Bear with us for a minute, this bizarre wedge of a car was too crazy to not mention. Dubbed the “Low Res Car”, it is a marketing effort by apparel company United Nude, which is even stranger.
Basically the car is simplified down to its absolute simplest form, which is angular, without any sign of a regular car, like wheel wells, mirrors, or even windows. Indeed, car reviewer Doug DeMuro calls it the most bizarre car he’s ever seen, which is saying something.
Created as more of a statement piece than anything, the vehicle is exceptionally rudimentary mechanically, with homespun controls and basically no creature comforts or features.
Regardless, the car’s audacious minimalism is notable and fun, even if it is more of an art project than an actual product. If this passed you on the street, we imagine it’d make you say “what the…?”
The newest Rolls Royce was just trotted out to the public, and it’s called the Wraith. Beyond being the most powerful Rolls ever built, the ‘fastback’ design and dual-tone body has a decisively muscular appearance, way less Grey Poupon, grey-haired than in years past. Inside you’ll of course find luxury details like the new Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller, which “features a touchpad, so you can effortlessly access the internet and music with a swipe of your finger or call up contacts and directions simply by ‘writing’ the characters.” But more impressive to me is the headliner, which has over 1300 fiber optics sewn into it, giving you a starry sky inside your trip to the grocery store. Top it off with 624 horsepower and massive West Sussex (suicide) doors, and you have a hell of a ride. I’d definitely like to take a trip in one. If you happen to have $300,000 laying around, you’ll be able to afford the base model.
Some excellent aerodynamic cars throughout many different eras. Starting way back in 1914 with the Alfa Romeo Aerodinamica “Siluro Ricotti”, the Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, The Norman E. Timbs Buick Streamliner, the Pink Panther car, Ford Probe Concept, VW L1 Concept, Bertone Nuccio, and finishing with the thoroughly futuristic Toyota Fun Vii.
Honda describes this toaster on wheels — an updating of a scooter it built in the early 1980s — as “a compact EV commuter which offers the casual and convenient mobility of a two-wheeler, but also strives to be useful even when it is not being ridden.”
I like the quirky minimalism that makes it simultaneously toy-like and modern.
Of course it’s got an iDevice-type display, and we love the minimalist vibe.
The Motor Compo shape is reminiscent of Wall-E.
The removable battery, presumably lithium-ion, is “designed to be used as a power source in everyday life.”
All of this is to say that Honda does have some exciting designs going on, even if they may never see the light of day. Similarly awesome is Honda’s EV-N concept from a few years back, that perfectly brings retro modernism into a car. I think if they had the balls to launch it, the EV-N would give the Mini Cooper a real run for its money.
Unlike most industries, automotive design arguably already hit it’s zenith years ago. Though the features available in cars today are mind boggling, their pure forms are, frankly, pretty lame compared to some of the designs that erupted out of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
The Portland Art Museum is currently showing a traveling exhibit called The Allure of the Automobile, which showcases some of the very rarest, most exquisite cars ever designed. From PAM’s own website:
June 11 – September 11, 2011
The Allure of the Automobile is the first exhibition to consider the stylistic development of cars in the context of prominent design movements such as Art Moderne and Postwar Modernity. Visitors will learn about the contrasts between European and American design, the influence of decorative arts, and the significant changes in automotive styling and engineering before and after World War II.
The exhibition will be accompanied by an array of programs and opportunities to learn more about these remarkable automobiles, the technology behind them, and their historical and cultural context.
Though the exhibition is small at only 16 cars, they’re very much one-of-a-kind models, all in pristine shape, all positively glowing in the art museum setting. I visited the exhibit knowing I’d be appreciative of the artfulness of these cars. But I was blown away at the utter beauty of these vehicles. More sculpture than cars, the collection holds extremely rare, unusual models like the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT racecar, 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, and the show-stopping 1937 Hispano Suiza H-6C “Xenia” Coupe. The Xenia is one of those designs destined to go down as one of the most gorgeous of all time. I didn’t expect it to be gargantuan, which it is. Everything down to the exhaust pipe is exquisite, and at the time, it was an extremely futuristic design. It still is, 75 years later.
Here are just a few photos I took on my brief tour of the exhibit. For anyone interested in industrial design, sculpture or craftsmanship, I highly recommend a visit.
