Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everybody! Let your dreams take off! ;)

Semog Hawk - winner of the 3rd ADP Design Challenge

My Semog Hawk has won 1st prize in the 3rd ADP Design Challenge, in partnership with Semog, a top class portuguese manufacturer of kartcross and other racing vehicles.

 

The new Semog kartcross was inspired by the Hawk - light, agile, but powerful and agressive at the same time. The "wings" that stretch along the body of the Semog Hawk are the main feature that separate the lower from the upper section, lending lightness and visual dynamics to the design, simulating the flight of the bird of prey.

The air intakes, on the sides and on top, also add movement and horizontal tendency to the whole.

The Semog Hawk has a door that includes a section of the body to ease pilot ingress/egress. It also comes with a rear wing for better aerodynamic performance.

A big Thank You to Semog and ADP, who made this competition possible by coming together with a great theme!

Semog Hawk - You can run, but you cannot hide!

This whole project, as stated in the competition rules, is property of Semog.

ATS Chromeface

Here is my entry for the Unico Esemplare ATS competition!

 

The new ATS is the ATS Chromeface.

Some photos of the original ATS, the Sportcoupe

Deeply inspired by the original Sportcoupe, the ATS genes of the Chromeface are shown through the use of a chrome front mask integrating the headlights as a reminder of the original chrome bumper, which also gives the car its name, Chromeface.

Also the shoulder line, with its slope towards the rear, along with the rear wheelarch and the side air intake, defines the body of the ATS Chromeface, in a unified, coherent gesture - aggressive, powerful, yet elegant.

The rear is a slice in the body, inspired by the ATS' rear, designed to provide good aerodynamic behaviour. A rear spoiler can be fitted connecting the two 'fins' that stretch towards the rear.

The top also reveals lines of the Sportcoupe, such as the d.l.o. and the rear window.

The headlights are from the Renault Fluence and the taillights are from the Fiat Coupe, rearranged to a different position. The wheels are the 19" BBS model CH.

The Chromeface has a rear diffuser for extra downforce and stability as a standard feature, with an integrated exhaust at the centre.

The interior is inspired by a black / metal theme, with a horizontal tension. The dashboard integrates 3 circular meters, speedometer, rev-counter and temperature/fuel levels. The central console has a touchscreen display for all commands and information about the car. The steering wheel is a Momo Millenium, because of its three chrome spokes, just like the ATS Sportcoupe.

A new experience with a powerful sense of history.

Yet another teaser....

coming soon..... ;)

Dassault Systemes TAXI Prague design challenge

A Taxi is no ordinary car; it is a vehicle with the sole purpose of transporting complete strangers from A to B, in exchange for a fee.

Though this definition may seem too simple, it gains in depth the moment we contextualize it: in Prague (as well as in lots of other popular cities), taxi users are not just strangers, they are either tourists or residents.

And suddenly it is not just about the destination; the journey also becomes an important part of the experience, not only for the tourist, eager to absorb everything the city has to offer, but also for the resident, is his daily routine, often disconnected from the highlights of his own environment.

It is usually through the windows of a Taxi car that tourists have their first impressions of the city they are visiting; it provides the tourist a chance for connection and the resident the opportunity to reconnect. This adds a greater responsibility to the Taxi in the city experience.

Because of its specific use, the new Taxi Prague is an asymmetrical car. Its shape is inspired by the classic Horse-drawn Carriages as a link to Prague’s flourishing ages. The large window on the right side and its low door define this link.

Though connected to classical roots, the general look of the car is intended to be trendy, yet friendly and professional. The shape of the lights gives the Taxi an air of friendliness while the asymmetry adds dynamism to the whole.

Even though the design has a two-tone asymmetrical body, the overall shape is symmetrical and so it does not compromise the aerodynamic behaviour.

With a capacity of 4 passenger seats, passenger ingress is made only through the right side – which is the natural side of approach – while driver ingress is made through the left side. The driver is completely separated from the passengers via a glass window.

The luggage compartment, which is located in the rear, can be accessed opening the door that is divided into two sections: one opens upwards and the other downwards, so that a large opening is achieved without using a large, and bulky and cumbersome, door. The compartment can be divided vertically into small spaces with shelves that can be pulled from the wall.

On the right side, the large window provides a good view of the sidewalk; on the left side, the view is enhanced by the large window and glazed roof. This way, passengers can have a full experience of the city.

Inside, passengers can use a touchscreen display to either see publicity or info about the city; they can search for Hotels, Restaurants, Museums, Cultural Guide and so on. Also available would be relevant resident-oriented information such as Pharmacy Directory, Authority contacts, online newspapers for checking the news on the go.

