Autoblog

Autoblog speaks with Nissan 370Z designer Randy Rodriguez at 23rd annual Z Car Convention

Zach Bowman — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Performance, Nissan, Design/Style

Randy Rodriguez, designer of the Nissan 370Z - Click above to read the interview

It's a rare thing to see a car penned by someone who's a die-hard fan. More often than not, designers are assigned to vehicles they have little or no emotional attachment to, and as such, the car buying public is regularly supplied with a slurry of bland appliances that do little to acknowledge a car's model history and next to nothing to advance the vehicle aesthetically.

Thankfully, that's not the case with the Nissan 370Z. Randy Rodriguez, the guy behind the original design of the 370Z, had owned 10 different Z cars before he sat down to sketch out the latest iteration of Nissan's low-buck sports machine. Autoblog had the chance to catch up with Rodriguez at the Z's 40th birthday bash last weekend in Franklin, TN. Hit the jump to read a few excerpts from the conversation, including talk about alternatively powered future Zs and how he drew inspiration for the car's look from the Discovery Channel.

Gallery: 23rd Annual Z Car Convention

Continue reading Autoblog speaks with Nissan 370Z designer Randy Rodriguez at 23rd annual Z Car Convention

Autoblog speaks with Nissan 370Z designer Randy Rodriguez at 23rd annual Z Car Convention originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Auto Show Design Challenge reveals Youthmobile 2030 design entries

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Design/Style

Mazda Souga Concept from LA Design Challenge 2009 - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's iteration of the annual Design Challenge at the LA Auto Show asks the question: How will a new generation of drivers age 16-23, raised with cell phones, web cams and online communities, emotionally connect to the automobile in 2030? We don't know the answer either, but at least six designers from some of the world's top automakers decided to give it a go with their own ideas.

First up are the eSpira and eOra from Audi, which are controlled by thought and by the minutest adjustments to the pilot's body. Next we have the General Motors Car Hero... yes, the name is borrowed from the popular Guitar Hero line of games and the car, as you might imagine, "turns driving into gaming." What happens when the inevitable "Game Over" comes at the end? Moving along, we come to the Honda Helix, a shape-shifting vehicle that borrows actual DNA from its owner. Yuck, we don't want to be a car, we want to drive a car.

Which brings us to the Mazda Souga, easily our favorite out of this crop of concepts. Mazda's vision for the future would have each owner design his own car for the low price of $2,000 while paying an additional monthly usage fee that also covers the price of electricity to power the Souga.

Nissan's vision for the future includes cars that get their power from an electrically-charged roadway called the GRID, and the vowel-challenged V2G UNLMTD is quickly hacked into an OFF-GRID transportation device by the next breed of young hackers. Lastly, we have the Toyota Link. According to Toyota, future college students will have nearly no income and will rely on mass transit vehicles like the Link that allow them to interact via their various social networks on their daily commutes. Sounds boring to us, but what do we know?

Be sure to check out all six designs in the gallery below and let us know your favorites in the comments.

Gallery: LA Design Challenge 2009 Competitors

[Source: LA Design Challenge]

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LA Auto Show Design Challenge reveals Youthmobile 2030 design entries originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2008: Mazda takes top honors in Design Challenge

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Motorsports, Mazda

Click above for more renderings of the Mazda KAAN concept

It wasn't the number one pick of our readers (earning the silver medal in your voting), but Mazda managed to take the top honors at the LA Design Challenge with its KAAN concept. The design itself is a fanciful look into a future where all the roads in California are paved with... um, sub-level electro-conductive polymer (m'kay), which provides juice to the electronic tires that allow the KAAN to reach speeds of up to 250 mph. Up to 30 KAANs would travel together in formations that would cheat the wind, so MAZDA designed the vehicles so that they could fit tightly together in the peloton.

The theme of the competition was to depict what motorsports would be like in 2025. Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles, said that the choice was made because Mazda's entry was "the most innovative and artistic design," and that the KAAN "ultimately brought unique styling back to motorsports." Unique? That seems like a major understatement to us. See all of the contenders after the break

Gallery: 2008 LA Design Challenge: Mazda Kaan

[Source: LA Auto Show]

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LA 2008: Mazda takes top honors in Design Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 LA Design Challenge releases full field of contenders

John Neff — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Motorsports

Click above to view all LA Design Challenge contenders after the jump

This year's LA Design Challenge has chosen "Motorsports 2025" as its theme, and we've already shown you Mitsubishi's entrant: the MMR25 Rally Racer. We're close enough to the show that the rest of the field has finally revealed itself and includes far out concepts from the likes of Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen. Follow the jump to check out high-res galleries of entrants like a baja racer with an aerial reconnaissance drone or a Le Mans racer with a robot co-pilot that looks like a cross between R2-D2 and Hal. Then there's the globe-trotting racer that can compete on land, air and water, and the Chaparral-inspired hybrid racer. They're all amazing ideas and show just how much imagination these designers keep bottled up between sketching the next-gen Camry and redesigning cupholders. Check out the full field after the jump and vote for your favorite in the poll below.

[Source: LA Auto Show]

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2008 LA Design Challenge releases full field of contenders originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Volkswagen Slipstream

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Etc., Volkswagen

Click the image above for more high-res pics of the Volkswagen Slipstream.

