German design is normally not known for outlandish concepts. And in a Design Challenge where you can let your Studio go wild, the same can be said about VW’s entry, the Slipstream.
This vehicle concept is so reserved that I could have sworn I’ve seen it in several Japanese auto shows in years past.
Q: So, how does VW take a design that will probably actually happen in 2057 and present it for the Design Challenge?
A: They get their best artists to create breath-taking futuristic scenes and images that are solely based on eye-candy.
I don’t care how reserved the concept is… give me the images as a desktop for my MacBook!
From VW:
Volkswagen Concept Slipstream
In the year 2057, population centers have become unimaginably dense and the roadways have reached the point of total saturation. Volkswagen’s solution is an advanced autonomous vehicle that dynamically adapts to minimize its footprint in the city and its drag coefficient on the highways.
When in the city, these two-wheeled, teardrop shaped pods travel in an upright orientation that occupies one fifth the size of a traditional vehicle. When on a special freeway lane called the “Slipstream,” it tilts to a horizontal orientation optimizing its aerodynamic shape. Rear fins slide out to allow the rear of the vehicle to float like the tail section of an airplane to achieve speeds in excess of 250 mph.
The skin of the vehicle is made of hyper-efficient solar panels that power the vehicle.
Volkswagen/Audi
Design Team:
- Ian Hilton
- Derek Jenkins
- Patrick Faulwetter