Rendered fantasy: Peugeot Globule shapeshifting electric car
Peugeot Globule Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
While Renault was busy bringing wacky – but real – concept cars to the Frankfurt Motor Show, the creative minds at Yanko Design, they of the recently discussed BMW BlueDynamics Land Yacht, were busy cooking up the shapeshifting Peugeot Globule. While the reason for the four interior pods to be able to move from train to square shape is mostly lost on us (are there that many narrow streets where the snake-like shape would be helpful?), the Globule looks cool enough that we'd want to see one in the real world.
Propulsion for this fantasy is provided by a centralized battery connected to electric motors in each of the four sections. A polymer coating with flexible head and tail lights rounds out the package. The biggest benefit to the blob car, designed by Ahmad Filiz, is that the pods can stack up to then park in a space that's only 130 cm x 130 cm. For bigger families, more pods can be added to the configuration. Pure fantasy, to be sure, but a tremendously unusual one.
Gallery: Peugeot Globule
[Source: Yanko Design]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gary 1:39PM (9/17/2009)
Ignoring the complete fantasy aspect, the configurations are interesting. A snake should be more areodynamic than a 2 x 2 as there is less air to push out of the way. And on the highway you could potentially have 2 snakes side by side in a lane, almost doubling the amount of traffic a road could handle.
Now we just need to develop a morphing skin that can withstand getting hit by an SUV!
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Peter Rockwell 1:56PM (9/18/2009)
Long, narrow objects are much more aerodynamically efficient than short ones: witness Porsche long tails for high-speed tracks.
I'm curious about doors and engine and trunk access as well as interior ventilation. How would the stretchy skin accommodate doors, hatches and vents?
tarmacblog 6:52AM (9/22/2009)
Regarding accidents, it could be quite interesting. I can see the car being able to "reconfigure" in a side-impact for example so that smaller cars almost sail straight underneath as the car becomes almost like a bridge, or perhaps with larger vehicles, the Globule can reconfigure so that it wraps around the front of the vehicle that's hit it, a bit like an elastic band.
In frontal or rear impacts, I imagine some of the energy could be dissipated the same way - with the vehicle either wrapping around the object it hits or gets hit by, or even tumbling over the top of it. Perhaps alternatively the flexible polymer the body is made of could send extra padding to the front of the vehicle like a big cushion.
I'm surprised the author missed that the reason for the snake-like variation is aerodynamics... smaller frontal area, and longer shape for the air to stay attached to...
dbush 1:44PM (9/17/2009)
Ungly....
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Pablo 2:43PM (9/17/2009)
Looks like someone forgot to flush.
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Nixon 4:54PM (9/17/2009)
Great way to separate the kids in the back seat!
"don't you kids make me pull this car over and re-configure it into the snake again! Stop hitting your sister or you'll be riding in the back in the 'time out seat' where everyone will see you were a bad body!"
Handy for back seat drivers too:
"honey, I'm tired of your mother telling me how to drive. I'm putting the car into earthworm mode and putting her at the tail."
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simon 4:28PM (9/17/2009)
It looks like s...hit
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