Autoblog

We've spent the entire day showing you all of the entrants for the 2007 Design Challenge, the official winner of which won't be announced until the 2007 LA Auto Show in mid-November. We don't have to wait that long to decide which automaker has the best vision of the future. Vote in the poll below for your favorite Design Challenge entrant you read about today. Your only guideline should be what vehicle you'd want to be driving 50 years from now, and feel free to tell us the reasons behind your choice in the comments.

Check out all the entrants after the jump to make an informed decision.


Audi Virtue Quattro
GM OnStar Ant
Honda 124 Solar Hybrid
Mazda MotoNari RX
Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow
Nissan OneOne
Toyota Biomobile
Volkswagen SlipStream

Spatially-challenged drivers rejoice! As previously reported, Nissan has developed a new parking assist system that employs four ultra-wide high-resolution cameras mounted in the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle to provide a bird's eye view of the vehicle's surroundings. All those images are processed and displayed in real-time on a dash-mounted screen, giving drivers a 360-degree view of what they don't want to hit.

Shifting the car into reverse or drive will alternate between a view of the front or rear, while drivers will be able to toggle the left, front and right views when performing a particularly tricky parallel parking maneuver.

The first application of Nissan's "Around View Monitor" in the U.S. will be in the Infiniti EX35, but we'd expect it to become a hot commodity on some of Nissan and Infiniti's more bloated SUV offerings soon.

Nissan's full press release, including a video, is posted after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

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

Harley-Davidson, that most quintessentially American Motor Company, has gone and released a bike in Europe before releasing it in America. What is the world coming to? The XR 1200, based on the Sportster model range, is a streetbike that's inspired by the XR750 dirt track racing bikes that Harley has been campaigning so successfully -- on racetracks in America. This is the first time that Harley-Davidson has ever released a bike first in any country other than America. In fact, the bike will be available in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, starting in the Spring of '08.

Here in the States, the best selling bikes are cruisers, and the XR 1200 is a bike that's being marketed towards the sporting standard crowd -- a popular one in Europe. We like the idea of a nice, solid handling bike with the classic "sit up and beg" riding position. If there is one brand that could make a positive impact on the slow-selling standard genre in America, though, it is likely Harley-Davidson. Here's hoping that the XR 1200 does not stay a European import forever.

[Source: Harley-Davidson, Motoblog]

click above image for more views of the 2057 Toyota Biomobile

The Car: The 2057 Toyota Biomobile is the ultimate solution for pollution. That's because it actually runs on the stuff. The Biomobile extracts pollution from the air to utilize as an energy source, though we're unclear as to what the byproduct of that process is - more pollution? Like many entrants for 2007 LA Auto Show Design Challenge, the Biomobile is also able to change form. It's maleable structure is able to contract and extend to create a low-slung performance car, upright urban commuter or even a living space. And check out those wheels, which Toyota says are made out of nano-lasers.

The Future According to Toyota: The Committee to Create Interesting Cars, established by Toyota in 2007, was so wildly successful that the Japanese automaker's cars are now considered even more attractive than Italian exotics of the mid- to late-21st century. The Biomobile is the latest creation of TCCC, and its true innovation is not the set of run-flat nano-laser wheels it wears, but rather the car's amazing ability to convert pollution into energy that it uses for power, the only by product of which is a type of home-brew Sake that's stored onboard in a chilled decanter. Being that humans became immune to the effects of alcohol due to overconsumption, the driver's Sake exhaust energy drink can be enjoyed while you slice up the road in Toyota's latest interesting car created by a committee.

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

While we're mere hours away from installing an eBay-special driveshaft into Project LeMons, the crew over at Grassroots Motorsports has officially wrapped up its $2007 Challenge. We can only imagine what we'd do with an extra $1,507. Maybe strap a snowmobile motor where the passenger seat would reside that powers an engine cooling fan from an M1 tank to suck our RX-7 to the tarmac, ala Chaparral 2J. Well, Cheaparral Racing (get it?) did exactly that to a 1989 Chevy Corvette, creating over 1000 pounds of down force and waling away with the win at GRM's 7th $2007 Challenge.