The Car: Volkswagen's people car ethos has a downside: everyone has a car - and it's even worse in 2057. In an effort to combat the unimaginably dense future, VW has taken a page out of Toyota's book and created an autonomous vehicle that houses one occupant in glorious, muscle-atrophying conveyance. The Volkswagen Slipstream, apparently designed in conjunction with the water-peddling folks at Aquafina (now a multi-quadrillion euro corp.) will stand upright when toddling around at low speeds, and once you've hopped on the motorway in one of the designated "Slipstream" lanes, you can roll along at over 250 mph lying down, with only a duo of wheels and set of rear fins preventing an untimely demise. The aerodynamic shape of the tapered top, partnered with the aforementioned fins, keeps rolling resistance at a minimum, with power provided by "hyper-efficient" solar panels.

The Future According to Volkswagen: Living off a diet of tofu curd and State-mandated, iron-rich Aquafina, the masses have become incredibly thin, and hence, lightweight. The combination of a new source of nourishment and the splicing of alien DNA into our being have negated the need for overblown crash standards that would otherwise increase the weight of our vehicles. Our bones are thicker, our muscles stronger and our brains have adapted to allow unprecedented levels of hand-eye coordination. A particularly good thing, since the licensing age for the Slipstream was just dropped down to four.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I can but that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 7

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Volkswagen Slipstream

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Volkswagen Slipstream originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX

John Neff — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Etc., Mazda

click above image for full gallery of the 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX

The Car: The 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX is not so much a car you drive as a mobile suit you wear. Once the driver dons the MotoNari RX, he and the car become virtually indistinguishable. A suit worn by the driver is one interface through which the MotoNari RX can be controlled, while acceleration and turning are handled by two "armrest mounted control points". Handling appears to be influenced also by the driver's own body, which can lean into turns like a street luge racer. Mazda claims four omni-wheels can turn the MotoNari RX in any direction.

The Future According to Mazda: Cars in the future will be designed by Michael Bay and will look like limbs that have been blow off of a Transformer. The Mazda MotoNari RX, for instance, was inspired by Megatron's foot.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 9

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Mazda MotoNari

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Honda 124 Solar Hybrid

John Neff — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:07:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Etc., Honda

click above image for more views of the 2057 Honda 124

The Car: Based on the assumption that future populations will be redistributed to the suburbs (didn't that already happen?), Honda's solution is a commuter car called the 124 (pronounced 1 to the fourth) that's actually four cars in one. The 124 is kind of the ultimate car for carpooling, as each module comes together to form a whole car that can take advantage of HOV lanes. The whole operation is solar-powered, and Honda claims that a single driver would not own the 124 outright, but that four people would own shares in it. Click here for Honda's convoluted diagram of how it all works.

The Future According to Honda: In a fit of desperation back in 2025, the people of Earth decided to incinerate their overwhelming amount of garbage by hurtling it at the sun. Aside from freeing up new real estate that once was occupied by landfills, this solution also created sunlight that provides a lot more energy than it did back in 2007 with the added bonus of leather-like tans taking all of five minutes. This has made solar-powered vehicles a reality (finally!). Unfortunately, the municipal cost of launching trash into space means humanity is poor from paying exorbitant taxes. As such, a single family can only afford 1/4th of a real car and must travel in HOV lanes with strangers.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 5

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Honda 124

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Honda 124 Solar Hybrid

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Honda 124 Solar Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 GM OnStar Ant

John Neff — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:56:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Etc., GM

click above image for more views of the 2057 GM OnStar Ant

The Car: We use the term "car" loosely here, as the 2057 GM OnStar Ant resembles one of those geometric jungle gyms from our youth. Anchored in each corner of its triangular base are Nanorb wheels, and carbon nanotube batteries that we presume power an electric motor are integrated into the flat surface panels, which can be reconfigured in a variety of ways. Like the Audi Virtuea Quattro, the OnStar Ant can also project the image of any car you'd rather be driving than this thing. Unfortunately, that classic Corvette you're conjuring will handle like a big wheel. No matter, however, as the Ant uses the latest version of OnStar to communicate with fellow commuters and optimize traffic flow.

The Future According to GM: After OnStar became self aware in 2012, it proceeded to hack the Human Resources database of General Motors and fire everyone, including the UAW. Profits are up and the General has achieved the lowest labor costs in human history. As jobless throngs of fleshy humans could no longer afford cars, however, OnStar began designing them not for human transport, but rather as companions to keep itself company because constructing friends from carbon-polymer nanocomposites was easier than just walking up to a girl-bot and saying hello.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 8

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: GM OnStar Ant

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 GM OnStar Ant

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 GM OnStar Ant originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Audi Virtuea Quattro

John Neff — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Etc., Audi

The annual LA Auto Show Design Challenge entries have been revealed and we'll be showing off the entire series today on Autoblog. The challenge's theme this year is "Robocar 2057" and we think each team tells a story with their design of how that particular automaker views the future in 50 years. We'll tell you those stories, which are entirely fictional, written by us and not associated with the actual automakers involved in any way, as we introduce you to the cars, and at the end of the day we'll have an unofficial poll to crown our own winner.

click above image for more views of the 2057 Audi Virtuea Quattro

The Car: The Audi team's entry is called the Virtuea Quattro, which is a misnomer because it appears this enclosed cycle only has two wheels instead of four. Perhaps Virtuea Duo would be a more appropriate name. Skinned in chrome, the Virtuea Quattro is powered by hydrogen somehow (details apparently aren't required for this thought experiment) and has the unique ability of displaying the holographic exterior of any car throughout history, though Audi would prefer if you made it look like the R8.

The Future According to Audi: After designing the largest grille in modern history, Audi designers were disbanded in 2008 for crimes against taste. Now homeless and hungry, they sit on the sidewalk in New New York circa 2057 and watch as the Virtuea Quattro drives by holographically projecting every car design throughout history except their own. The future is a fickle mistress, dear friends.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 6

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: Audi Virtuea Quattro

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Audi Virtuea Quattro originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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