Wheels of the Future
Words Andy Leuterio

In the future, automobiles will look nothing like what you're driving now. In fact, it will not look like anything you imagine unless you're familiar with those depicted in sci-fi flicks like Minority Report, I, Robot or the classic Blade Runner. If the rapid advancement of communication technology continues unabated, we may see a synergy of automotive and information-communication technology in cars several generations from now.

At the Design Challenge Youthmobile 2030 of the 2009 LA Auto Show, manufacturers' design studios-the dream makers of the big-name brands-presented their takes on what 16- to 23-year-old drivers want from their cars 20 years from now. Here's what they envision.

Nissan V2G [UNLMTD]

Today, your iPhone is a platform for thousands of personalized apps. Twenty years from now, a Nissan might be the automotive version of just that with the V2G [UNLMTD]. Designed on the premise that vehicles will be running on an electric grid, the V2G is a low-cost electric vehicle featuring dynamic styling and quality construction, and whose basic, pod-like shape is but a starting point for personalized, "off-grid" styling statements. The one-passenger, six-wheeled V2G would have the four front wheels in removable, pontoon-like fenders, while the two rear wheels would be positioned in a V-shape for nimble handling. What color would you like your V2G to have? Changing it would be remarkably easy as you can modify the "skins" to suit your tastes.

Audi eSpira & eOra

If the digital future will inevitably lead to automated vehicles, Audi believes that the challenge is to make autonomous driving as engaging as possible. Staying true to its philosophy of "Vorsprung durch Technik," the eSpira and eOra are two vehicle concepts that embody a minimalist, yet exciting approach to motoring.

The eSpira (for Aspiration) is meant to function as an extension of the driver's body and senses, hence the depiction of a lightweight, compact chassis with exposed wheels (Formula One style), and a low center of gravity almost like a go-kart's. The teardrop-shaped body mimics a fighter plane's, complete with a clamshell-type canopy. Using next-generation vehicle control logic, the eSpira would be "wired" to the driver, translating even the smallest body movements and gestures into actual commands for the steering and drivetrain.

The eOra (Essence), on the other hand, is the future "sport" vehicle. Extremely dynamic and efficient, it would have a small footprint and unmatched agility as the driver is perched atop the compact, nearly square chassis whose exposed wheels are pushed out to the edges to maximize handling dynamics. Similarly "wired" to the driver, the eOra would carve the roadscape with the precision and agility of a downhill skier, leaning into turns for maximum adhesion and hunkering low for reduced aerodynamic drag.

GM Car Hero

Why not turn your car into a game? That's what GM is proposing with the Car Hero, an automobile that turns the science and art of driving into a game. The Car Hero would ostensibly be an autonomous vehicle. If you want to take control, you'll have to "play" the car like a game by taking on the driving challenges in a progressive manner, "unlocking" the vehicle control features until you're in complete control.

As you improve your skill and mastery of the game, sorry, the car, its "transmorphable" architecture turns up the intensity by becoming more challenging to drive. From a four-wheeled vehicle, it morphs into three, then two, and then a single-wheeled vehicle. Your talent will determine how radical your car develops.

A P2P app like "Friends Drive" would let you bring buddies along for a digital joyride, while "Fantasy Drive" would let you experience the thrills of racing in Formula One Thousand while stuck in a real-world traffic jam.

Honda Helix

What if your Honda had your DNA? The Helix would couple your genetic code with advanced adaptive polymers to change its shape, color, and even material properties to become an extension of you. It would evolve with you throughout your life, becoming more attuned to your needs over time.

Like DNA, the Helix would have three major, distinct conformations: A, B, and Z. "A" would be an urban runabout, compact and zippy, allowing you to navigate the chaos of city streets. "B" would be long and low for larger, less congested areas that allow high-speed travel. "Z" would be for ultra-congested areas, seating occupants vertically on two levels to provide the most volume in the least amount of space.

The Helix would use flexible and transforming multi-functional parts, adapting and reacting to specific environments and traffic patterns by changing the orientation of its main capsule for optimal environmental operation and user functionality. Bio-receptors would then allow the Helix to make microadjustments for the user, meeting his exact demands.

Honda Helix

What if your Honda had your DNA? The Helix would couple your genetic code with advanced adaptive polymers to change its shape, color, and even material properties to become an extension of you. It would evolve with you throughout your life, becoming more attuned to your needs over time.

Like DNA, the Helix would have three major, distinct conformations: A, B, and Z. "A" would be an urban runabout, compact and zippy, allowing you to navigate the chaos of city streets. "B" would be long and low for larger, less congested areas that allow high-speed travel. "Z" would be for ultra-congested areas, seating occupants vertically on two levels to provide the most volume in the least amount of space.

The Helix would use flexible and transforming multi-functional parts, adapting and reacting to specific environments and traffic patterns by changing the orientation of its main capsule for optimal environmental operation and user functionality. Bio-receptors would then allow the Helix to make microadjustments for the user, meeting his exact demands.

Toyota LINK

Aimed at college students, the Toyota LINK is an affordable, customizable, mass transit vehicle for students with high social networking demands and continuously evolving preferences. Shaped like a cocoon, the LINK could be picked up at various hubs and, once occupied, digitally link the driver onto a transportation social network. Electro-fiber technology would be used to download "LINK SKINZ" and digitally transform the vehicle's exterior design. Spheres made of an electro-conductive material would take the place of traditional wheels, converting friction into energy.