DIY Amphibious Bicycle Made from Recycled Water Gallons
Li Jin has designed this ingenious human-powered bicycle, with which she rides on the water in Wuhan of Hubei Province in China.
2009 Gullwing-America 300 SL Panamericana
Arturo Alonso and his company Gullwing America are working on the ‘rebirth’ of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. Known as the 2009 300 SL Panamericana, the model is based on a reproduction made by Gullwing AG – who produces the closest model you can get to the real 300 SL.
F1 Drivers Line Up for Virgin Galactic Space Flight
Sponsoring the winning Brawn GP car at this past weekend’s race in Bahrain, Virgin Galactic announced their two latest recruits: Rubens Barrichello and Niki Lauda. Barrichello, who is second in the standings for the F1 world championship this year, has already paid the $200,000 for his ticket on one of Virgin’s space flights, which Branson delivered in person at the race. Three-time world champion Niki Lauda, however, is planning to take it even further by undertaking training, at age 60, to pilot the Virgin spacecraft and take other paying tourists up into space. Lauda already owns his own airline and sometimes pilots the flights himself, but even for the driver who’s been to hell and back, this should be a new adventure altogether.
Via [Luxist]
Daimler Unveils Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Roadster With Hybrid Drive
Mercedes-Benz has been toying with alternative-energy prototype vehicles for awhile now, the obviously conceptual F-CELL Roadster hearkens back to M-B vehicles of old, though the engine is far from retro.
Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is (theoretically, at least) powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. We’re told that it could reach an enviable top speed of 15.5mph, and the 217 mile operating range definitely has us salivating. Frankly, this one’s all about the design, and we can’t implore you enough to give the read link a visit for lots more high-res action.
e’mo by Stauffacherbenz
e’mo is a lightweight electric vehicle for town and local traffic, of a completely new design. Its name stands equally for electric motion and for efficient mobility. Its very low ready-for-the-road weight of only 325 kg, e’mo is very energy-efficient and thus extremely inexpensive to run. With the top folded down in summer it’s a pure joy to drive, but with the fabric top up there’s no problem even on the wettest days. Whether on the way to work, doing the shopping or for a short trip to the countryside, e’mo has room enough for most everyday needs. The cheeky little e’mo is very practical, and gives a novel feeling of carefree mobility.
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Tramspiral by Rodolfo Ciudad Witzel
Tramspiral is a very interesting tram design by designer Rodolfo Ciudad Witzel from Barcelona, Spain.
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“Suite Above the Clouds” by Swiss Air
Starting this spring, SWISS will gradually introduce a new First Class cabin in conjunction with its fleet renewal program. The focal point is the new SWISS First Seat offering exclusive design, top in-flight comfort, and extensive privacy plus it can be individually adjusted to meet individual wishes and needs. The new “suite above the clouds” marks a further milestone in SWISS’ ongoing quality drive.
The Bulldog Skis
The Bulldog Skis is a pair of skis that within 30 seconds or less you could ski or snowboard with using the same boots and skis.
The Skeeter is just the front part of the scooter your normal Bulldog skis are the rest with the ability to change in less than 2 minutes anywhere on the mountain.
This Skeeter comes in a light weight backpack that you carry around and allows the user to change at any time anywhere.
ArcheToys designed by Floris Hovers
Floris Hovers presented a range of handmade metal toy vehicles called Arche Toys during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven last month. Dutch designer Florish Hovers has produced some of the best looking toy cars I have ever seen.
The idea developed from a design commission which Floris has put upon himself in order to find the answer to an important question keeping him occupied: Why do grown-ups still have the desire to play with toys?
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First Prize for New London Bus Design Win by Foster & Partners with Aston Martin
The joint submission by Foster & Partners and Aston Martin has won first prize, alongside Capoco Design, in Transport for London’s competition to design a new bus for the capital. The two iconic British brands worked together to challenge preconceptions of bus design with a vehicle that is environmentally sensitive, accessible, convivial and reinvents a much-loved symbol of London for the modern era.
The winning designs make imaginative use of hybrid-drive technology, lightweight materials and a wealth of fresh engineering ideas. The designs pay homage to the well-known shape of the Routemaster, a particularly fine city bus that defied fashion and changes in the ownership and control of London’s buses.
Sentori 58R Flybridge Motor Yacht by Christian Gumpold & Christopher Gloning
Designers Christian Gumpold and Christopher Gloning are the masterminds of the sleek, fast, and luxurious Sentori 58R Flybridge Motor Yacht.
The exterior design is aerodynamically strong as it is in all the sports cars, so one can say that it’s the designer among yacht.
At the interior, there are different levels interconnected by stairs, several rooms including a guest room which can be linked with the state room, but you can also turn it into an office if you’re not planning to have any guests. Well, we don’t know when this concept will be available or even if it’s ever going to be built. One thing is for sure, the Sentori 58R will cost you a lot.
Slegoon by Spike Reid
The Slegoon is the next extreme invented by Spike Reid. He won the first prize in the UK IOM3 Design Innovation in Plastics competition.
Be sure to pick a colour you like, because you could be living in it for a while.
Like, because, you’ll be dead and it’s your coffin! I want somebody beside me when I do it! I want to bounce around, then continue down the hill upside down…
Hybrid Yacht Using Solar, Diesel and Electric Power
Pilot LLC have unveiled the first ever hybrid luxury yacht dubbed the Island Pilot DSe Hybrid 12m. The 40-ft yacht combines the benefits of solar, electric and diesel power.
The Hybrid can travel at 6 knots running only on solar power and 13 knots with the addition of diesel. Of course, the yacht doesn’t come cheap—plan on shelling out $600,000 if you want one.
Terrafugia Redefines the Flying Car
The “Transition” is a Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) designed to make general aviation more practical for personal transportation.
The Pathfinder, an Eco-Friendly Amphibian
The Pathfinder is an amphibian vehicle that runs on alternative fuel. The thought of an eco-friendly amphibian is very dreamy, but the knowledge of a conceptual vehicle with the exact same benefit is without a doubt very exhilarating.
Traveling across seven seas can be more eco-friendly and fun without resorting to fuel-guzzling aircrafts or ships, if only Pathfinder finds its way to the production stage soon. The designer, has fantasized about an amphibian vehicle that seems to be an ideal solution for traveling across the globe in the future. This car and sailing water vessel is at ease on concrete roads as well as on blue waters. The moment you get bitten by a travel bug, just step on the Pathfinder and drive till you reach land’s end. Then simply shift in the sailing mode and cruise away to glory. Another prime feature of this futuristic two-in-one vehicle is that it is 100% eco-friendly.
AirKick® Water
The AirKick® Water is a water powered catapult for people. The passenger sits in the AirKick and then presses a button when they are ready to fly. 60 liters of water are then forced through a rocket nozzle under the seat which will launch people distances as far as 26 feet.
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The Greenbird Wind-Powered Vehicle
Nine years ago on March 20th 1999, Bob Schumacher set the wind powered land-speed record in a boat called the Iron Duck, “sailing” at blistering pace of 116.7 mph. This August / September, Dale Vince (Ecotricity Founder & MD) and engineer Richard Jenkins (founder/designer/engineer of the Windjet Project), hope to catch the right breeze and make history in their sleek wind-powered vehicle, the Greenbird.
