What with all the efforts nowadays to get the edge in automotive design you might be forgiven for thinking that it would be difficult to make a car really stand out – safety and efficiency also play a part in limiting what we can do aesthetically and structurally.
Well, that doesn’t matter when it’s a prototype now, does it? United Nude – you know, the premium footwear company from the Netherlands – has decided that if you can create some of the most quirky and thought-provoking designs that you could also transfer that out-of-the-box thinking to car design.
As part of a move which may be a first (more on that later), the Dutch shoe designers have designed a car from the ground up in something that could be justified as a piece of art.
Now, what does a futuristic car look like? Look no further than the Lo Res Car, angular and minimalist with a clear resemblance to both the Cyber Truck and a cartoonish piece of cheese.
A Car Designed Only With Rulers And Protractors
A key part of the design goal was to distill the shape of a Lamborghini Countach down to its basic elements, and we really mean basic, so that all that remains is a rough shape with minimal panels. If this same philosophy was applied to an SUV, it would probably look like an oval instead.
Next, with the Countach as a base and the overall shape defined, the designers set to work deciding on how to construct the shell and underpinnings and how it should work if the whole thing should be completely (to the passerby) black and opaque with the driver and passenger invisible.
The car shell is in fact a lifting canopy that covers everything underneath it, including the wheels and all parts of the chassis. Made of polycarbonate, which is plastic, it is light and can be tinted in the manufacturing phase easily. Once it is up, the illusion of a hovering or floating car is shattered but there is more to see inside.
Dude, Where’s My V12 Engine?
As is the way with these things, you will probably expect to hear about the engine or motor next, the archetypal centerpiece of any sports or supercar.
This is not a sport or supercar, however, and at its beating heart lies no performance-oriented motor. In fact, it is not designed to move quickly as much as move along steadily - like a golf cart - to prove it can be driven.
Electric propulsion is provided by a small motor and is good enough for the speedo to register 30mph with the pedal all the way down. It falls in the category - at least in California - as a ‘Low-Speed Vehicle’ according to the Electric Golf Cart Company. The same source cites more California highway rules including that any vehicle in this class must have 4 wheels and drive at a maximum of 25mph as well as meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) certification and requires a driving license and insurance.
Wouldn’t Want To Crash In One
So, it needs to have certain features and meet minimum requirements even if it is a slow-moving vehicle, but don’t expect many safety elements in this car. The steering wheel is long and looks dangerous for the driver, there are no airbags, and the crumple zones don’t crumble because there aren’t any. Check out Doug Demuro’s walk-around and brief drive in the Lo Res car where he highlights, as always, its many quirks and features in his inimitable style.
As Doug shows us, there are lights inside in the sides of the car which can be revealed beneath panels in the frame and there are indeed headlights.
We can see that under the capsule top, which is the only way in or out of the car, there are two seats one behind the other, and the wheel housings and drivetrain are always visible to the occupants of the vehicle making for a minimalist experience from inside as well as the outside.
The polycarbonate shell is transparent so the driver and passenger can see all around making for great visibility as you appear to float along the suburban streets.
Nike Beat The Lo Res Car By Some Margin
Another sneaker maker, the slightly more famous Nike company had a car designed in their image for Gran Turismo. That car, the Nike One 2022, had a more advanced powertrain – all-wheel drive, 260hp, four electric motors, and eight-speed automatic transmission.
Weighing theoretically the same as a Lotus Elise for optimal acceleration, it was open-sided with just a curving roof to cover the driver, the wheels were connected to the car via a strange linking mechanism that looks invisible. You can see more images of the concept here.
It should be said that the design of the Lo Res car oozes style from the outside at least, even if it lacks substance when you look deeper inside. Considering cars like the Cyber Truck, this kind of design – if it could include safety features and meet durability requirements – is something which could conceivably be released commercially if not right now then in the not-so-distant future.
This design warrants something powerful and efficient under the hood – if we can’t make it float, maglev-style then it should at least have a powerful electric drivetrain on par with a Model S Plaid, or if it’s gasoline we’re after – a V12 would do the trick nicely.
Long live the Countach and Lo Res car, united by United Nude and a minimalist designer with a minimal pencil case.