Colin-on-Cars - Volkswagen's records still stand

A nearly missed note in my email inbox triggered a nostalgic rush – February 23 was the 20th anniversary of the date the Volkswagen W12 broke seven world speed records on the famed Nardò circuit in Italy.

On that date the W12 Nardo covered a distance of 7 694 kilometres and sustained an average speed of 200,6 mph (320,96 km/h). In achieving this average speed, the W12 Nardo set seven world records and 12 international class records in the process.

Volkswagen W12 Nardo

Volkswagen could then lay claim to nine of 12 world records relating to distance and time. The additional two were set by the ARVW (Aerodynamic Research VW) in 1980. According to the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA), all nine world records stand to this day.

It was that mention of the ARVW that triggered things because shortly after establishing its records, I had the opportunity to drive this remarkable car – albeit at very slow speed around a skid pan at Volkswagen’s research centre.

The author with the ARVW in 1980

The near cylindrical shape and very narrow track meant it was not designed to turn corners at anything more than a snail’s pace. Rather it was intended for a high-speed banked circuit.

Still, the experience brought home the technology of the time working – in the wake of a fuel crisis – to improve efficiencies, reduce drag and eke out minimal consumption.

Called the ‘Aerodynamic Research Volkswagen’, the project was born as a result of the oil crisis of the 1970s and arrived at the test track in late 1980. The price of oil had spiked, sending shockwaves throughout the world and hitting the oil-dependent automotive industry especially hard. Automakers went from pumping out big, fuel-burning V8s to figuring out how to maximize efficiency. 

The ARVW was a study in demonstrating how an attention to aerodynamics and weight reduction can produce high speeds from considerably lower power. 

The first challenge in creating this super-light, air-slicing vehicle, according to Volkswagen, was to pack a powertrain, four wheels, and a driver into the tiniest car possible. Engineers tucked the wheels beneath the body and smoothed out the car's underbody. The end result stood just 84 cm tall and 110 cm wide, or less than three feet by four feet. 

The vehicle was incredibly light, built from an aluminium frame under a fiberglass and carbon body. Its drag coefficient was an incredible 0,15. 

The ARVW was powered by a version of the Volkswagen Rabbit engine: a 2,4-litre diesel inline-six. Volkswagen added a high-boost turbo-charger and an intercooler, which more than doubled the engine's original output to 130 kW. 

That figure of 130 kW also doesn't seem like much — it's about the output of a modern Honda Civic. But with the lightweight body and extreme dedication to pure aerodynamics, the ARVW was able to hit 353 km/h during its first hour of testing in October 1980. Eventually, it topped out at 360 km/h. 

The first supercar to feature a functioning example of Volkswagen’s unique ‘W’ engine was not the Bugatti Veyron with its quad-turbocharged W16 engine.

With aerodynamic styling penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign, the W12 Concept Coupe that debuted at the Tokyo International Motor Show in 1997 was, just like the Veyron, an out-and-out supercar. Perhaps even more significantly, it broke the traditional notion that a Volkswagen had to be a regular family car, paving the way for range-topping luxury and performance models from the brand.

The W12 Concept Coupe was powered by a 5,6-litre W12 engine, made by mating two of the company’s compact and lightweight 2,8-litre VR6 engines on a common crankshaft. When married, the W12 made 308 kW, which was channelled through Volkswagen’s Syncro all-wheel drive and a six-speed sequential transmission.

Engine Study W12 Coupé

The W12 was a hit—at least in concept form. Though it never made it to series production, Volkswagen’s first supercar utterly exemplified the term. Its windshield was a single sheet of specially-curved glass that stretched all the way through the end of the roofline, splitting double gullwing doors and blending directly into a glass engine cover that allowed a view of the mighty W12 beneath.  With the flames stoked, a roadster variant was unveiled in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show.

It would be another three years before reasoning for the earlier prototypes’ existence became clear. In 2001, Volkswagen announced it would attempt to set the 24-hour speed record at the 12,4 km Nardò Ring in southern Italy.