In the end of the journey, payment can be made by cash or card following the instructions on the display and using the card and bills inlet located beside the screen to make the payment.

The materials used are recycled plastics, on the body as well as in the interior. This Taxi uses an electric engine with batteries that can be recharged during vehicle movement and braking, or in the Taxi stations through an inlet located in the front (the small yellow taxi object near the bumper).

All these functionalities, together with the dynamic and distinctive aesthetics and the comfort of an electric car contribute to a unique experience of Prague.

I am very happy to know that my project was among the 25 finalists, as it appears in the jury meeting photos and video!

Leon2049 art

Here's an improved render of my Seat Leon2049, of one I had done during my Seat internship. Enjoy. :)

teaser

 
A new project. Stay tuned!! ;)

R4 2.0 - Renault 4ever designboom competition entry

R4 2.0 - my Renault 4ever designboom competition entry.

The R4 2.0 was inspired by the original Renault 4, not just in design, but also in the versatility. Its main concept lines were reinterpreted in the new body design: the side line was kept as a continuous gesture harmonized with the solid parts of the body.

The new R4 2.0 body has a modular function - the rear can be changed to achieve optimum efficiency in production and vehicle use. One body can be used in several modes according to owner's needs.

In order to recharge its electric motors, charging stations with elevating charge pads are placed on the parking spaces so that when the R4 parks, the pad elevates to touch the receiver located in the chassis to begin charge - no cables or plugs are necessary.

The interior was also inspired by the original Renault 4 dashboard, designed as a single horizontal element. There is a fully tactile touchscreen display that can be customized according to drivers preferences. The steering wheel can be assigned to either front seat so that changing driver can be easily done, and the dashboard display inverts when new driver place is assigned.

The Rearview Merger Display located on top of the dashboard shows the images of the 3 cameras (two on the sides of the body and one in the rear window) in a single image.

FactoryFive Project 818

I am happy to share my Project for the Factory Five Design Competition with you!

The concept follows the idea of a "cover" or "protection" for a very powerful and agressive creature -- like an armour designed to conceal the power coiled inside.

Consequently, the main feature of the car is the two-tone body - glossy finish on top and matte plastic on the base. While the white body tends to have a minimalistic design, the dark plastic has strong, elaborate lines that add aggressiveness to the whole - for example, the front spoiler and the side air intakes. These features let the observer guess the real power of the beast.

The very straight lines of the white body in the rear add better aerodynamic performace.

The top can be removed as an option.

 This design is property of FactoryFive, as stated in the Competition Rules.

UMM Attack in Autohoje TT&Aventura magazine

I am very proud to tell you that my UMM Attack was published in the edition no. 17 of Autohoje TT&Aventura magazine.

Not only inside, but also on the cover, beside its "grandfather", the UMM Cournil.

Thank you, Auto-hoje!
;)

UMM Attack

 

UMM Alter II (in wikipedia)

 The theme of the 2nd ADP Challenge was to restyle one of the legendary portuguese cars - the UMM, a very successful off-road utility vehicle. The first model came out in 1977 and was redesigned in 1985 - the UMM Alter (see picture on the left).
Although production stopped in 1996, it was not only used by private costumers but also for military purposes.
In 2000 a new redesign was attempted. Three prototypes were made, but due to internal problems, the model never made it to the market.
It is estimated that more than 10000 units were produced and the UMM is widely used in off-road practice today.

The new UMM Attack is born of passion for off-roading and for the notability of the its predecessor, the UMM Alter.
Using molded parts rather than bent steel panels, the Attack keeps the genes of the whole UMM family in its design and spirit. These are evident in unmistakable features as well as less obvious details - an off-road vehicle that actively tackles the challenges ahead.

The design of the UMM Attack is consequence of the brand's DNA. The angular-shaped hood of the Alter served as a key-feature for the body, through a chamfer on the whole length, along with the trapezoid-shaped front. All in a unified gesture deeply inspired by the Alter.
On the front, the air intake is integrated in the headlight design, leaving the rest in matte painted metal.
The chamfer end in the rear frames the tail gate, which is made with carbon-fiber. In it one can recognize the vertical windows of the Alter.

Keeping the UMM spirit alive means designing a vehicle capable of pure off-roading. The UMM Attack comes equipped with a 9500 lbs winch and two Snorkels integrated in the A-Pillar, because the best defense is a good offense.

ADP is Automotive Design Portugal. It was founded in 2010 to bring together all portuguese car design enthusiasts, students and professionals.
Learn all about ADP and other projects for this challenge here.