Automotive

Local Motors unveils crowdsourced sports car

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Local motor has unveiled a new crowd-sourced sports car
Local motor has unveiled a new crowd-sourced sports car
The winning submission in the Local Motors Sports Car Platform Design Challenge was the SF-01 Street Fighter
The SF-01 Street Fighter was designed by Greg Thompson
The SF-01 Street Fighter was selected as the winner by a Local Motors jury
The jury cited the SF-01 Street Fighter's beautiful design, exposed frame and strategic use of body panels as factors in its victory
A diagram of the SF-01 Street Fighter
The LM Track Fighter by Gabriel Hantig came second in the Local Motors Sports Car Platform Design Challenge
The Spun by Narcis Mares came third in the Local Motors Sports Car Platform Design Challenge
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Local Motors recently ran a design challenge for an exploratory sports car. The challenge asked participants to focus on aesthetics, performance, affordability and the connection between driver and machine. Over 200 submission were received and the winning design was announced last week.

The ongoing aim of Local Motors is to bring collaboratively built and micro-manufactured vehicles to market. The company recently produced what is claimed was the "world's first" 3D-printed car, having crowdsourced the design through another open contest. The Sports Car Platform Design Challenge was aimed at developing a street-legal high-performance car platform from which two different cars could be produced and that could be brought to market within two years.

The SF-01 Street Fighter was designed by Greg Thompson

Designers were asked to submit 2D or 3D concepts, including a side profile, three-quarter front and three-quarter rear views. Designs were to include a four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing horsepower figures in the mid 200s. They were also to be as light as possible, have a two-seat configuration, have a front-mounted engine and be rear-wheel-driven, have a manual transmission with a clutch and use independent front and rear suspension. The track variant base model of the platform was to aim for a US$30,000 build cost or less.

The winning submission, selected by a Local Motors jury, was the SF-01 Street Fighter designed by Greg Thompson. The jury cited its beautiful design, exposed frame and strategic use of body panels as factors in its decision. It features inboard suspension and the ability to accommodate different engines.

"The SF-01 aims to be the ultimate affordable high-performance track enthusiast platform on the market," says Thompson in his submission. "The SF-01 combines the best in lightweight performance with the practical needs required to use the vehicle as a sparse and enjoyable commuter."

The LM Track Fighter by Gabriel Hantig came second in the Local Motors Sports Car Platform Design Challenge

The runner-up to the SF-01 Street Fighter was the top pick from the Local Motors community. The LM Track Fighter by Gabriel Hantig was described as elegant and simple, yet highly functional. In third place, the Spun by Narcis Mares is an exposed frame and exposed wheel concept.

The Spun by Narcis Mares came third in the Local Motors Sports Car Platform Design Challenge

The three winners share a total of US$10,000 in cash prizes. Local Motors will now move into a research and development stage with the SF-01 Street Fighter as it seeks to bring it to market.

Source: Local Motors

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5 comments
Donald Vitez
The winning design and the runner up to the winning design both bare a striking resemblance to the Ariel Atom which uses a similar frame work as its body skin in order to reduce weight and thus improve the power to weight ratio. The fundamental difference being that these two proposed designs incorporate more body work than that of the Ariel Atom and seemingly have a longer wheel base.
Bob Flint
Striking resemblance to "Two-face" in recent batman movie.
Rt1583
So they've reduced the Corvette to a skeleton and called it new?
Peter Andrews
These open frame cars look great but are impractical for a daily driver sports car. Sure, as an occasional toy they are OK, but until you have been hit by road trash you really do not appreciate just how much a small stone can hurt. Give me a traditional sports car concept, low weight, reasonable horsepower, exceptional handling with preference to oversteer rather than understeer. Big brakes, a manual soft top (low weight) and reasonable exhaust noise. Mid engine would be a bonus. But cover up the sides. Hmmm, seems like what I have been driving and using in club level motor sport for um 40 years! They just got more reliable, a little more power, better fuel economy, and nice gearboxes. OK, a sequential gearbox would be very nice. But the thought police, fun killers, nanny state in Australia will NEVER allow the winners of this competition on the roads.
Jamie Hobbs
I am particularly fond of the winning design (http://bit.ly/trackcar). I do agree the open frame might not be the most practical, but it was put into the other submission designs as well.