Volvo takes to the air with revolutionary concept
Compressed air motors and high-tech construction make this the ultimate eco-friendly sportsterForget 1000kg concepts such as the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Volvo used the Los Angeles motor show to reveal its revolutionary Air Motion Canyon Carver, which does away with any form of convention in its design.
Powered by compressed air motors in lieu of a heavy internal combustion engine, the Air Motion tips the scale at an F1-beating 1000lb (455kg), and part of the secret to its waif-like girth lies in its carbonfibre clamshell body.
In keeping with its minimalist objectives, Volvo says the Air Motion uses thousands fewer components than you'd find in a traditional car, thanks to its clever compressed air motors and "an integrated approach to designing the chassis, interior and suspension".
What's more, the motors cool down under load rather than heat up, which eliminates the need for heavy cooling systems.
It's a true eco-friendly proposition as the compressed air stored in the centrally mounted air tank is provided by 'Air Replenishment Sites' that are powered by air turbines floating 1000ft (300m) in the air as they harness the power of the wind and convert it to electricity to provide the compression.
"Aimed at the driving enthusiast, by a company synonymous with safety and environmental care, the Volvo Air Motion demonstrates the beauty and purity of Scandinavian design and delivers a guilt free, raw driving experience," says the company in its blurb.
The Air Motion was developed at the California-based Volvo Monitoring and Concept Centre (VMCC), and was conceived as an entry for the Design Challenge, a contest that in the past was fought out by the major Southern California automotive design studios, but from this year onwards also includes entries from studios in Germany and Japan.
Each year a topical theme is chosen, and the theme this year addresses society's shift toward minimising consumption of the earth's resources.
The brief was to "envision an efficient, lightweight, four-passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1000lb), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand".
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