It is the second time that Tilmann Schlootz, a German design student, has won an award for his Audi Snook. The first award he received was at the VDA Design Awards which had been held at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. This time around, the Audi Snook won the 2008 Michelin Challenge Design under the theme of “Smaller, Safer, Better.” This unique concept vehicle resembles a helmet and operates on a single wheel. It is powered by a multidirectional engine and boasts of technology which is drive-by-wire. This certain type of technology makes it possible for the driver to be able to navigate the auto-stabilizing vehicle in any direction. Just like the usual cars, the Audi Snook concept vehicle is capable of sideways maneuvers, can go forward and backward and can turn at a given point. This concept vehicle can either hold one person or two. Its impressive capabilities to handle maneuvers adroitly assure more improved and more enjoyable mobility. Not just that but it also designed with safety measures to suit the world’s fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

Michelin Challenge Design, one of the world’s top emerging transportation design programs, has already announced their central theme for the year 2009: “Brave + Bold, America’s Next Iconic Vehicle.” Submissions will be accepted until April 16, 2008. Participants are urged to come up with ideas that would truly give an improvement to the vehicles. Such areas that are encouraged are accident avoidance, enhanced driver controls, survivability, and visibility. The proliferation of interest in more compact vehicles is due to the rise of the cost of energy, overcrowded cities and environmental issues. However, consumers are hesitant to invest on their interest because of their concern for safety. And so it is highly encourage that participants come up with designs that are able to manifest unique designs, strike to the public in the aesthetic sense, and technical execution. For designs which will exhibit safety benefits and will be able to address environmental concerns, they will be given additional consideration.

Past themes of the Michelin Challenge Design competition are:
Italian – 2002
French – 2003
Cars for the Emerging Chinese Market – 2004
German – 2005
California – 2006
Road Safety for Everyone – 2007
Smaller, Safer, Better – 2008

source: Car Design News

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Audi News, New Audi Cars. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.