Future of cars is bold for Generation AlphaFuture of cars is bold for Generation Alpha

Drawing inspiration from Sabic’s comprehensive range of thermoplastic materials and solutions for the automotive sector, students were able to design innovative outcomes, such as Hotspot Urban Base, a shape-shifting polyhedron 3D created vehicle with a giant, flexing ‘live hinge’ door; the ultra-aerodynamic efficient Air Runner designed for fully autonomous high-speed, long-range commuting; and the Transit Integrated Motive or TIM, a luxury transport system of customized pods with a shared platform for private owners or public use. Also, the students were able to take advantage of Sabic’s leading insight into the trends and developments of the automotive design industry and production process.

The jury panel was comprised of 14 professionals from seven major OEM design studios (Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Tesla Motors and Volkswagen) who then chose John McCarthy as the overall winner. Placing second and third were Eric Sun and Axel Kurkjian. Sabic presented McCarthy, Sun and Kurkjian with scholarships valued at $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000.

The winning design was the Hotspot Urban Base (HUB), which is built upon the idea that Gen Aers will be more engaged in technology and have a greater desire for connectivity than any other generation. With that said this autonomous vehicle welds the digital and physical lives of its three passengers into one simple environment and allows for engaging digital experiences.