectly upright in cargo-hauling situations, to fully reclined for relaxing cruises.
While it resembles a horseless carriage more than a futuristic Audi, the designer says that was intentional. Focusing on a theme of "Emotion in Motion", he wanted to unite interior and exterior while adding a bit of the romance of old-fashioned buggy travel, all with some Audi design cues. Oddly, the horse-collar grille is nowhere to be found. Click the images here and after the jump for larger versions.
[Source: Cardesign.ru via Greg]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lee Roy Brandon III @ Nov 13th 2006 10:02PM
That is some very creative thinking, that fellow deserves his award!
chewy @ Nov 14th 2006 1:27AM
Quite nice! Like the pictures.
Sean C @ Nov 14th 2006 1:37AM
is that Leatherface driving the car??
Killer concept though.
vectorbug @ Nov 14th 2006 1:50AM
Its the Segways cousin, the one with down syndrome.
Kyle @ Nov 14th 2006 3:28AM
interesting concept, what the devil are you supposed to do if it rains? :P
David @ Nov 14th 2006 4:16AM
You're supposed to have another car for the bad weather. :) Very creative and beautiful concept.
DPC car videos @ Nov 14th 2006 6:01AM
Interesting steering system.
John @ Nov 14th 2006 6:17AM
Quite stylish! Were there any other vehicles in the Interior Motives Design Awards? Have you got photos?
leo @ Nov 14th 2006 9:27AM
this is some nice thinking????
you got to be kidding,
it looks like a horse carriage and early 1900 cars looked just like it. man this guy must be hot on design!!!! please, you all should look back in history before you comment, and maybe that's why this site shouldn't let anyone under 15 post any commments as they are usually ingorant on the issues at hand
Tim @ May 29th 2007 12:20AM
Concepts are about being open minded. Thinking outside the square. Thats a designers role. The aesthetic is well forecasted and sure if it were to be produced there would be much more development. As a concept its creative, an d begins to address concerns of environment and congestion....which is a huge trend for automotive design. From this idea you can create many more. Check out Toyota's personal transport concept and you'll see similarities in function. Good On you!!
Son of Dat @ Nov 14th 2006 11:22AM
# 3 - its not leather face - its Michael Myers
Audi unveils Santa's new sleigh - just in time for Christmas
I fear the future
fernan @ Nov 14th 2006 1:16PM
a car w/o a roof for 2020 yeah right
Richard @ Nov 14th 2006 2:09PM
If something this ugly won I'd hate to see what lost.
Zazaban @ Jan 4th 2007 7:39PM
Stop saying it's bad because it looks old, have you even read the article? IT'S SUPPOSTED TO LOOK LIKE A HORSE-DRAWN CARRAGE.
It won it's design because it's revolutionary, not because it looks good. Although I myself think it looks very futuristic.
Josh E. MacNamerra @ Jan 20th 2007 12:00AM
Verbatim [carbodydesign.com]::::
As the author Alexey Bykov explains "The original idea came two years ago, and was then changed to suit the theme of the competition."
Audi Quattroflex Panel
The basic concept is the capability of transforming the shape of the passenger seats, by using futuristic flexible shape memory materials.
The same concept of flexibility applies to the general layout of the vehicle, whose wheelbase can be extended in order to carry large packages or shortened to allow for easy parking.
The vehicle structure consists of two cylinders that house the mechanical components and accumulators, while the powertrain adopts in-wheel electric motors.
The central console features a joystick command that can allow for both right-hand and left-hand drive.
The similarity with an horseless carriage was intentional and based on the competition theme "Emotion in Motion".