The W12 Concept Coupe seen in auto shows had evolved significantly—the W12 engine was enlarged to 6,0-litre, which, among other mechanical differences, resulted in power leaping to 440 kW and it sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3,5 seconds.

On the ground in October 2001, the W12 was instantly in its element, clocking an average speed of 293,6 km/h over 7 043 km, shattering the World Record.

https://bit.ly/350b4cc

Colin-on-Cars - Aluminium body for Polestar 5

Using a new bonded aluminium platform, the upcoming Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT will be lighter and faster.

Bonded aluminium is light-weight and rigid, offering superlative performance and environmental advantages but has previously proven labour-intensive and difficult to use in mass production vehicles without sacrificing quality.

Polestar’s 280-strong team of former Formula 1, low volume and bespoke sports cars engineers working in the heart of the UK’s Motorsport Valley in the Midlands have resolved this challenge by developing an entirely new, faster manufacturing process that develops both body and platform in unison.

Smaller

As a result of the new materials and techniques involved, the body-in-white (completed platform and body) is expected to weigh less than that of cars in smaller segments, contributing to improved vehicle efficiency, real-world EV range and dynamic responsiveness, all while delivering leading safety levels. The new bonded aluminium platform will also help drive faster product introduction, high quality and platform rigidity.

“Our UK R&D team is one of Polestar’s greatest assets,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO. “Their mix of engineering and technological expertise enables us to develop advanced, light-weight sports car technology with a creative mindset and a spirit that embraces innovative engineering. This will set Polestar apart in the years to come.”

Rigidity

By further developing this technology for Polestar’s first in-house platform, the 4-door Polestar 5 is being designed with torsional rigidity superior to that of a traditional two-seat sports or supercar. The decision to develop a bespoke platform has also enabled the brand to deliver a production model that remains true to the Precept concept car that inspired it.

“We knew we wanted this car to be light-weight, we knew we wanted high quality and we knew we wanted it quickly,” says Pete Allen, Head of Polestar UK R&D. “This architecture delivers outstanding dynamic and safety attributes, with low investment technology applicable to high production volumes.”

Polestar was established as a new, standalone Swedish premium electric vehicle manufacturer in 2017.

Markets

Founded by Volvo Cars and Geely Holding, Polestar is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and its vehicles are currently available and on the road in markets across Europe, North America, China and Asia Pacific. By 2023, the company plans to be present in at least 30 global markets.

Polestar cars are currently manufactured in two facilities in China, with additional future manufacturing planned in the USA.

Polestar has produced two electric performance cars. The Polestar 1 was built between 2019 and 2021 as a low-volume electric performance hybrid GT with a carbon fibre body, 1 000 Nm and an electric-only range of 124 km (WLTP) – the longest of any hybrid car in the world.

Variants

The Polestar 2 electric performance fastback is the company’s first fully electric, high volume car. The Polestar 2 model range includes three variants with a combination of long and standard range batteries as large as 78 kWh, and dual- and single-motor powertrains with as much as 300 kW and 660 Nm.

In the coming three years, Polestar plans to launch one new electric vehicle per year, starting with Polestar 3 in 2022 – the company’s first electric performance SUV. Polestar 4 is expected to follow in 2023, a smaller electric performance SUV coupé.

https://bit.ly/3LGNx0q

Colin-on-Cars - The awards roll in for Stellantis

The Stellantis auto giant is raking in the awards with the Peugeot 9X8 winning the "Grand Prize for the most beautiful Hypercar of the year" at the 37th Festival Automobile International and The 37th Festival Automobile International jury pinning the prize for the Most Beautiful Car of 2022 to DS 4.

The Peugeot 9X8 Hypercar was revealed in July 2021 and has won over the Festival Automobile International’s jury and car design enthusiasts.

"I am very proud to win this prize, which is an acknowledgement of the Design and Peugeot Sport teams’ work, who worked together on this project," says Matthias Hossann, Peugeot's Director of Design. "The quality of the exchanges with the Peugeot Sport team was exceptional, both on a technical and human level.”

