Hasta La Ideas

The GIF you see above isn’t CGI, it’s a Lamborghini wrapped in holographic vinyl film. Not many of us can relate to the problem of our Gallardo not being flashy enough, but then most of us don’t earn our livings on the wrong side of the law in Tokyo.

The GIF (kindly extracted by this gent) is from the following video, shot in Tokyo by L.A.-based Japanophile and car lover “Steve.” Fluent in Japanese, he seeks a second meeting with one of Tokyo’s underworld figures that has a passion for blinged-out Lambos:

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There are all kinds of ways to take in the colorful history of American car culture: museums, photo series, coffee table books, a tour through a decrepit GM factory, the list goes on. Diehard automobile enthusiasts are likely already familiar with the motor vehicle memorabilia known as fordite imagery, a rock-hard material that’s made from years’ worth of automobile paint that dripped onto racks in the oven of the paint shop. Because of the oven’s extremely high temperatures, the layers of paint were baked time and time again (sometimes over the course of up to 100 trips, according to Fordite.com), hardening into rock-like formations. The fordite growths were only removed once they became a nuisance to production.

Uncut fordite (left) and a group of polished specimens (right)

Today, the paint is applied with an electrostatic process in which the color is magnetized to the car bodies, making fordite—also called motor agate—a waste product of the past.

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The only stand-out memory I have of a lawnmower is the one time my father decided to take a short-cut down our neighborhood’s hill—”Killer Hill,” as we affectionately call it—on his way to groom a vacationing neighbor’s lawn. Ask him about it today and he still pales at the memory. (His brakes locked and he flew down that hill at the mercy of the wind and his semi-steady grip on the steering wheel.) Lucky for him—or maybe not—he wasn’t riding Honda’s Mean Mower, with was recently named “fastest lawnmower in the world.” They’re not messing around—last March, the machine reached a speed of 116 MPH. I can’t possibly think of a reason when you’d have to go that fast using the lawnmower for what it was actually created for, but for the sake of engine hacking and whatnot, this is pretty rad. Check out this slightly dramatic video of the Mean Mower in action:

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DOMI is a compact concept that provides a solution for both driven and undriven modes. The interior cabin can be laid out like an office or living room so the user can catch up on work  or simply relax while the vehicle self-guides to the destination using a combination of GPS and smart road sign technology. The “driver” can even fall asleep on the move, or, when they’re ready, take the wheel to zip around the city they’re own way!

Designers: Do-hyung Kim, San-sung Moon, & Sang-hyun Eom

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Putting the Auto in Automobile was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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The NTNU student team’s entry for the Shell Eco Marathon can travel nearly 1000 miles on the equivalent energy of just one liter of gas! How is that even possible?! The answer is with a calculated blend of electric battery tech and ultra-lightweight materials. Its monocoque shell is constructed around a carbon fiber frame, helping the vehicle to weigh in at an unbelievable 154 pounds! The final design is an ideal fusion between aerodynamics, lightness and contemporary car design. Watch it come to life —>

Designer: NTNU Team

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(When Efficient is an Understatement was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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