Automotive X-Prize: "The Very Light Car" (also very aero) with conventional engine

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a new image of the VLC v4.0:

[jamesqf]

Not bad, except still too much effing glass. Are they trying to build a car, or a solar oven?

[Flakbadger]

I think it's gorgeous, and were it to go into production, I'm sure they'd tone down the extraneous glass.

[HydroJim]

On the new design, the front wheel pods don't move with the wheel correct? i believe the whole front body pieces are stationary for crash protection reasons.

[freebeard]

I believe your belief is quite ... [sorry can't do it]

It appears to be skirted on the inside and open on the outside.

Colani used one fender for both front wheels. that appears to pivot around the driver ears:

[HydroJim]

what do you mean? I was under the impression that the reason they went to an open wheel well on the new vlc was so that they could have stationary wheel pods for safety compliance. and having the wheel open allows people to customize their car more which is a selling point.

Am I wrong about this? it seems like making body work that moves is a lot more complicated which adds cost.

[Frank Lee]

It doesn't make me swoon with lust but if it's functional I could live with it.

[sheepdog 44]

I love it! My only objection is the headlights. It has the four-eyed (now 6) look of the 1st and 2nd gen prius models but more shrewlike. The headlights of the newer model prius as comparison gives it a better character. It needs to be sportier. Maybe vertical style headlights on the wheel pods? I don't think it's found its face yet...

At least with all that glass the visibility must be great.

[HydroJim]

Honestly, the glass is not much more than a regular car. its simply an illusion. and I believe lights in the wheel pods would be great. provided that they are stationary with the body like I believe them to be.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by HydroJim

what do you mean?

The missing word was ... 'believable'.

As for safety, in <<wwwDOTyoutube.comSLASHwatch?v=06wY7jGu1O0>> Green@Google: Oliver Kuttner he talks about the value of break-away suspension around a diamond shaped body. It needn't be much more complicated than the I-beam axle and split radius rods on an old Ford street rod.

My thought was really about needing the wheel cutout on the inside too.

BMW is proposing pixelated photo-chromic glass that would have a little cloud float around the windshield to shield your eyes, so a tintable top isn't too radical.