Autoblog

Sister-blog AB Green just posted this story about X-Prize. Remember X-Prize? They were the organization that put up a considerable sum of money to reward the first person to successfully go into outer space with their own spacecraft. After Burt Rutan won that first X-Prize with his SpaceShip 1, the foundation decided to get its head out of the clouds, so to speak. As a follow-up to the space program, you can probably guess what their new contest is all about, considering we're covering it on AB and AB Green. The new Automotive X-Prize is designed "to inspire the development of commercially viable, super efficient vehicles that move beyond the petroleum monoculture." Think green here.

X-Prize released their initial set of rules recently to see what everybody thinks about the plan. Basically it's a race for "production viable vehicles" that get the equivalent of at least 100 mpg and meet some strict emissions requirements. And they really want cars that can actually be produced. No science fiction one-offs here. Split into two classes, two races are planned for sometime in 2009 to evaluate the projects. The first class sounds like the more practical and familiar group, requiring seating for at least four passengers and being driven by at least four wheels. The second category should be the fun one. While they require it seat at least two people, there is no wheel requirement. X-Prize will unveil the first draft publicly at the New York Auto Show, but you can read the draft as a PDF by clicking here.

And we encourage you to click the read link to see AB Green's exclusive interview with Auto X-Prize's Mark Goodstein.

[Source: Automotive X-Prize via AutoblogGreen]

The Peugeot Design Contest we told you about in December is almost over, and now the entries have been cut down to 10 and there are some seriously fanciful, futuristic concepts in the remaining contestants. Normally designs such as these would never make it into metal, but Peugeot will choose one by the end of this month to actually build. Look for that one-off sometime in September.

Be sure to check out the semi-finalists in our galleries, as well as the other nine finalists after the jump.

Do you design hats? You do? Then what the hell are you doing reading Autoblog? However you got here, it's your lucky day. Because perhaps for the first time in Autoblog history, we have a post on headwear design. All you dedicated readers stop your groaning, it's not totally off-topic. Chrysler's giving away not only a trip to the 133rd Kentucky Derby, but a new Sebring convertible as well. (See, we brought it back on topic.)

You have a month to design a Kentucky Derby-worthy hat inspired by (and utilizing parts of) Chrysler's 2008 Sebring soft top. Get your best sketch along with a 100-word essay to Chrysler by March 5 to qualify. Complete rules and other important notices, disclaimers and promotional verbiage are all in the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Chrysler]

While Geely's logo isn't exactly iconic (ha ha), it's not nearly as bad or imitative as some we've seen out of China. In fact, it reminds us a bit of the old Plymouth logo. Nevertheless, the Geely folks think they need a new one and they're asking you, yes you, to design a new one. They're willing to award the best logo designer $257,000 for their work. There are some rules you need to follow, which are outlined in the press release after the jump. Not mentioned, though, is the company's new advertising slogan, "Beyond_The Value." And, yes, the underscore is intentional. So you might want to keep that in mind as you put in $250,000 worth of logo designing.

With all the creative entries we had on our business card design contest, we're hoping our readers don't disappoint. When the chosen logo is announced sometime after August, we expect to be showing you a photo of one of our more artistic regulars holding an oversized check with a bunch of Chinese zeros on it.

We had a hard time finding a place to enter the contest, but you might start by emailing Geely spokesman Zhang Xiaodong at kukubo@126.com.

Editor's note: Sorry about the typo Zhang's email address, now corrected.

[Source: China Car Times]

This had flashed up on our radar screen late last month and we were hoping McLaren would release more details. They did and our bestest-bud from Fast-Autos.net, Drew, alerted us to a news page on McLaren's website announcing the winners of their future design contest.

The interpretations of what a not-so-distant McLaren may look like were penned and rendered in 1:4-scale by students at the Institute of Design in Turin, Italy. The undergraduates were assigned the task of designing a vehicle that would reach 200 MPH and carry over the McLaren tradition of an F1 car for the road.

Three finalists were selected from the 14 total entrants and a panel of judges, including the main-man himself, Anthony Sheriff, awarded first place to the 'M Eleven B' (pictured). A host of adjectives wouldn't do the design justice, so we'll just call it 'the sex' and say that it certainly looks ready to blow past the double-century mark.

The runners up are pictured along with the chosen design in full, renderlicious glory after the jump, and be sure to check out McLaren's site for the unabridged details.

Peugeot is launching the fourth edition of its worldwide design contest. The winning entrant will get to see his or her design turned into a full-sized model which will be displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. (Last year's winner - the Peugeot Moovie - is shown above.) In a new feature for the 2006-2007 contest, the winning vehicle will become a drivable, if virtual, concept car in the Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 4.

This year's theme? P.L.E.A.S.E. innovate! Your new car should be:

• Pleasureable (to drive)
• Lively
• Efficient
• Accessible
• Simple
• Ecological

Full details are available at the Peugeot Design Contest website, here. Don't have 3D design software? Get the free Blender open source software here.

[Source: Peugeot]

It's not an automobile. It doesn't even have wheels per se. But the Hyanide concept has prompted an army of Autoblog readers to send in tips, and who are we to ignore a mob? The Hyanide, so named for its striking visual similarity to the hyena that roams the plains of South Africa, is part snowmobile, part motorcycle, and part ATV. The vehicle's claim to fame is its mobility even under duress -- we'd wager the thing could scoot you out of quicksand if you were so unfortunate as to happen upon some -- thanks to the flexible treads and impressive control. The special tank tread is comprised of hard plastic segments covered in tire rubber and connected with Kevlar rope. The special riding style allows a rider's hands to turn the handlebars while his/her feet torque the back end in the same direction, all of which allows for sharp cornering and mad hill climbing skills.

Too bad for us, though -- the vehicle only exists as a 1/5 scale model with no plans for production. Doh! We'd still recommend a trip to the source for a 3-D look at the Hyanide, though.

Thanks to the fervent masses for the tip!

[Source: Popular Science]

Well ahead of the 2007 launch of Fiat's new 500 minicar, the company has fired up a Fiat 500 minisite with the theme "500 wants you."

Fiat promises that the site will be far more than just another advertising vehicle - the company wants to involve the public in the design and development of the little retro-runabout. According to Luca De Meo, Fiat Brand and Commercial Manager, "For the first time in the history of our company, and perhaps the motor industry as a whole, a car will be created with the public and for the public."

The "500 wants you" site includes "500ology," a repository for stories and pictures about the legendary 500, and a "Configuration Lab," (pictured) where you can work with models of the concept car. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the "Designboom" contest with a chance to win one of three prizes of about $6,300 (5,000 euros) each.

[Source: Fiat]