Pages

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Opel Icona Concept Amphibian Hybrid Cars

Opel Icona Concept Amphibian Hybrid Cars
The Opel Icona project was developed in collaboration with Opel by Juan Pablo Bernal at the Umea Institute of Design, Sweden. The concept is a hybrid car that can traverse land and sea is nothing new despite being the stuff of dreams at least half a century ago, but this Opel Icona Concept Amphibian Hybrid Cars takes things to a whole new level.
The Opel Icona Concept is a design study of a futuristic amphibian electric vehicle with a sporty design and retracteable wheels. It can transport an adult and a child.
The project for the Umea Institute of Design 2010 developed at Opel, Germany. This projects aims to create a vehicle that will not only fulfill the expectations of vehicles manufactured today, but go beyond in a range of areas.
By looking at the features of the car and considering the challenges that societies will be facing in 2050, which is the year considered for the project, this paper describes how the vehicle incorporates aspects that will contribute to the solutions required.
The designer has come up with an all-electric concept car, dubbed the Opel Icona, that uses natural sources of energy for propulsion. Running on natural sources of energy, the all-electric vehicle generates power from electric motors to allow a clean and green drive. The zero-emission car would not only allow a sustainable drive but also become a means of entertainment to create a special bond between the family members as well as society.
Designed for the year 2050, the V-shaped car is able to commute on both water and land, opening possibilities to look for alternative locations to reside and experiences to explore. The V shaped dynamic design uses distinctive shapes, forms, patterns and proportions which are express the sporty and leisure-oriented character of the vehicle. The environmentally friendly and energy-efficient vehicle provides a dynamic and practical way to teach children about relevant issues by living experiences that reinforce the family bond.
The concept vehicle features four electric motors that are included in each of the four wheels. The all-terrain vehicle can be driven in two modes – water mode and land mode. When in the land mode, the vehicle is driven using a normal electric drive. However, in water mode, a sail is retracted from the car’s storage area and the wheel arms rotate inboard to reduce drag, thus enabling this vehicle to cruise on water with the same speed and elegance.
About the Designer :
Juan Pablo Bernal is Colombian Designer with a Bachelor in Transportation Design from Instituto Europeo di Design (2003-2006) and a MA Degree in Transportation Design from Umea institute of Design in Sweden.
Among his working experiences are internship at the GM Europe Design and at Scania, Sweden.
Opel Icona Concept Amphibian Hybrid Cars

0 comments:

Post a Comment