Related Sections: Future Tech Vehicles
21st Century Car: Ford Model T 2.0, redesigned to cost $7000
It's been 100 years since Ford's first Model T hit the road, and to commemorate the occasion, Ford commissioned a design contest to create Model T 2.0. Of the two winners of $25,000 in scholarship money, the Model T2 design you see above was our favorite, a three-wheeled coupe from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. It has motors on each wheel's hub, powered by compressed air. It also sports an unspecified "novel steering system," which we figure has something to do with all three wheels getting into the act.
The parameters of the design competition were tough, requiring the vehicle to cost less than $7000 and have a range of 125 miles. It's not going to be easy to actually build a car that cheaply, since the most inexpensive car available these days costs nearly twice that. But if a car like this could get you a $7500 tax break like the increasingly expensive Chevy Volt, they'd be paying you $500 to drive one away from the dealership. Take a look at the other winning design:
This is the 2015 Ford Model T, designed by students at Aachen University in Cologne, Germany. Like the old version 1.0 jalopy, this vehicle uses a common chassis that can accommodate various bodies such as a truck, sedan or mini city car. Both designs are simple, but we're still not sure if these cars could be built for $7000 — maybe if the currency deflates to half its value by 2015.
By theWrench at 2:03 PM ON 10/15/08
What a joke - current li ion 3rd generationm batteries cost $1000 per kilowatthour, and it'll require at least 30 kilowatthours to propel a car 125 miles, with enough overcapacity to make the batteries' lifespan equal 5 years. Sounds like the batteires alone will cost over $30,000. That sort of seems to exceed that laughable $7,000 price tag. Apparently these boys are using using lead acid batteries. They were obsolete for autos in 1997, wehn the EV-1 replaced theirs with the now-obsolete NiMH bateries. Just so there is some sense of reality about this silly story.
By BigSparks at 2:48 PM ON 10/15/08
A careful read will show that the first car is powered by a compressed air cylinder (you can see it clearly below the passenger compartment.) It never says that they had to be battery powered, or in any way precluded a gas engine. And the $7000 dollar price cap is about what a model t would have cost a family in inflation-adjusted dollars. I assume that is why they made it a requirement. The point of the contest is to inspire future designers, not create an actual vehicle. There is nothing silly about encouraging passion and innovation in the young.
By adg3825 at 10:56 AM ON 10/16/08
"It's not going to be easy to actually build a car that cheaply, since the most inexpensive car available these days costs nearly twice that."
Ummm... Someone is a little unclear on car prices. The Chevy Aveo, Kia Rio and possibly the Hyundai Accent are all available for under $10,000, and during end-of-model-year sales can be purchased for about $8,000. And then there's that Tata car that they're going to sell for $2,500, but not here.
By rytmitz at 11:54 PM ON 10/20/08
This car reminds me of a batmobile from dark knight.. somehow this one is quite a lil bit confusing with the price!
By Remo W. at 8:01 PM ON 10/23/08
Looks like crap on crap.This is what piss's me off. I built a 200+gallon carb. Which I call a pulge vaperater. I use this on one of my auto's. Car don't need to be light weight. Just fuel afishant.But then you have to fight the big oil company. The big car company say that they can't get over a lets say over 50mpg. I say then there is a bunch of dumb basters working for the car company. Don't let them b.s. you. They can but won't. It's all about money. They can builed a better car. But they won't. And since that is ther monto. I have not bough a new or used car or truck since 1990. Thanks for listing.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Remo W.:
Looks like crap on crap.This is what piss's me off. I built a 200+gallon carb. Which I call a pulge vaperater. I us...More »