Mazda Proves it KAAN Win the LA Design Challenge

Mazda certainly is becoming a style leader, leaving an era of ultra-bland designs so far in the wake of its trendsetting

family of athletically-minded hard-bodies that they'll eventually forever be forgotten. Its newest creation, however, most definitely won't make it to center stage on its dealer showroom floors, although center stage at the LA Design Challenge is pretty good just the same.

The KAAN concept offers a unique take on the future, more frivolous fancy than anything remotely practical, at least until our local governments start integrating sub-level electro-conductive polymer sheets under the pavement that currently supports our automotive infrastructure. Not unlike an electric train getting power from its rails (not the usual way but it has been done), the KAAN would pull power from the electrified roadway through its electronically modified tires. An interesting idea for a low-speed, A-B commuter car, right?

True,

but this isn't what its design and engineering team had in mind. In theory, at least, the KAAN can travel up to 250 mph by forming an Indy Car-like train of thirty KAANs in a row, electronically guided to be ideally spaced apart and therefore creating a wind-cheating slipstream.

The drafting concept and open-wheel performance-oriented look of the car was not by accident, as the competitors were asked to depict motorsport come 2025. A good idea, considering that the even top levels of motorsport are under threat due to environmental concerns, not to mention the challenge of attracting sponsors in such a tumultuous economy.

The KAAN took the award because it represented “the most innovative and artistic design,”

said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles, adding that the concept “ultimately brought unique styling back to motorsports.”

The other designs were unique too, some seemingly more radical in concept and execution than Mazda's entry. Honda's “The Great Race 2025” looks more like something Anakin Skywalker's bug-eyed pod racing nemesis Sebulba would create than anything that Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis would pilot in the 1965 action film by the same name that depicted the 1908 event involving 17 daring men gambling their lives in "toughest race ever devised." The “Great Race”, as it was called, spanned some six months and more than 22,000 miles through three continents. Honda's creation appears too delicate to last the first mile, but it's a fanciful feast for the eyes nevertheless, and fortunately looks nothing like its ill-fated Formula 1 car. In the Great Race 2025, contestants don't get quite as much time to finish their global assault (attention spans are much shorter 117 years later, it seems), the entire global circumnavigation by land through the US, sea through Asia and air over Europe, needing to be completed in just 24 hours. Honda takes advantage

of its automotive, marine, aeronautical and robotic leadership (amongst car manufacturers anyway) to develop sonar/echolocation sensors to detect changes in velocity, terrain and altitude and therefore modify its course.

Audi's R25, on the other hand, looks almost too realistic to be considered real. An evolution of its TDI-powered R10 sports car, it might be the prettiest of the bunch. It sports some advanced aerodynamics not currently allowed, such as channels within the bodywork, drive upside down through special tubular race courses (this we'd like to see). At the top of each tunnel and on the banks of curves, wireless electrical charging zones add power (sound like a video game yet?), thus encouraging future Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensens to gather up free “green” energy rather than stop in the pits. The R25 features new Dynamic Space Frame technology for increased rigidity and a more flexible race setup, algae bio fuel in the main engine complemented by an electric motor featuring wireless power transfer, and (get this) active micro-control surfaces to optimize airflow during the race. The driver would

get all of his/her data output via the helmet visor; fed by vehicle dynamic sensors around the car and integrated on-board HD cameras with real-time data links for spectator interaction. No doubt ALMS would get a stronger following if fans could virtually climb into the car and experience the race through virtual reality booths. Bring it on, Audi!

Audi rival (although not on the track) BMW has its own idea for a 2025 racer, although this one looks more retro than future-think. The “Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer” follows the concept of reuse rather than recycle, and therefore the retro look is quite real. Boring maybe, unless you're a classic motorsport fan, the concept makes use of existing technologies and components, but not for cars. Rather its racer is made up of old oil barrels and barbeque lids, while

the wheels and tires are made of gel-nylon and airless, re-vulcanized rubber respectively. Strange, but creative, BMW seems to believe the future will be more Mad Max than Jetsons.

