Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Lexus
Lexus Nuaero Concept looks like Minority Report reject
The Lexus Nuaero concept would look right at home running alongside its movie star sibling that appeared in Minority Report, though that concept vehicle got all the looks. Unfortunately, that's not saying much. Jon Radbrink has penned a futuristic blade of a car that comes out looking for all the world like a Stanley Pocket Surform. The forward thinking doesn't stop with the Hobie-Cat exterior, there's plenty of future-dreaming inside the Nuaero. Pedals have been banished for a steering wheel-based setup that operates sort of like an aircraft yoke. Radbrink thinks that people's hands are better for driving than our feet - something about accuracy. Mhm. John must ride the train a lot; we see plenty of inaccuracies happening out there by people using all four extremeties. While we're all dreaming, the Nuaero is intended to be rendered in lightweight materials, so it would theoretically offer the space of a larger vehicle while only pressing the scales with the equivalent weight of a SMART ForTwo. At least we now have a design for this years Pinewood Derby. Thanks for the tip, Ian!
Gallery: Lexus Nuaero concept
[Source: Gizmodo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Swede 11:36AM (8/19/2008)
Slice me nice!
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steve clark 11:46AM (8/19/2008)
Looks like a TIE-fighter from Star Wars.
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azzo45 12:20PM (8/19/2008)
Looks like some Cub Scouts' Pinewood Derby car as well!!
Isuzu32 11:46AM (8/19/2008)
If those wheels became popular, they would keep the wheel weight industry afloat! Other than that, it's interesting to see that in the year 2500, or whenever this type of styling will be acceptable, Lexus will still have the same "L" badge. Other than that, I don't think Batman would approve.
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Menice 11:49AM (8/19/2008)
looks like one of those skate/ray egg sacks i find washed up on the beach.
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SPG 11:52AM (8/19/2008)
A fun concept but hardly what I see coming from a company who's cutting models like the new Supra and the FJ in favor of smaller and more sensible vehicles.
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dwightB 11:56AM (8/19/2008)
I am sure the IIHS would have fun with that front end setup, lol.
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eb110americana 11:58AM (8/19/2008)
It looks heavily inspired by several concepts:
Strongest of which is the Lincoln Sentinel:
http://www.shorey.net/Auto/American/Ford/Concept%20Cars%20-%20Lincoln%20Sentinel.jpg
Which came out around the same time as the even more off-the-wall Ford Synergy:
http://www.shorey.net/Auto/American/Ford/Ford%201996%20Synergy%202010%20Sedan%20f3q.jpg
And in the whole concept of low weight sounds like the even older GM Ultralite from 1992:
http://www.carstyling.ru/cars.1992_GM_Ultralite.html
So is this an official Lexus vehicle, or an independent student/fan project?
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Ted 12:30PM (8/19/2008)
eb110americana made the exact post I was about to type...
Incredible 1:30PM (8/19/2008)
Anytime someone mentions the Ford Synergy they should have to mention that Ford ripped off then-design-student Nick Pugh; he is probably one of the best, most imaginative, designers not working in the auto industry.
www.nickpugh.com
216 11:59AM (8/19/2008)
that is horrible. Looks like a rejected concept for a bat mobile
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Soccer Mom 12:02PM (8/19/2008)
I like that front designed for trapping pedestrians and bicyclists and crashing them nicely underneath the car.
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paul34 12:06PM (8/19/2008)
I feel like I've seen those wheels on another concept, probably one eb110 linked no doubt.
At any rate, I always wondered whether wheels like that were even possible. Seems like they'd be terribly unbalanced without significant internal re-weighting. Plus you have the brake cooling penalty. Seems like a pretty inefficient design - but then again, this is a concept, whose very purpose it is to often dream without regard to practicality.
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SorcerorVoid 12:09PM (8/19/2008)
Looks like the car Hiro Protagonist drives in Snow Crash
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Paul H. 12:16PM (8/19/2008)
Lexus makes catamarans. Who knew???
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1.8 TEE-HEE 12:34PM (8/19/2008)
Two words: ATTACK MODE
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Eric Bandholz 1:06PM (8/19/2008)
The perfect car to slam into a tree or telephone pole.
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Randy 1:33PM (8/19/2008)
Neat but it's not drivable other than straight or reverse! Imagine if you will the line-of-site. Those fenders are way to high!
Not to be overly negative but the whole fender issue completely takes the usability of this and throws it away. To me it's not even a viable concept. I wouldn't have allowed anything more than a hand drawing to manifest itself if I were in charge! But I'm not..... :)
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HelloWorld 1:34PM (8/19/2008)
"Pedals have been banished for a steering wheel-based setup that operates sort of like an aircraft yoke. Radbrink thinks that people's hands are better for driving than our feet - something about accuracy."
--Either this guy doesn't know how to drive and/or rarely drives. I'm sure those F1 drivers have trouble with their foot precision applying brakes and throttle.
--I get annoyed with some of these car designers that appear to be more artist than car guy. Their car designs look like scribbles with circles to indicate which side is down.
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Iridium 1:44PM (8/19/2008)
Bleh, when orthographic renderings go wrong.
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