NEW TECHNOLOGY

Presentation by Michael Furst. Click for larger images



'Volkswagen Super' by Michael Furst



'Dino' by Mark Coletti



Bentley SLV by Shawn Collins

Mar 15, 2006 - Students at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena presented their work in the Fall graduation show held in December. The show featured work from students in the Bachelor of Science - Transportation Design program.

Photo Gallery 160 photos

The transportation senior project is organized as an independent project, each student researches a company, and targeted buyer, to see if a new vehicle is needed or if a vehicle on the market needs to be improved. The students then work with the course instructors who are professional designers to refine their concepts and create exciting new design solutions for their chosen company.

Michael Furst presented as his senior thesis project the Volkswagen Super – a rear-engined car embracing super punk, super sport and super surf themes.

His Chrysler 300 Coupe also shown is defined by a diving belt-line theme, and targets 45-60 year old Empty Nesters. This proposed flagship model also aims to elevate Chrysler's brand image following Furst's research. He previously graduated from the Pratt Institute, New York. Following last year's impressive Dino by Sasha Salipanov is Marc Coletti's senior thesis project based on the same car.

Chrysler 300 Coupe by Michael Furst Alfa Romeo by Mark Coletti

It was developed as a proposal for the Fiat group from Pininfarina under the premise that sports cars have become too big and too fast for today's roads. Using Variable Architecture, Fiat would produce figureheads for its three iconic marques, Ferrari/Dino, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati. Coletti's Dino model is influenced by late 60's Ferraris, wrapping occupant and mechanicals in a purposeful, uncompromised form that oozes Italian romance. He also presented a well-judged Alfa Romeo spider.

Shawn Collins' senior thesis continues the Bentley Continental family tree: his SLV (sport luxury vehicle) design puts Bentley at the top of the SUV market using the wheelbase of a Flying Spur and the drive train of the GT. The design uses a body-length shoulder with duelling light catchers over each wheel well. The front face has combine headlights that melt back into the body, along with a large grill with logo inset. Collins also presented a Cadillac V-series convertible, Chevrolet SSX Truck, Hummer H24, TVR Cerberus and a school bus project done in conjunction with Panasonic.