Hyundai is getting in on the incessant zombie trend with an actual concept car designed to mow down the fearsome hordes of undead brain suckers. It's called the Zombie Survival Machine, and it looks exactly like what it sounds like. Hyundai has partnered with Robert Kirkman, creator of the famed comic book and graphic novel The Walking Dead, in building the concept for Comic-Con.
"I don't know a lot about cars, but I do know a lot about the zombie apocalypse and what I would like to have to survive," Kirkman explains in the video below. "I think that I'll be able to come up with something that looks cool, but may not be very practical or effective, because I'm not good with physics and things like that."
Helping keep the car as practical and effective as a zombie-survival mobile can ever be are Hyundai and Design Craft Fabrication. The design includes such customized features as a custom zombie plow with spikes, slatted armored window coverings, a roof hatch to allow passengers to shoot at walkers, an electric rear trunk to house weapons, all‐terrain tires, weapons storage compartments and a CB radio/PA system. Hyundai also promises much more.
While the Hyundai Elantra probably wouldn't be the first car you'd think of as an armored tool of undead destruction, Hyundai has done a pretty good job in fleshing this thing out. The undead don't stand a chance.
Below you can see the first in a four-part series on the Zombie Survival Machine's development. Kirkland explains his role in the project. Hyundai has launched Hyundaiundead.com, where you can follow along with future installments. It will debut the concept car on the July 11 preview night at Future US's booth at Comic-Con. Comic-Con runs from July 12 to 15 in San Diego.
We'll go ahead and say this one won't make production.
Source: Hyundai
1. Front spikes/zombie plow Spikes look really badass but it has some disadvantage. These spikes would "carry" the pieces of undead making the car slow or stop. If you are thinking in a situation as part of "The Walking Dead" and you want to get through a city...you will have to get rid of dozens of undead. I suggest to remove the spikes or replace them with blades so it would cut through.
2. Wheel spikes Those spikes are just too slim to bear the usage. They would eventually break or blend making no use anymore. Again, i would suggest to use "blades" instead of spikes for the same reason. You could use an iron tube cut in half by 45degrees and attach it to the wheel. With that solution you would get a way more solid piece of weapon.
3. Windows Window coverings leave too much of the widnows uncovered in my opinion. I would consider making more cover or replace the windows with metal coverings to prevent breaking the glass.
As for the whole concept it is only a fast scetch i belive so it is okay tho i am looking forward to see the "finished" car on Comic-Con.
As a side note: Forgive me for my bad english...
The plow on the front is nice, but will enhance the understeer when entering a corner, so drivers should use caution and practice maneuvering before zombie threats are imminent.
Given a free hand for front and side protection I would be tempted to do a basket of semi-circular blades that leave a good 8-10" gap between the back of the blade and the body of the car. Could be interesting forcing advancing hordes to slice themselves into pieces to get close enough to touch the actual car body, but leaving a gap for sliced zombie parts to drop out to prevent fouling. Think supersized concertina wire around the car in the middle. Just have to keep moving, since the low ground clearance means that you need to keep those kills spread out when possible.
overall I would have to rate this car as "You will die eventually, but you will have a lot of fun before then!"
There are so many things wrong with this design that I struggle to muster the energy to list them. For starters, the spikes are all wrong - you want a sweeper to push them to the side, not to catch them. A chest-high blade positioned forward of the sweeper would ensure that they either become bisected or go low, catching the full brunt of the sweeper. In my experience, few possess the dexterity to jump over the blade, minimising their chance to block the windscreen.
On that topic, the reinforcing over the windscreen and the roof lights both provide ideal purchase, obscuring the drivers view. Right back to the drawing board with that one, Hyundai!
As for having a door handle instead of a remote... well, the reasoning speaks for itself. The wheel spikes are poor too - as the zombies are swept aside, spikes provide a handle and therefore an opportunity to interfere with the wheels and suspension. My preferred arrangement involves vertical blades that complement the one above the sweeper in both aesthetics and functionality. Side mirrors? No, they provide a handle - rear-mounted cameras with a heads-up display...
Finally, based on the state of my bumper after a visit to the shopping centre last week, it's obvious that one of my neighbours has obtained a prototype. Kindly provide me with their details so I can contact their insurance company. Thanks and best regards.