SEMA's good, the bad and the ugly II

By Phil McNamara

Motor Shows

01 November 2007 12:26

Alpine R-class

Believe me, that is an R-class. Hidden away in the depths of the wheels and tyres hall lurked this mutated MPV, slammed on 30-inch wheels. Surrounded by the DUB editorial team, the project car attracted manic attention - presumably because it was the biggest freak at SEMA 2007. The work of electronics firm Alpine, this R-class is a two-door, with the figure of eight-shaped apertures spinning open to allow access. There's a similar trick at the rear (see next page), where the massive three pointed star rolls outwards like a drawer, revealing a cylindrical stack of Alpine amps. If Picasso had done modified cars, this is something he might have created.

They certainly know about it. That's because Volvo's Steve Mattin, the guy who led the R-class design team, tipped off CAR about the project, having already texted a picture to his former colleagues. 'I told them I didn't think much of the facelift,' quipped the British designer.

By Phil McNamara