It's been a few years since the first modern-era electric cars started to become available to the masses, and even though they haven't exactly set the market on fire, they're slowly gaining pace in the automotive marketplace.
Over the next few years, we're going to see many new battery-powered models going on sale, be that with pure electric drivetrains like the BMW i3 or EV's with a range extender such as the Cadillac ELR Coupe.
Along with carmakers, automotive designers are also preparing for the things to come. Erik Sætre, a Norwegian Industrial design-engineering student who is currently doing an exchange year at the UK's Coventry University, sent CarScoop a concept study he created for an all-electric Volkswagen four-door coupe named the Ayoreo.
"The Volkswagen Ayoreo is a coupe designed to enter the EV market in 2013," Sætre tells us. "The goal was to achieve a fairly simple and clean surface language with incorporated industrial elements, like its rear view cameras. A more affordable option than the Tesla S, but hopefully a more appealing one then the Nissan Leaf."
Sætre imagined the five-seater model with four in-wheel electric motors producing a total of 240-horsepower.
For more pictures of the VW concept, scroll down for the photo gallery.
Design Credits and thanks go to Erik Sætre
15 Comments:
Erik should learn a thing or two about aerodynamics before "designing" cars.
I hope he didn't quit his day job...if he has one
First Peugeot, now VW, I love the retro throwback to 80's influences, this kid has a bright career ahead of him at a tier-1 luxury brand!
I'd like to see "J" and "europeon" design their own cars so we can see their genius abilities. This car is beautiful and better than almost everything on the roads today. A few tweaks here and there will make it perfect.
the word, "oreo" is in it--like the dark cookie.
I will never design cars because I know I have no talent, but as a consumer, car enthusiast and engineer I can express my views about others' work, especially when there are plenty of good designers (that have basic design and aerodynamics knowledge) out there.
I know not everyone nails it first time, but making such mistakes as designing a truck-like front end for an electric (which is equivalent to efficient) car then slapping rear view cameras (which basically have no other purpose than improving aerodynamics), imo make it equivalent to this:
http://imageshack.us/a/img268/8163/20121128171931.jpg
And what's with the name? VW passenger cars have wind names, unlike their SUVs
Oh yeah... praising your own work kinda sucks :)
Its basically a Jaguar XJ with different ends and an almost impossible to build roof and door arrangement.
Cosmetic design is a matter of taste, good design deals with reality.
How does the designer propose to make the rear doors open with nothing to hang them off, where is the massive battery that's going to drive those 4 engines and carry 5 adults?
A few tweak my ar*e!! Wish my parents had the dollars to send me to Coventry University, seems like that's the only criteria for entry.
"Simply a Alfa SZ with a VW badge on it." was my first thought.
How much is "more affordable"?
The Volt which probably has a much longer range with the gas generator was $40,000 and didn't sell that great. Clearly looks aren't an issue if the Prius sells as well as it does.
Not going to be more affordable at all, you're sacrificing price along with amenties and range. The Tesla is more sensible as it takes from previous models and makes it cheaper. The Model S is also more than a car - it brings the Supercharger network and full-scale production to Tesla. Tesla's next model, (after the Model X) will be a mass market car that's coming out in - yeup - the next few years. So, yeah.
It reminds me of the BMW M1 Concept and if you change the badges it might even pass as a BMW with those headlights !. It lacks identity ..
sorry to burst your bubble, but when you are designing a car, or anything for that matter, you must never factor in practicality or aerodynamics, it would just ruin your overall design..
I think it looks nice. People commenting here are too harsh.
The term "Design Language" is overused. Need to come up with a new term that gets overused!
Before anyone else starts hating on this model, they should know this is second year student... still with 2 more years left of study at the top university in the world for his course. Try doing this yourself and see how hard it is!!
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