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Detroit Auto Show 2010: the shape(s) of things to come

By Core Jr - January 13, 2010

in Object Culture | Events

Guest post by John Cantwell

The fact that electric motors and battery arrays can be mounted differently than gas engines has allowed car designers to begin experimenting with new passenger configurations and body shapes. With most of the big manufacturers' presentations done after the first day of NAIAS, day two was an opportunity for upstarts and newcomers to show their wares.

The Tango, a two-seat commuter car that goes 0-60 in about four seconds, was one of the most radical rethinkings of automotive form and function on display. About as wide as a freelance writer, the Tango takes advantage of California's lane-splitting rules, allowing drivers to weave in and out of the spaces between gridlocked cars like a motorcyclist. The Tango's $150,000 pricetag, however, means it'll mostly be CEO's zigging and zagging for the foreseeable future; George Clooney is currently one of the car's few owners.

For the past few years, Michelin has been working on an in-wheel electric motor and suspension system. Placing the motor and suspension within the wheel itself opens a range of possibilities for passenger configuration and body design that traditional suspensions preclude. Nissan's Mixim, which features Michelin electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles, utilizes a wide-open 1 x 2 passenger configuration. The in-wheel motor also reduces weight, thereby increasing efficiency; the Mixim tips the scales at just under 2100 pounds, while a 2010 Prius weighs more than 2700 pounds and the Tango, beefed up to prevent rollover, is the porker of the bunch, at more than 3300 pounds. (Extra interior space is another advantage of the in-wheel motor. MIT's CityCar, which also uses in-wheel motors, is about as long as a SmartCar but has the passenger volume of a BMW 3-series.)

Green Vehicles' Triac, another all-electric commuter car, takes a cue from motorcycle design, with an exposed rear suspension arm that extends from the car's pod-like body. Up close, the Triac looks a little wobbly, like a healthy sneeze might tip it over, but Green Vehicles representatives were quick to point out that the battery array in the floor lowers the car's center of gravity, allowing for the unorthodox design.

CT&T, currently the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles (think golf carts and other low- and mid-speed vehicles) debuted two all-electric concepts - the C2, a mild two-seat convertible capable of hitting 95 mph, and the Multi Amphibious Vehicle, a four-seat car/watercraft that offers a new take on motorboating. Visually, the concepts were less than inspiring, lacking the funky, idiosyncratic appeal of CT&T's funky electric carts.

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Chris Bedwell

8 years ago

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Um, I know I am from the future, but gross...

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jerry

14 years ago

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nice write-up...this is actually the car which was the subject of my Sick-Ass Car Rendering in the 1-HDC last year.

I've been a fan of the Tango since 2003 after reading about it in that year's Popular Science.

CommuterCars' Tango seeks to kill two birds with one stone: reduce our dependency on foreign oil AND address the problem of overcrowding on our highways due to the fact that over 75% of people commute to work alone in a 5-passenger vehicle. As such, the Tango is aimed directly at urban commuters.

The only drawback, of course, is the price. As it is now, the Tango is a low-volume, hand-built vehicle. They're hoping to get an influx of capital to mass-produce the Tango which would then help to reduce the end-cost for the consumer. I think their goal is the $20k to $30k range.

With supercar performance, the Tango would be a steal at those prices. It does have 2/3 of it's weight below the seats which directly contribute to its low center of gravity belying its appearance. It has a rollover threshold of a Porsche 911.

Additionally, Rick Woodbury did mention that it would only take an investment of $3k in solar panels to charge it at home with sunlight. With the price of gasoline as it is (and sure to go up) that investment would pay for itself in a year's time.

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BPB

14 years ago

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WOW , LOVE GEORGE CLOONEY
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