2008 LA Design Challenge shows the World of Motorsport, in 2025

This time around, the LA Design Challenge has the World of Motorsport in the year 2025, as its theme. As we would expect from this challenge, this year’s entries are a mesmerizing glimpse of the future of Motorsports. Entries to this year’s challenge come from Audi, Mitsubishi, BMW, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, GM, Honda and Volkswagen. If these designs are anything to go by, the future of Motorsports will have cars buzzing at amazing speeds, all running on minimum or zero emissions. Here’s a rundown of all participants to the design challenge.

Audi R25

This one is our favorite to win the Design Challenge. Audi R25 looks at WiTricity, or wireless electric charging zones on the track. With these free-charge zones, the racers don’t need fuel stops, and the cars can go on without a break. Running on Algae biofuel and electricity, the R25 has an interesting man-machine interface, which shows all vehicle data on the driver’s helmet visor.
Things really get better with dynamic sensors and integrated HD cameras that allows spectators to sit and experience the race, virtually. We would certainly prefer watching the race from where the driver is, and this spectator interaction is a great concept in itself.

Mitsubishi MMR 25

MMR 25 is a multi-terrain vehicle with wheels getting eight independently controlled motors. This enables the vehicle to move easily in any perceivable direction on the road. With its superior handling of curves, we’re guessing the MMR 25 will rule the drift tracks in 2025.

BMW Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer

Salt flats are the place you go to reach mind-boggling speeds. BMW’s concept “reuses” scrap for constructing the body with oil barrels, barbecue lids and the like. This one even throws in Goldfish as “co-pilots” swimming around the fuel tank. If the future is going to have fish as copilots, we think the car with the shark as the driver to win, not much of a competition there.

Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero

Merc isn’t ready to shed off its luxury image even on the race track. The Formula Zero racecar has an aero-efficient skin and runs on electric hub motors. Apparently, the designers spent more time on visualizing the track than the design of the car. The track for these race cars is going to be transparent and visible from all angles.

GM Chapparal Volt

Chapparal Volt uses EREV propulsion and energy management, and also goes to the ancient-concept of five elements. The Chapparal will, however, use only three of these elements: Earth, for gravity and momentum; Wind, for cooling, energy regeneration and braking; Fire, to capture energy from the sun.

Honda The Great Racer 2025

Honda’s concept can literally move over water, land and possibly every imaginable terrain. This concept has been built for races that would require navigating the entire globe…in 24 hours. That is going to be one crazy racing event.

Mazda Kaan

Built for team racing, the Kaan will use electricity to reach 250mph. The design is inspired by electric fields and textures seen in nature, and we can say it is one of the best visual treats among designs in the competition. The Kaan has a capsule to safely house the driver, while the team creates a peloton formation and races to victory.

Volkswagen Bio Runner

Bio Runner imagines a Baja1000 with a fixed 10 gallons of fuel. The rider can manipulate the vehicle’s center of gravity by changing the position of the wheels. Arial Reconnaissance Drone feeds information and video to the driver in case of poor visibility conditions.