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Spira foam car gets 100 mpg, is light enough to lift, and even floats
However you feel about Crocs — which are amazingly ugly shoes and the inspiration for designer Lon Ballard's Spira — it's hard to say no to a car that manages 100 miles to the gallon and has a respectable top speed of 70 miles an hour. The craziest part? It's made out of 90% foam.
"The Spira team hopes foam will revolutionize autos and motorcycles like the Crocs and flip-flops have revolutionized shoes and sandals," he told Wired.
The agile little three-wheeler seats two in tandem, is light enough to be lifted by a person, is only ten feet long and just a bit over four feet tall, and even floats in water. Ballard's team also considers it safer than your average car, as "the millions of airbags in foam offer crash protection." I'm sure he wouldn't be far off if we were all driving foam cars, but I'd hate to see a truck bearing down on me while driving in the Spira.
By Jake DiMare at 10:00 AM ON 05/15/09
Hmm...weather proof motorcycle?
By Dave at 11:20 AM ON 05/15/09
As far as saftey is concerned, it's probably right up there with many cars available today. My brother just bought a Kia Soul, and we discovered the entire rear bumper is full of styrofoam. In addition, NASCAR uses the new "SAFER" barrier to help stop larger, much heavier cars moving much faster, with less injuries.
By SpeedFlux at 11:29 AM ON 05/15/09
Haha looks like the sandal rather than a car, i think he inspired by crocs
By SteelFox at 12:52 PM ON 05/15/09
Quote: Ballard's team also considers it safer than your average car, as "the millions of airbags in foam offer crash protection."
Um, is an airbag really all that safe if it is the only thing between you and the oncomming car?
By Bebb at 2:19 PM ON 05/15/09
What are the measurements of this "car"? As other comments ask--- What about a wreck with a semi?? OH-NOOOO!!!
By Brass Orchid at 3:34 PM ON 05/15/09
Nice! Put a stainless steel roll-cage and engine mount frame in there and give it enough width to seat two abreast and you've got something. Beef up the suspension a bit and add a recycled composite plastic flatbed with a detachable aerodynamic foam dome and you have a very serviceable micro utility vehicle suitable for moving furniture or hauling light loads. The road noise has to be very low with a foam body.
By kizer at 7:03 PM ON 05/15/09
Congraduations. You've successfully mated a motorcycle and a coleman cooler.
By jdmimic at 7:48 PM ON 05/15/09
Unfortunately, Black Orchid, doing as you suggest would greatly reduce the gas mileage. I would be more convinced with actual crash test results rather than "Ballard considers" it as safe as other cars. Still though, it looks like a great commuter car that could actually be taken on the highway, unlike a lot of other commuter-type cars out there.
By Paul at 3:22 PM ON 05/16/09
Just wait for a few of these to fly off a bridge or flip over from large wind gust. Then keep bragging about how safe they are.
By q at 2:11 PM ON 06/01/09
The elements are there. Foam is used extensively in current bumpers and the Safer barrier. But, the Safer barrier also uses steel structural elements and bumpers are encased in semi-rigid plastic. The idea of reworking car bodys into a moncoque of foam, plastic and steel is a reasonable compromise for fuel efficiency and safety. Also, tandem seating is ideal for weight reduction and reduced frontal drag.
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The elements are there. Foam is used extensively in current bumpers and the Safer barrier. But, the Safer barrier ...More »