Competition

The Peugeot 9X8, a brand new generation of competition car, due to make its debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in 2022, incorporates all the contemporary aesthetic codes specific to the Peugeot brand: a feline stance, fluid lines enhanced by signs of sportiness, sleek and structured flanks and also the distinctive three-clawed light signatures of the Lion. 

Slim and sleek, the Peugeot 9X8 elicits emotion and embodies speed. The Peugeot 9X8 is already an iconic object, an aesthetic and technical revolution, the ultimate design adventure.

The interior of the Peugeot 9X8, a trademark sign of Peugeot's design expertise, incorporates the brand's specific i-Cockpit concept. As with a production vehicle project, as much high level care has been given to designing both the inside and outside of the car. The cockpit of the Peugeot 9X8 has been created in its entirety to offer drivers a more ergonomic and intuitive experience.

Designed by the DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS, DS 4 stands out with its proportions and remarkably imposing presence, as much on the outside as on the inside.

This Most Beautiful Car of the Year prize is the seventh trophy awarded to DS Automobiles during the last eight Festival Automobile Internationals.

Reward

“This Most Beautiful Car of the Year prize is a reward for the women and men who have shaped DS 4, way beyond the team at DS DESIGN STUDIO PARIS. Before even drawing the first pencil line, we worked with our engineers for two years to model the technical platform,” says Thierry Metroz, DS Automobiles Design Director.

“When we started the creative process, our room for manoeuvre for rolling out a new concept was remarkable. Inspired by the DS AERO SPORT LOUNGE concept, also recognised last year by the Festival Automobile International, DS 4’s shape is unique in the segment with hitherto unseen proportions. The line is athletic, very muscular, compact and sat on very large wheels. It turns out to be aerodynamic, efficient, and charismatic all at once.”

https://bit.ly/3KM2wW8

Colin-on-Cars - Specials from Porsche Design

Porsche Design is celebrating its 50th anniversary – a golden jubilee indeed – and is doing so by creating a special design for the 911 Edition 50Y and restoring a 911 S 2.4 Targa from its founding year of 1972.

What unites them is the colour scheme, which, in recalling the legendary Chronograph I designed by Professor Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, sees both the exterior and the interior dominated by the colour black.

Alongside them, Porsche Design is also presenting the Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition.

“When you rethink the function of something, the form sometimes emerges as if by itself” – this was how FA Porsche described what still drives the engineers and designers at Porsche Design today. In 1972, he founded Porsche Design with his brother Hans-Peter.

Exclusive
The 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design is based on the 911 Targa 4 GTS with its six-cylinder boxer engine delivering 353 kW. Strictly limited to 750 cars, it comes with numerous features inspired by the iconic designs of FA Porsche.

In addition to the all-black exterior, the nods to the past include the classic checked Sport-Tex seat centre panels and the red second hand of the Porsche Design Subsecond clock in the Sport Chrono Package, which comes as standard.

Buyers can also purchase a special version of the legendary Chronograph I. Features such as the edition number and wheel-shaped winding rotor underline the connection to the 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design.

“The vision was to produce a historical counterpart to the new 911 Edition 50Y Porsche Design,” explains Ulrike Lutz, Head of Porsche Classic. “With the aid of the new Sonderwunsch (special wishes) programme, we were able to implement the idea of a unique pair of vehicles. The job of the designers and works restorers was to carefully transfer the specifications of the new car to the classic.”

The base vehicle, a 911 T 2.4 Targa from 1972, was in a poor condition and was missing some parts. The Porsche Classic experts completely upgraded the engine and chassis to the spec of the S-version. As the top-of-the-range model in its day, it had a displacement of 2 341 cc, which generated 169 kW at 6 500 r/min, and was equipped with mechanical fuel injection.