The "Sucker 'Vette" as it's been affectionately dubbed, joined a host of other competitors, ranging from an over-riced Civic to a Zamboni, and all the standings can be viewed over at GRM's site. We've included a couple of videos shot during the event after the jump.

[Source: Grassroots Motorsports]

click above image for more views of the 2057 Nissan OneOne

The Car: The 2057 Nissan OneOne is billed by the Japanese automaker as a "family pet". Like Fido goes and fetches the paper, the OneOne can go off and ferry the kids to soccer practice, pick up the groceries and do other chores without the owner's supervision. It moves around by flexing synthetic muscles in its leg to create a skating motion much like rollerblading. When traveling fast the OneOne hunkers down low to the ground, but can raise itself for better maneuverability in congested areas.

The Future According to Nissan: Natural selection has chosen the Aibo to survive and thrive at the expense of numerous robot pets that were introduced at the turn of the century. Nissan, known for its love of dogs, has seen that the Aibo evolve into an autonomous robot it can sell as a family pet. Named the OneOne (code for Aibo v11.0), this new human companion comes with synthetic muscles that will scurry it along roadways guided by GPS with your most precious cargo aboard. Kids and adults both love the OneOne because it doesn't shed or spring a leak on the carpet, it comes when you call and, well... domestic canines went extinct in 2018 from a botched recall of accidentally poisoned Kibbles 'N Bits, so this is all we've got.

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

Click the image above for over 20 more pics.

Germany's GeigerCars is responsible for some ungainly creations, normally turning up the wick on vehicles that have no business being fast in the first place. But when the firm directs its resources towards exotic American muscle, it's the automotive equivalent of Henry Kissinger – absolute power corrupting absolutely.

By ditching the stock supercharger and installing an upgraded unit, the Geiger crew was able to increase boost pressure from 0.8-bar (11.6 psi) to 1.25-bar (18 psi). After installing new throttle valves, replacing the air filter, equipping the GT with a new exhaust and remapping the ECU, they were able to bring power levels up to 701 HP and 617 lb.-ft. of torque. 60 now comes up in a scant 3.5 seconds and top speed eclipses the double-century mark by 11 mph.

Keeping the GT from pirouetting at speed is an adjustable suspension that drops the supercar by 60mm over 20-inch wheels wrapped in 245mm tires up front, with 21-inchers swathed in 325s out back. Aside from the new ride height, GiegerCars left the rest of the body unscathed, save the rear bumper that houses new four-inch exhaust tips.

GeigerCars' full press release is after the jump.

[Source: World Car Fans]

click above image for more views of the 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow

The Car: The 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is the most traditional shape we've seen so far of the 2007 Design Challenge entrants. It looks like a futuristic car with a super sleek designed inspired by Merc racers of yore. The designers, however, didn't leave their imaginations at the door, having crafted the SilverArrow from micro-metallic particles that can be arranged by magnetic fields into pre-selected forms kept on the car's key fob. For easy storage, the entire car can melt into a puddle of metallic goop, only to be reassembled by the power of magnets when you're ready to drive again.

The Future According to Mercedes-Benz: After the market was flooded with cheap carbon fiber from China in the early 2020s, Mercedes-Benz engineers went on the hunt for a new material that would be exclusive enough for automobiles crowned with the silver star. They found their ingredient when downloading the classic film Terminator 2: Judgment Day into their brains via the NetFlix neural delivery service. Inspired by the T-1000 character's liquid metal form, Benz engineers went about reverse engineering the technology that came back from 2029 to 1991. Because of their efforts, the world was blessed with liquid metal a few years before it was supposed to be developed by Skynet. Take that future computer overlord!

Weirdness Factor (1 - I can buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 4

So anyway, that new 2009 Jaguar X-Type we showed you this morning -- the one currently being crucified in the comments? No need to worry: it's not coming here. On the same day it announced the updated version for the rest of the world, Jaguar has officially pulled the plug on the X-Type in the US. The car's biggest sales year was 2003 when it was first introduced, and it has not met expectations since. Not even the introduction of the wagon for MY 2005 helped. Of course, perhaps if more people knew the wagon existed in the first place, it might have made somewhat of a difference. I say this as I carry on a parallel IM chat with Neff, who had no idea the wagon was available in the US until about 5 minutes ago. Suffice to say that the estate could have been marketed more effectively. The 2008 model (above) will continue to arrive until March, and after that, the X-Type turns into a pumpkin. You'll probably be able to snag a nice deal on one at the local Jaguar store, and there's no shortage of value-priced examples on the used market, either. Jaguar expects the XF to make up for lost sales of both the S- and X-Types when it arrives.

