Local Motors has just completed its latest competition, the Chicago Motors comp. This competition managed to accumulate over 80 unique designs from students, professionals, and lovers of car design. While many chose to focus on Al Capone’s gangster history others drew inspiration from Art Deco themes, Chicago’s modern architecture, and even the “Windy City” nickname.
Take a look at the attached images and press release, or head on over to Local Motors’ website to see the complete portfolio of entrants.
Above: 1st Place, Socom AC Baptisto by Giulio Partisani
Above: 2nd Place, “ChicagoRED” by Mihai Panaitescu
Above: 3rd Place, “Chicago” by Raphael Laurent
<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:”Cambria Math”; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073741899 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:”"; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Cambria”,”serif”; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –>
January 29, 2009
For Immediate Release: Local Motors Announces the Winners of Chicago Motors, and the Top Three Car Designs Made Specifically for the Windy City
If you love cars and you are from Chicago, then this you have to see.
Local Motors just announced the winners of its most recent community car design competition: Chicago Motors. Over 80 car designs were submitted from around the world using inspiration from all of the things that make Chicago unique: The Chicago Spire, Al Capone and Lake Shore Drive among others. Local Motors designers were challenged to not only design a hot car for Chicago, but to also design a car that will positively impact the Second City:
“We want to bring pride, jobs, fun and hot design back to Chicago automotive. Design a car for Chicago that is hot and fast, but has room for 2-5 people. Create something for us to be proud of, and make it affordable. Make sure this car is usable in the sun and snow. Public transit in Chicago is good, but we need more freedom. We need the freedom and pride that can only come from owning a car.”
The Local Motors Community voted Giulio Partisani’s “Socom AC Biposto” into first place. As Giulio describes it, the “Socom AC is a supercar designed to be safe and fast. The car has a strong presence yet manages to be quiet thanks to its hybrid propulsion.” For his win, Giulio will take home $1,500.
In second place is Mihai Panaitescu’s “ChicagoRed” design. Taking inspiration from a gangster’s fedora, Mihai created a curvy sedan with a mean face and space for four. True to his gangster inspiration, Mihai incorprated plenty of legroom for “angry Mafiosi” and even storage space for tommy guns. Mihai’s “Boston Bullet” was previously the first place winner of Local Motors’ Boston Motors Competition.
Simply named “Chicago”, Raphael Laurent’s design placed third overall. With an underlying theme of classic “Chicago” theatre ambiance, this design does not disappoint. It has classic Compact Utility Vehicle proportions with outstanding throwback light treatments. And most unique, his side view mirrors.
This competition was highly competitive, and while the winners have much to be proud of, each of them is working toward a greater opportunity: a chance to see their design on the road. Local Motors has pledged to bring the most desired cars to market. So if you like the “Socom AC”, “ChicagoRed”, or the (aptly named) “Chicago”, you had better get on www.local-motors.com, and speak up. You can make it happen.
The next competition will take designers to NASCAR country in North Carolina. Details will be announced on February 4th, 2009.