In tribute to Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, this one-of-a-kind vehicle features the same colours as the legendary Chronograph I watch that he designed in 1972, with black dominating both the exterior and interior. Classic side stripes with a Platinum satin finish and integrated Porsche Design lettering adorn the flanks.

 As a special highlight, the Targa roll bar has also been lasered in a Platinum satin finish – a new interpretation of the brushed stainless steel of the original classic model. The Targa lettering is finished in matt black.

Like the special edition model, the grille on the rear engine cover features a ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary’ badge with a reproduction of FA Porsche's signature.

For all Porsche and watch fans, Porsche Design is presenting the Chronograph 1 – 1972 Limited Edition with a historical logo and lettering.

Based on the original and limited to 500 examples, it is available in the usual way from Porsche Design. Limited Capsule Collections in the fashion, shoes, sportswear, luggage and accessories ranges, as well as special eyewear collections complete the anniversary offer.

https://bit.ly/3KqhWPQ

Colin-on-Cars - Building on tradition

As the world races towards electric vehicles, there is a small corner of England that remains unphased by all the hubbub and The Morgan Motor Company has just released sketches of the design direction planned for an all-new three-wheel model.

Design sketches for new Morgan released

To be powered by a three-cylinder Ford petrol engine, the new car – destined for launch next year – has a bold and eccentric design in keeping with the historic traditions of Morgan and takes inspiration from mid-century jet planes, motorcycles, historic Morgan models and modern industrial product design — images of which adorn the walls of Morgan’s design and engineering offices.

Demonstrate

No single sketch in isolation reveals the exact look of the new model, yet in culmination, they demonstrate some of the key design features that will be revealed in full when the new three-wheeled model is launched.

Sketches show a technical front end trailed by a fluid form, the vehicle ‘visually towed’ by its leading front wheels. The visual mass resides behind the centre line of the front wheels and never on top of them, a theme that has remained prevalent from the earliest sketches. Further design tenets include the celebration of mechanical honestly and the communication of function through design, hallmarks of previous Morgan three-wheelers.

Pillar

Steve Morris, Chairman and CEO of Morgan Motor Company, says: “Morgan was founded on the production of three-wheeled cars, and when the 3 Wheeler was re-introduced in 2011 it became a firm pillar of the company’s product range.

“We recognise the importance of evolving this bloodline and continuing to provide our growing community of enthusiasts with new, exciting, and unforgettable motoring experiences. Creating the all-new three-wheeled model has been a ground-up project, throughout which safety, durability, and character have been at the forefront of our focus.

“It has been an absolute joy seeing the new vehicle take shape, and we cannot wait to present it to the world next year, continuing the legacy of the model.”

https://bit.ly/3DuyBgp

Colin-on-Cars - Maisy gets petrolhead's dream

It is the kind of stuff petrolheads dream about but, for Maisy from Wales the dream came true as she took over as CEO of McClaren Automotive for a day.

Maisy – just Maisy – aged 17, became the Chief Executive Officer of luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive for the day to celebrate International Day of the Girl and encourage young people, and particularly young women, into science and engineering careers.

Maisy took over the reins from McLaren Automotive CEO Mike Flewitt, as part of McLaren Automotive’s long-term partnership with global children’s rights charity Plan International. 

It comes as McLaren highlights Plan International’s new research showing 1 in 4 (25%) girls aged 11 to 18 have wanted to try out a science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subject or job but have either been told it is for boys, were worried about being negatively judged, or were unsure since they only saw boys doing it in the media.

It also showed nearly half of girls (47%) have heard through media, friends, or family that ‘girls are not good at STEM’.

“My day as CEO of McLaren Automotive was full of incredible moments but being part of building a supercar was amazing, and that’s not something many people can say,” says Maisy.

“Plan International is about smashing stereotypes, changing attitudes, and unlearning lessons because a lot of girls think they should be playing with dolls and not cars, and that’s not right. This partnership between McLaren Automotive and Plan International is inspiring young women to consider STEM careers and achieve their full potential.”

