11/16/2007-11/25/2007 LA AUTO SHOW
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Sun, Nov 11, 2007
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
LA Auto Show Design Challenge Robocar 2057 entry by Mercedes Benz Advanced Design NA
LA AUTO SHOW 2008
Design Challenge Robocar 2057 entry by Honda
R&D North America
While most World debuts remain closely guarded until press days, a few
manufacturers have announced their intentions including Hyundai's world premiere
of a new sports car concept, Nissan's all-new, mid-size Murano crossover and
Volkswagen's new mini-car concept design. Other Worldwide debuts are anticipated
to include new hybrid editions and other advanced environmental technologies.
Among the vehicles making their first appearance on U.S. soil include, the
completely new Jaguar XF luxury performance sedan and the entirely new BMW 1
Series coupe. Performance enthusiasts also anxiously await an in-person view of
the U.S. unveiling of Mitsubishi's tenth generation Lancer Evolution and
Subaru's all-new WRX STI. And, finally arriving in the U.S. after much
anticipation is Nissan's GT-R supercar.
Los Angeles has emerged as the main stage for luxury and exotic automakers to
showcase their most elite vehicles partly due the fact that the Los Angeles
region has highest concentration of luxury and exotic car buyers. The most
expensive new vehicle to make its U.S. debut will be the $1.4 million
Lamborghini Reventon, hailed as the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini ever
built. Ferrari will debut its new lightweight 430 Scuderia, Bentley will
showcase its new and more powerful Continental GT Speed and Porsche will debut
its most powerful 911, the new GT2.
Also of increasing importance, as consumer demand for more fuel efficient and
environmentally positive vehicles grows exponentially, is the announcement of
this year's Green Car of the Year®. The winner of the 2008 Green Car of the Year
(GCOY) award will be named during a press conference the morning of Nov. 15. The
importance of this award is validated not only by the increase in consumer
demand but by the rapid growth of low emission and environmentally-friendly new
vehicles on the market. More vehicle choices require greater public education
and the Green Car Journal's annual award helps consumers each year by
identifying the top picks from leading industry environmental and automotive
experts.
Design Challenge Robocar 2057 entry by
Toyota's Calty Design Research
Automotive Design Studios Predict How Robotics and AI Transform
Transportation in 50 Years
Today's vehicles feature artificial intelligence that allow hands-free parking
and electronic stability control, but in 50 years vehicles might be able to move
in any direction, drive and navigate robotically and have structures that morph
and adapt to passengers' needs.
This is according to auto designers as part of the fourth annual Los Angeles
Auto Show's Design Challenge. Eight automotive design studios based in Southern
California, including Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and
Volkswagen created design concepts that envision the RoboCar of 2057. These
futuristic designs adapt to a variety of environmental conditions and consumer
needs, from battling LA's traffic vertically to turning pollutants extracted out
of the air into fuel and even picking the kids up after soccer practice without
the need for a human driver.
The designers entered two dimensional renderings and concept descriptions
predicting how the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence will
integrate into the automobile to make life safer, more convenient and more
attractive to consumers 50 years from now.
Entries will be judged by Tom Matano of San Francisco's Academy of Art
University, Imre Molner of Detroit's College for Creative Studies and Stewart
Reed of Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Special guest judge this year
is robotics expert Chris Myers. Meyers is an independent design consultant
specializing in remote telepresence robotics and has been a contributing writer
for robotic hobby magazines, Servo and Robot. He also teaches design at San
Francisco's Academy of Art University.
Design Challenge Robocar 2057 entry by
Volkswagen of Am. Design Center
Entries in this year's RoboCar 2057 Design Challenge include:
* Audi of America Design Center California: The Audi Virtuea Quattro
hydrogen-powered vehicle.
* General Motors Advanced Design: The GM-Onstar ANT features vehicle-to-vehicle
communication to optimize traffic flow.
* Honda Research and Development, North America: The 14 - One to the Power of
Four is a solar-hybrid powered robotic commuter.
* Mazda R&D of North America: The Motonari RX integrates the driver with the
vehicle allowing the driver to experience the road psycho-somatically.
* Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America: The Silverflow utilizes
micro-metallic particles that can be arranged via magnetic fields.
* Nissan Design America: The Nissan OneOne is guided by a real-time GPS network
and acts as both transportation and personal assistant.
* Toyota's Calty Design Research: The Biomobile Mecha can extract pollutants in
the air and utilize it as an energy source.
* Volkswagen of America Design Center: The Slipstream adapts for city and
freeway driving.
The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers'
conference that has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto
Show. Entering its fourth year, Design Los Angeles provides designers with
leading design speakers and the opportunity to address common issues. More than
500 designers attended last year's event.
World Debuts
14 models to be announced
North American Debuts
Aston Martin V-8 Vantage N400
Audi A4
Bentley Continental GT Speed
BMW 1 Series
BMW M3
Chevrolet Aveo5
Dodge Journey
Ferrari 430 Scuderia
Jaguar XF
Lamborghini Reventón
Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S
Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
MINI Cooper Clubman
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
Nissan GTR
Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1
Spyker C8 Laviolette LWB
Subaru WRX STi
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Volvo V70
For more information, go to
www.laautoshow.com.