[Source: AutoWeek]

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

The crew over at the MustangBlog procured a copy of the 2008 Mustang Ordering Guide and after combing through the corporate doc they came across all the details of the beloved Bullitt Mustang.

On the outside, color choices will be appropriately limited to Highland Green and Black, while 18-inch Charcoal Satin Finish Euro-Flange rollers frame dark grey brake calipers holding on to Performance-grade Carbon Metallic pads up front. The 'Stang is dropped by Ford's Sport Tuned suspension kit that includes new shocks, springs and a stabilizer bar, while a Bullitt emblem faux filler cap, a spoiler delete and a new upper grille, sans Pony badge and fog lamps, completes the exterior adornments.

Performance-wise, the Bullitt gets the Ford Racing Power Pack, although we're not sure if it's just limited to the cold-air intake system or if it's the full monty, including new mass air meter, Ford Racing oil filter and new mufflers. The Bullitt will come equipped with a reflashed ECU, so we'd guess it's a bit more than just an intake, especially considering that the exhaust comes with 3.5-inch tips. A Ford Racing strut tower brace emblazoned with a serialized label stretches across the engine bay, while out back a 3.73:1 LSD makes sure the extra ponies make it to the ground. Ford decided to nix the space-saver spare in favor of a tire inflation kit, presumably to save weight.

Inside, a black interior with the Sport Leather Seat Appearance package accompanies aluminum accents in the form of a ball shifter, sill plates and pedal covers, while a custom steering wheel is fitted in place of the stock unit.

Now, if we can just get Dodge to release a comparably equipped Charger, we're going to set the team of Neff and Nunez loose on the streets of S.F.

[Source: MustangBlog]

In his latest missive on the Fastlane Blog, GM car czar Bob Lutz checks in after a trip to Australia during which he sampled several new Pontiac G8s (he called the Ponchos "fabulous"), the Buick Park Avenue destined for China, and the Daewoo Veritas, another Holden sedan export. Oh, he also drove other development stuff that's in the hopper, including the Camaro development prototype. Lutz said that the car, despite being covered in a spy-photog-unfriendly black-and-white camo pattern, looked "as awesome as the concept" and that its power, sound and braking ability were completely in line with his lofty expectations. (That sound you hear is Brenda Priddy boarding a Qantas 747 to Oz.)

He describes the interior as being "remarkable" as well. We recently saw a GM video put together by the design group, in which a simulation of the Camaro startup process is shown from inside the car's passenger cabin. (It was not an actual car, but a super-high-quality computer simulation). If the interior shown in that video is indeed what's in store for the production Camaro, Lutz's use of "remarkable" is not at all out of line, and we'll all be yammering about it endlessly come January. According to Lutz's post, the Camaro is intended to be "the finest car in its class, ever." He's not doing or saying anything to temper our expectations, and based on what we've seen and heard on our own so far, there's no reason for him to do so.

[Source: GM Fastlane Blog]

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

click above image to view more angles of the Aston Martin DBS derriere

The Aston Martin DBS has been voted as having the "Rear of the Year" in a poll conducted for the MPH '07 car show takes place in early November. It's J-Lo-esque posterior narrowly beat out the Bugatti Veyron's bum for the top honor, though when divided by sex, women voters were more attracted to the Bugatti's butt. The survey was conducted by NewCarNet and attracted the opinion of 1,260 people on the best aft anatomies in the car biz.

It's hard to disagree with a poll that honors the derriere of an Aston Martin. It's so admired that modern designs ape it outright, like the Jaguar XK for instance, which men chose as the fourth best booty and women the fifth. The Audi R8 and Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione also ranked highly for their back sides. Coincidentally, the rear of these cars is likely all you'll ever see if every you encounter one in the wild.

[Source: MPH '07]

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