Michelin Challenge Design 2009 preview

Michelin is continuing to profile the work of some of the leading contenders for its annual Michelin Challenge Design competition, which asks the design community to come up with proposals for "America's Next Iconic Vehicle". All 11 of the scale models and 24 two-dimensional drawings in the running will be exhibited at the 2009 NAIAS in January. Earlier this month, we featured three of these scale models following their selection by a jury of top automotive designers. This week we look at three more that have been singled out for consideration.

The first of these is a wild-looking supercar called the "Frem F1", created by 26-year-old, Beirut-born designer David Roger Frem, who is currently an architect at PMD, part of the Indevco Group. Having built a 1:4 scale model of the car for his senior project at AUST (American University of Science and Technology), Frem secured financial support from Indevco group and AUST and spent the three years following graduation making a full-scale version. The resulting Frem F1 prototype is the first Lebanese-designed vehicle ever.

The lines of the Frem prototype are aerodynamically sculpted, with a panoramic glass roof equipped with four high-resolution cameras to enhance visibility around the vehicle. The body is made of carbon fiber and has an aluminum chassis for reduced weight and subsequently more speed.

Another potential winner is Eric Seung Hun Beak's PDD concept - an innovative single-seat, semi-private vehicle system designed for Metro Los Angeles in 2015. Beak was born in Korea and is currently majoring in transportation design at Art Center College of Design.

With the PDD (pickup-drive-drop) system, people can expect on-time traveling in one of the busiest cities in the world. Whenever a vehicle is needed, users simply go to their closest cell-mobile-stack, pick up the vehicle and drive it to their final destination. When it's served its purpose, the user then returns the vehicle to the closest stack - like a shopping cart. This system will be operated by the city but driven by each user.

The judges also singled out 33-year-old Haishan Deng's Crosswind concept. Since gaining master's degree in transportation design from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (GAFA) 20 years ago, Deng has designed approximately 50 products for various companies in different countries, and is now teaching transportation design at GAFA.

The Crosswind sports car concept is emphasized by a series of impressive slanting air inlets, which break the rule of normal symmetrical appearance. This design is formed by an unambiguous and bold figure expressing the spirit of freedom, self-confidence and braveness - the cornerstones of American car design.

The floating cockpit, meanwhile - complete with a transparent floor that simulates the sensation of flying - is supported by hydraulic arms and has two modes: sportive and comfort.

Complete information on Michelin Challenge Design is available at: www.michelinchallengedesign.com

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