Each year Ferrari invites design students at 50 prestigious universities around the world to let their imaginations run wild as they imagine the supercar of the future.
The results are, to put it mildly, breathtaking, ranging from severe, geometric forms to sinuous organic shapes. All the entrants in the 2011 contest, however, had two things in common - they focused on reducing fuel consumption through alternative power - especially hybrids - and increasing driving pleasure by reducing weight.
First the students drew up two-dimensional concept sketches, which were then translated into three-dimensional models using 3D Autodesk Alias software - and finally each team had to create a physical quarter-scale model with particular emphasis on detailing, the interior of the car and more functional concerns such as “Will the front wheels be able to turn to steer the car?”
And the top three were…
1 Eternità - designed by Kim Cheong Ju, Ahn Dre and Lee Sahngseok of Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea.
2 Xezri - by Samir Sadikhov of IED in Turin, Italy.
3 Cavallo Bianco - by Henry Cloke and Qi Haitao of the Royal college of Art in London.
Presenting the top award, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo commented: “Nurturing the creativity of young people is a fundamental strategy in every walk of life. The Ferrari World Design Contest is a window on the creative energy of the next generation.
“I saw first-hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them - and I'm certain that some of these ideas will come to light in the Ferraris of the future.”
There were also two special prizes: the Autodesk Design Award for the best use of Alias software in the design process, went to the Hongik team, while the prize for the “Most Unexpected Technological Solution” award, went to the team from Jiangnan University in China, for the audacious technical solutions contained in The Drake concept.