The day included leading her executive team in strategic decisions as well as collaborating with many of the company’s female business leaders, engineers, scientists, and designers.

CEO Maisy gained an understanding of every aspect of the process of designing, engineering, building and marketing supercars and helped to hand-build a McLaren supercar, including putting on the all-important McLaren badge as the finishing touch to one of the company’s new hybrid supercars, the McLaren Artura.

Maisy also met brand ambassador Amanda McLaren, daughter of company founder Bruce McLaren, at a new ‘McLaren: Driven by Design’ exhibition at Brooklands Museum which features a full-scale LEGO 720S supercar, before having a CEO preview of some of McLaren’s top secret future supercar designs and a passenger test run in a McLaren GT.

“Having Maisy take over as CEO of McLaren for the day to celebrate International Day of the Girl has been both an enjoyable and valuable experience for me and the whole McLaren team. Her ideas, insights and intelligence – as well as clear passion – will help us move forwards even faster on our efforts to achieve even greater diversity and inclusion,” says Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Automotive.

“Maisy also got to see the incredibly exciting and diverse range of talents we depend on to produce our supercars and I hope, in the process, she has helped to dispel stereotypes associated with the automotive industry from a gender and skills perspective. “Our work with Plan International is for the long-term and I’m delighted one of the key decisions Maisy led on as CEO was our pledge to work with Plan International on McLaren’s commitment to holding workshops with 100 girls over the next 12 months, scaling up to 1 000 globally by 2025 to encourage greater take-up of STEM careers. That is a legacy Maisy and everyone at McLaren can be very proud of.”

https://bit.ly/3Dv3MIY

 Fiat 500 gets Cult status

Some 64 years after its birth in Turin, Italy the iconic Fiat 500 is only in its third generation and the new one looks set to continue the tradition established with the original version. 

The original version, beloved of the love generation of the ‘60s, is now transformed into a Fiat 500 Cult that rather aptly describes the emotions that surround the little car, owners and its global fan base. 

Running on 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps and black exterior mirrors, Cult models feature LED day-time running lamps as standard, with halogen headlights.

 

The interior is highlighted by blue fabric seats with Fiat Monogram and body colour dashboard. A new option for Cult is a Techno Blue Matt dashboard and the standard list of comfort features remains high. UconnectTM five-inch radio with DAB, USB ports and manual air-conditioning are all standard, as is a speed limiter.

 

Adding onto the Cult standard specification, Connect models are identified by 15-inch alloy wheels and specific side skirts, rear spoiler and bumpers, including fog lights. 

New seats, which are height adjustable, enhance the interior along with a multi-function steering wheel with eight buttons. The dashboard can be ordered in Matt Silver. Cooler than ever, other interior upgrades include cruise control, Uconnect seven-inch infotainment with CarPlay and Android Auto, and two additional rear speakers. 

For the more avant-garde, Dolcevita models epitomise Italian style and flair with bespoke badging and chrome accents on the two-tone paintwork. With 16-inch alloy wheels, the Dolcevita also gets the Techno-leather multi-function steering wheel, glass roof, Matelassé fabric seats with techno leather details, and a 50/50 split rear seat. 

More sporty-minded customers will be attracted to the Sport upgrades that include 16-inch alloy wheels, Sport badging, and specific side skirts, bumpers and rear spoiler. The new Cloud Grey colour looks particularly good against the new ‘arrow electro’ seats and Titanium dashboard with red 500 logo. The TFT seven-inch digital cluster accompanies automatic air conditioning.

 

Fiat 500 is powered by Fiat’s TwinAir two-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine. While this engine incorporates state-of-the-art technology and efficiency, it also pays homage to the original two-cylinder engine from the 1960s concept. 

The advanced 875 cc engine is a high-performance unit designed with major innovations developed by Fiat for petrol engines. The ‘downsizing’ technology reduces the engine power, the number of cylinder and the size of the engine, resulting in a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions levels (up to 30%) but, as it is matched with the turbo-charger, its power and performance remain the same. 

