RCA students design car of the future

Published Jun 8, 2012

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Michal Vlcek, a first-year student in the Vehicle Design department at London's Royal College of Arts, has won the London Motorexpo competition to design an innovative electric-powered car of the future.

RCA students were tasked with designing the electric vehicle of 2032, using the packaging advantages of an electric motor to move way from the lookalike styling of many modern-day passenger cars. The judges' only condition was that the concepts should be capable of accommodating four adults and their luggage.

The electric motors that power Vlcek's entry are inside the wheels and the tail lights are mounted on aerodynamic vanes that also help improve the car's stability. Instead of traditional doors, Vlcek's design has hinges at the nose to allow the occupant to enter from the rear.

CREATIVE TALENT

Also highly commended was an entry from Israel-born Nir Siegel. His design was for a quirky little city car, with the driver in the centre of the cabin for maximum visibility and an unusual diamond-pattern seating arrangement.

Graeme Carver of Motorexpo commented: “The creative talent displayed in this competition is a credit to the RCA and to the students themselves - I have no doubt we will be seeing some of their designs made real at future Motorexpo shows.

11-17 JUNE

The London Motorexpo differs from traditional motor shows in that it's free - no tickets and no queues! - and visitors can sit in most of the more than 250 models on show, including many of the latest electric and hybrid models, and even drive some of them on a test route around the Canary Wharf leisure district.

Organisers are expecting a record 425 000 visitors to this year's show, which will be open at Canary Wharf from 10am to 6pm from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 June and from 11am to 5pm on Sunday 17 June.

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