Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Videos, Lotus, UK
Lotus develops Concept Ice Vehicle for Antarctic expedition
Click above for high-res gallery of the Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle
We can forget all about the price of gas when we get news like this. Sure, we'll probably never ride in the Concept Ice Vehicle (CIV), but just knowing that folks at Lotus are working on things like this while we sleep... well, it's like finding out that there is a Santa Claus.
The CIV was developed to aid research for the Moon Regan TransAntarctic Expedition. The biofuel powered, propeller-driven trike on skids is 4.5 meters long and 4.5 meters wide with an independent suspension all around. It also has an ice penetrating radar to detect crevasses and is light enough for a man to pull it across difficult terrain, which basically makes it an Elise for explorers. It also appears to have a spiked "foot" under the cockpit, perhaps for stopping on icy terrain.
The CIV will lead the way for two other, heavier support vehicles as the explorers make their way from one Antarctic coast to the other. If you think the CIV is cool, have a look at the Econoline van, each with six independently-driven 44" tires. These monster vehicles were engineered by those kooky folks in, where else, Iceland. Check out the gallery of CIV photos below, and follow the jump for two videos of the slickest sled on snow.
Gallery: Lotus Concept Ice Vehicle
[Source: Zercustoms]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bryan 1:09PM (8/13/2008)
That's pretty sweet...pity it doesn't snow here in South Africa to use one! Well, I'll take 12 months of sunshine over snow in any case...
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Kumail 1:10PM (8/13/2008)
cool...
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sam 1:14PM (8/13/2008)
Didn't top gear get to the north pole in a couple toyota trucks (modified by the Icelanders as well)? This almost seems like cheating now...
http://www.samalamadingdong.com
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CarMatchPro 1:55PM (8/13/2008)
Awesome!
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David Smiley 2:06PM (8/13/2008)
too bad it is so short in length, it will flip over at the first big bump ( even if the front ski adjusts in height )
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info 2:33PM (8/13/2008)
You should contact Lotus immediately. Their engineers obviously haven't thought of that. Maybe you can give them some hints for the production of their cars also.
Alex 2:07PM (8/13/2008)
i love Lotus.
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bakka 2:08PM (8/13/2008)
It has to be in the next Bond film!!!
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elpepe 2:12PM (8/13/2008)
after fitted with the laser guns it would fit right in a james bond movie!
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Neal Smith 2:53PM (8/13/2008)
Hanna-Barbera was on to this back in 1964. Hopefully, Lotus is now hard at work developing the flying saucer hovercraft gizmo from the same show!
http://www.classicjq.com/art/production/images/SnowSkim.gif
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This Is Me 4:50PM (8/13/2008)
That was my first thought too, Neal. Well, actually, my first thought was "Race! Jonny! Hadji!"
Paul Allen 4:18PM (8/13/2008)
Looks like it uses a BMW motorcycle engine.
Must not need to go too fast, those outriggers aren't too aerodynamic.
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Yar 4:27PM (8/13/2008)
But won't global warming make this obsolete by the end of the week?
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RLQ 4:13AM (8/14/2008)
Cool. Looks very James Bondish.
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Tommy 3:55PM (8/16/2008)
Coolidea! If you think the Ice Concept is a bad or good idea vote here: http://www.ratemyideas.com/story.php?title=Concept_Ice_Vehicle_for_Antarctic_expedition
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Corie 3:03PM (9/02/2008)
I think this thing is awesome!! It's being used by the same guys that broke the world record for reaching the south pole, Andrew Moon and Andrew Regan. It looks like it should fly or something!?!!
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Henry 10:00AM (9/04/2008)
There are some more cool pictures and information and so on at this site...http://www.transantarcticexpedition.com/
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Semi truck 3:57AM (10/22/2008)
Wow that's nice vehicle. ==>Semi trucks
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