GM was the only manufacturer to promote an upcoming product by integrating the “Volt” name into its Chaparral Volt, although they get special points for honoring the Chaparral name with their take on a 2025 racer. With an almost conventional looking mix of post Indy car and land speed record runner, the Chaparral Volt utilizes advanced EREV propulsion, which is an energy collection, generation and management system designed to enter eco-triathlons, a new form of motorsport. Like a Maurice White “Fantasy”, the Chaparral Volt actually collects its own fuel on the fly via earth, wind and fire. Earth in mind,

the car uses geologic gravity, momentum-capture regeneration and aero-thermal resistance for power and braking, and via wind, like the legendary Chaparral 2J, turbine extractors cool the power cell, add downforce and assist in braking via reverse thrust. Lastly the car uses radiant sunlight, or fire, through PV panels for primary power.

Mitsubishi, a brand with motorsport in its DNA, used its Paris-Dakar and WRC off-road experience to come up with the multi-terrain, omnidirectional MMR25. With eight wheels integrating eight separately-controlled electric motors, the car can be driven “forward” no matter which way it's pointing. The unique car features Oblique Aerodynamics to reduce wind resistance, with a Memory Metal Alloy pneumatically actuated center wing and front and rear spoilers

that do double duty as suspension blades for controlling stiffness and ride height. Maybe Mitsubishi is considering entering F1 after all.

Ultimate future think, as in there's no more oil in the world and nothing else has been formulated to replace it, Mercedes-Benz created the Formula Zero Racer. It combines the look of a classic Formula One car, technology that it's well versed in thanks to its McLaren racing team, with what looks more like an ice sailing “boat” than anything else. The Stuttgart-based company is actually paying homage to its 1930s racing heritage, although its wheel-hub mounted electric motors, aerodynamically efficient solar sin and rigid sale are anything but retro. The idea of the series is that each team would be given the same amount of stored energy, leaving it up to the drivers and teams to best opponents and conditions for victory. Sounds exciting, doesn't it? Not really, but the transparent track allowing fans a three dimensional view of the goings on, even from underneath, sounds more involving than close circuit monitors

and the occasional glimpse of a car rocketing past at 200 mph... or for that matter a bunch of overtly decaled grocery getters going around in circles.

Toyota's Lemans Racer looks more like a cross between a scarab beetle and scorpion; certainly insect-like at the very least. Photovoltaic panels and hydrogen fuel cells means this futuristic is more like a cockroach, however, in that it can't, or at least doesn't need to stop to refuel. With a High Speed Mode and Cornering Mode, the Le Mans racer can reach a top speed of 350 mph via a narrower body and wheels for less drag, and wider body with expanded wheels for greater lateral stability, respectively. The driving environment is 100-percent digital, allowing for perfect visibility via virtual reality displace no matter the weather conditions. Computer trajectory plotting adds to the car's control factor, while collision avoidance technology plus a robot for a copilot to manage on-board systems and ongoing repairs makes sure the future Toyota will finish the race – something it hasn't had too much trouble doing this year in F1.

Finally,

Volkswagen's “Bio Runner” might only be interesting to you if you happen to be a fan of lunar landings. Yes, it's odd and in this respect rather retrospective, but the rules of its race have merit. Each team gets a single driver and one ten-gallon tank of fuel, making technology, strategy, and street smarts the deciding factors for victory. Volkswagen's entry features a motorcycle driving position amid an exo-skeletal protective cage. Controls, actuated by hands and feet, are actuated by a synthetic muscle-based suspension for absolute control all the time. Driver, or rider, leans into each turn as if riding a motorcycle, while a set of twin-turbines propel the machine at revs to make a Formula one car blush in embarrassment. Try 500,000 rpm compared to 19,000, although the patented bio-synthetic jet fuel probably gives it a little more boost than mere high-octane gasoline. In addition to the driving car, the Bio Runner features an Arial Reconnaissance Drone (AR-D) as an extra “eye”, probing ahead and around corners with poor visibility to avoid potential accident. A support team helicopter follows along to do repairs if needed, or if a danger is noted by the in-flight crew the car can be remotely overridden and steered out of danger.

While some of these future racers sound exciting and others destined to ruin motorsport forever, the ingenuity behind these designs say a great deal about the companies that dreamt them up.