Fast-tracking to the future

The Pad mobile home

The designers of the Pad mobile home say the futuristic concept "enables cultural and geographic freedom for the modern city dweller".

They go on: "With the Pad, home is where you want it. And commuting is what other people do."

The Pad is one of many entries in Design Challenge, a competition that goes hand-in-hand with January's Los Angeles motor show.

Automotive designers - there are 14 studios in LA - have to create a vehicle around the theme "An LA Adventure," which must reflect the southern California lifestyle.

The challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers conference, where car designers participate in workshops.

Says Chuck Pelly, conference director for Design Los Angeles, and a frequent visitor to New Zealand: "The Design Challenge gives local automobile designers an open arena for them to craft designs that replicate their interpretation of the Los Angeles landscape - with all of the freedom and excess that they chose to incorporate into their entries.

"The winning entry will be based upon how well the design interprets the theme, its appropriateness to southern California and its unique design characteristics."

Designers at General Motors studio in Los Angeles built their Pad for the "modern city dweller living in the ever-changing cultural landscape of southern California".

The Pad is powered by a hybrid diesel-electric unit, which also serves as a generator to power the vehicle's "lifemode" system, a media-rich environment with an endless variety of entertainment, information and security options.

Other entries include:

Hyundai Greenspeed Gator: The Gator pushes the boundaries of design and fuel-cell performance. Inspired by the top fuel racers of the 60s, this alien shape is rooted in pure function. The overall design consists of a main fuselage with integrated roll protection and seat sling which hangs underneath, tied together by a centre spine chassis with integral fuel cells. The hood blisters house the hydrogen storage tanks, and the rear wheels house electric motors.

Maybach California Gourmet Tourer: The ultimate machine to enjoy a culinary adventure. Fully automated, it is chauffeured by software using GPS guidance. The vehicle offers panorama-style windows and comes equipped with a fridge, espresso machine, microwave, wine rack, food preparation area, recycler, and foldout tables.

Smart Rescue Vehicle: Designed to help lifeguards in first aid, beach patrol, safety and water rescues. The vehicle seats five and the driver sits high in a water craft-styled seating position. It is mid-engined and has an 800cc turbo Smart engine that sits between the front and rear foam seats. It also powers the jet pump when in amphibious mode.

Kia: A two-seat, lean, mean, drifting machine. It is powered by a compressed natural gas turbine, which feeds electricity to a series of in-wheel, high torque, electric motors. This environmentally-responsible vehicle would surely grab the most attention while carving lines sideways through the race course. Kia chose drift racing as its theme for the LA Adventure, because Los Angeles was the scene of the first officially sanctioned American drifting event.

Mercedes-Benz Mojave Runner: The petrol-electric hybrid is designed to thrive in the worst conditions. It features night vision, sandstorm radar and GPS sensors and is equipped with a hydrogen fuel-cell generator to provide electrical power for tools and rescue equipment. The strong, lightweight skeleton frame is a combination of carbon-fibre and pressurised aluminum tubing that stores air for pneumatic power tools. Its off- and on-road capability is optimised by intelligent adaptive tyres that automatically change tread depth for top performance.

Audi Nero: This concept is an evolution of the 1930s streamlined record-breaking Auto Union racers. The aerodynamic surfaces, covered wheels and low ground clearance create a stealthy modern interpretation of its inspirational ancestors. The black reflects the LA mood, say its designers, while its strong silhouette is punctuated with compelling technical details. The aggressive front end is followed by a translucent hood that showcases its powerful engine.

Mitsubishi Roadster Konzept: A sporty hybrid compact that combines LA's hip stylish image with a sophisticated look. It uses Mitsubishi's all-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motor technology. The 210kW (280bhp) provided by the in-wheel motors combined with the 60kW (80bhp) rear-mounted engine makes 270kW (360bhp) available. The MRK has two front sport seats, plus rear rumble seats, which allows for two rear passengers or extra cargo space.