Need your comments!

[Olimk2]

963

Ok, following the last infos given by Dave and Jim, it seems that we are back to basics...
So i came with this concept besides two others more "classical".

See it as a cross between a WRX and a 7, respecting the single donor concept at the max, lightweight, separate paintless panels, no doors (but a hard top!).

Have to say, it's way more difficult to design this than a "normal" GT, so i need your comments to see if it would be a GO GO or a NO NO!

Cheers

[FFRWRX]

It's a little funky, but it is pretty nice. The way you have done the fenders (whether it was deliberate or not) has a real advantage in that they could be separate bolted-on pieces that could be replaced if damaged, without replacing a major section of the body. It looks a little stuby, ie, tall and short, but maybe it's tough not to be with a short wheelbase and a roof high enough for a helmeted driver; maybe lower the roofline a little? If the finished product ended up looking like your design, I would certainly build one.

Rick

edit: taking another look at it, getting in without doors with the roof panel in place might be a real challenge....but then again I'm one who wants a roof panel so it serves me right!

edit 2: how about a hinged roof panel, that could be opened to allow easier access. I think that was done on an old Vette concept car.

[Olimk2]

Thanks you' re the first! You have seen well about the body panels, as for the roof, i have the option of gull wings including side widows...I try to make the panels out of single piece molds to avoid sanding work for gelcoat finish, and maybe use thermoformed ABS for some of them.

[D2W]

I like your concept but not the design. Keep going

[riptide motorsport]

I think its nice, needs alittle more refining though.................Steve

[Olimk2]

Yes it's one of the first sketches, as i said it's tricky to design, no flowing lines here! Thanks for the support, then i'll follow with it...

[MDRex]

My only complaint is that the no door design and low sides make the roof look higher and the car look shorter. With full height doors I think it would probably look far better, but that also changes the design idea you are going for.

[kach22i]

Smooth it out, clean it up, and lift up the line of the glass so it's no so dung buggy-ish.

Have you seen any of the Venturi Automobiles? Very dune buggy-ish but also very nice.

They come with doors, but I think they are removable.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/110092928693/venturi-america-ev-to-debut-at-paris-motor-show
http://cdn2.worldcarfans.co/2010/9/29/medium/951738111111426892.jpg

I love the head angle of the helmeted driver. I trust you don't mind that I had some fun with it.

967

[Olimk2]

My only complaint is that the no door design and low sides make the roof look higher and the car look shorter. With full height doors I think it would probably look far better, but that also changes the design idea you are going for.

Yes, i've got other designs for that...

[Seagondollar]

Scale seems off.

[Olimk2]

Kach, i know venturi as it's French, interesting stuff they have, and a good designer.

[kach22i]

Kach, i know venturi as it's French, interesting stuff they have, and a good designer.

Cool, I first read about them here just last week:
http://www.thehotseatforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=846

Back to Olimk2's design....................first thing is to make the wheel arch openings similar to the Venturi's to pick up on the angularity of the design. This will help jell it all together.................it's a start anyway.

[kach22i]

Scale seems off.

You are right, the wheels are too large and the wheelbase is too short. Those are two easy shortcuts to make any design seem more nimble. Once this design gets stretched out it will lose much of it's charm.

[Olimk2]

Working on an evolution. This one is not that off scale, it's the main lines and big side opening that make it very "vertical"...You're right about the arches!

[kach22i]

The closer you get to something you really like and think you want to enter, the fewer images you will be posting.

You know you have good ideas or a good design when someone else steals it and takes credit for it. A sad story far too many people experience first hand.

There are givers and takers in life, cover your arse......................it's a competition.

[Olimk2]

Ok, the design has evolved quite a lot, i hope to enter it sometimes next week. Will post it here for new comments!
Thanks to all!

[Olimk2]

The week has become a month...i've sent my first rendering to GRM so i will wait until friday if i have the chance of an official showing!!(dreaming is free!!)

[555ctsv]

A coworker of mine has been sketching up a few ideas. He looked into the T-Rex wheelbase and it's about the same which i thought was interesting. Pictures of them seem to give an idea of what the front of the car could look like. A doorless, windowless design seems like it would work well, but i was hoping this would be a daily driver :(

http://media.techeblog.com/elephant//ul/18681-450x-t_r_2.jpg

http://media.techeblog.com/images/t_r_1.jpg

[sonicrex]

I'm looking forward to it. :cool:

[Olimk2]

here's my last evolution in race trim, submited last week...

[sonicrex]

I do like this design. I just have to say that I think the windshield/side window/roof top area seems a bit "big" if that makes any sense. BTW you made the ugliest Impreza headlight look great with that front end so congrats. ;)

[PhyrraM]

I like it. I agree the top looks a but exagerated, but who is going to have the top on outside of emergencies?

Got anymore views? