Speed weaver
The Age
Saturday January 29, 2011
LOOK out Ariel Atom; look out KTM X-Bow the woven-bodied Toyota MOB concept might just have the upper hand over those formidable track warriors in the raw styling stakes.Conceived by Spanish automotive design student Jorge Marti Vidal, the hypothetical Toyota-badged racer features unusual bodywork inspired by the Mobius strip a kinked, eye-catching form that resembles a rubber band.The two-seater is made up of two continuous panels that weave their way back and forth to create the structure, including the bodywork and chassis, seats and dashboard.Similar to the skeletal-bodied Ariel and KTM racers, the MOB has no roof, windscreen, doors or any protection from the elements. The pattern of the wheels is said to be inspired by blooming flowers.According to the designer, the MOB would be constructed from an organic material called "liquid wood", developed using the waste product of lignin, a remnant of the paper manufacture process. The lignin is combined with wood fibres to form a composite material that is claimed to be durable, recyclable and easily formed into complicated shapes. It also sounds highly flammable.Speaking of ignition, each wheel would be powered individually by small electric motors. Presumably, a bank of batteries would be at the car's centre line for optimum balance and weight distribution.The MOB was envisaged as a environmentally responsible racing car or a lightweight sports car.To see more wild concept cars, go to drive.com.au/concepts
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