It delivers 62,5 kW at 5 500 r/min and 145 Nm of torque at 1 900 r/min, offering combined cycle fuel consumption of 4,0 l/100 km while still accelerating around town in very respectable times (0-100 km/h in 11 seconds). 

Particularly useful in the A-segment is the fact that Fiat 500 is available in manual and automatic. The five-speed manual MTA transmission allows the convenience and comfort of two-pedal motoring while remaining affordable and reliable when it comes to maintenance and running costs.

 

All four trim levels of the Fiat 500 are available in hatchback guise, while the cabriolet 500C is reserved for Dolcevita and Sport derivatives. Manual transmission is available in Cult, Connect, and Sport hatchbacks, as well as the 500C Sport, while MTA is reserved for 500 and 500C Dolcevita models. 

With seven crash bags as standard, the Fiat 500 set the benchmark for safety in the segment. Anti-lock braking is standard across the range, as is Electronic Stability Control, hill holder and speed limiter. 

Onboard infotainment systems include the Uconnect seven-inch HD touchscreen with ‘tablet effect’ and HD display that includes a range of function, including a hands-free system, Bluetooth technology, and voice recognition. Available with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM compatibility, the system has a user-friendly interface that will allow you to easily manage maps, music, contacts, and more. 

MODEL	TRANSMISSION	RETAIL PRICE
Cult 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 219 900
Connect 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 260 900
Sport - 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 269 900
Dolcevita 0.9L	FWD 5AT	R 274 900
Sport Cabriolet 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 319 900
Dolcevita Cabriolet 0.9L	FWD 5AT	R 324 900

 Kids show off dream car designs

The unfettered imagination of children usually produces absolutely honest reflections of their thinking and feeling when it comes to creative writing or art – and the winners of the 15th annual Toyota Car Art Contest proved just that.

Earlier this year, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) invited children up to the age of 15 years to submit drawings of their imagined mobility solutions of the future. The competition had three age categories, namely: Under 8, 8 to 11 years and 12 to 15 years. 

For the first time in the competition’s history, the prizes of the winners in each category were delivered in a vehicle emblazoned with their respective eye-catching artwork. 

“We are obviously sad Covid-19 has made it impossible for us to host the winners at Toyota like we’ve done before the pandemic hit, but we’ve had to improvise. The Dream Car competition is aimed at encouraging children to visualise and sketch mobility solutions of the future – and we hope that it was like seeing their artwork coming to life when they saw the cars that delivered their prizes,” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at TSAM.

 The first prize in the Under 8 category went to Zuhayr Syed Ebrahim for his ‘Air mobile’, which he says is based on his imagination to “see it race other air mobile cars and to see a great view on cruise mode”.

Ridhima Hingorani’s ‘Leaf car’ claimed first spot in the 8 to 11 years category. She says her piece was inspired by her desire to create an eco-friendly vehicle “that works like a leaf… it will take energy from air and sunlight and will use biogas as an alternative fuel source”. 

In the 12 to 15 years category, Karabelo Musi walked away with first prize for her ‘Toyota Dream Car’ – a vehicle that is about creating “happiness to be spread throughout the world and for negativity to be sucked away”.  

In addition to the winners’ artwork, the Corolla Quest model delivering the prizes will also sport TSAM’s new Carbon Neutral logo. The logo is a symbol of Toyota’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. TSAM is also encouraged that one of the top winners envisages a future of green mobility with her ‘Leaf Car’. 

The competition, which attracted more than 11 000 entries, also recognised four runners-up in each category and ensured that they didn’t walk away empty-handed. Each category winner received a PS5 to the value of R15 000, while the prize for second place was an Xbox valued at R7 000, third place a laptop to the value of R5 000, a tablet valued at R3 000 for fourth place and a R2 000 Makro voucher for fifth place.

 

CATEGORY 1: Under 8 years

5th Place is Kamisha Koreena

4th Place is Josiah Pereira Harichund

3rd Place is Mohammed Zaydaan Shaikh

2nd Place is Kayla Reddy

1st Place is Zuhayr Syed Ebrahim 

Vehicle Name: The Air mobile

Description: The air mobile is able to race other air mobile cars and to see a great view in cruise mode.

CATEGORY 2: 8 - 11 Years

5th Place is Isabelle Sade Gouden

4th Place is Luan Strydom

3rd Place is Thuwaibah Nanabhaya

2nd Place is Liandra Hon

1st Place is Ridhima Hingorani

Vehicle Name: Leaf Car

Description: With increasing air pollutions and shortage of fuel, my dream car is the one that works like a leaf. It will take energy from air and sunlight and will use bio gas as an alternate. 

CATEGORY 3: 12 - 15 Years

5th Place is Chad Robert Thompson

4th Place is Nicolas Andrew Schutte

3rd Place is Kyle Verfaillie

2nd Place is Lawrence Sanele Dube

1st Place is Karabelo Musi     

Vehicle Name:  Toyota Dream Car

Description: For happiness to be spread throughout the world and negativity to be sucked away with my car. 

TSAM added a new element to the competition in 2019, where schools that collected the most entries were awarded cash prizes. The top three performing schools in 2021 were Cresslawn Primary School (1st prize - R15 000), Tyburn Primary (2nd prize – R10 000) and Caradale Primary (3rd prize – R5 000). 

 Polestar launches design contest

Are you handy with a pencil and brim full of ideas that could change the world? If so, Polestar wants to hear from you. 

Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car brand led by designer Thomas Ingenlath, has launched its 2021 vision of future mobility Design Contest under the theme of ‘progressive’. 

The contest features both student and professional categories, with initial designs submitted in the form of sketches or digital images. Designs should display new ways of thinking that could encourage positive change in society, including responses to the ongoing climate crisis. The progressive theme should be evident in the designs. 

“In a landscape of disruptive technologies, evolving lifestyles and fast-growing concern for climate change, design can be the driving force for positive change. We believe our contest provides a great platform for the design community to visualise progressive mobility ideas of the future,” says Maximilian Missoni, Head of Design at Polestar. 

The 2020 contest drew more than 600 applications from across the world. Entries included an array of cutting-edge design concepts, from prosthetic springboard blades for walking, to an autonomous pod, to a luxury yacht that exuded Polestar’s minimalistic design tonality. 

One of the winning designs was an airship that looked 20 years ahead, combining Polestar’s design ethos with a 21^st century aviation approach. The design did not need to be a car, but it needed to be ‘a Polestar’. 

An exclusive feature of the global Polestar Design Contest is the coaching and support it offers. Shortlisted submissions will receive guidance and feedback with Head of Design Maximilian Missoni, Polestar designers and sustainability lead. 

A unique prize awaits the winners, who will be flown to either Polestar Chengdu or Polestar Headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden to attend the Polestar Design Exhibition, as well as to experience both the brand and the cars up close. 

The winning designs in each category will be brought to life as 1:5 scale models and an exhibition of the winning designs will then tour Polestar Spaces around the world. This unique opportunity to promote the designers’ work during the inaugural contest last year even caught the eye of Demna Gvasalia, Creative Director at Balenciaga, who chose to integrate the designs within the fashion brand’s virtual AW show in 2020. 

To aid in their continued development as designers, winners will also receive a computer and tablet, along with a trophy. 

“Polestar is a design-born, purpose-led electric car brand, on a mission to accelerate the shift to sustainable mobility,” explains Juan Pablo Bernal, Senior Interior Design Manager at Polestar, and curator of the @polestardesigncommunity Instagram page. “We feel the ‘progressive’ theme provides a unique canvas for designers around the world to express their creativity in the pursuit of our shared goals.” 

• No purchase or payment required to enter. English language required. Must be age of majority or older to participate. Registration starts 7 June 2021 and closes 30 June 2021. Subject to eligibility and other restrictions. For complete Official Rules, visit about.polestar.com/polestar-design-contest/2021/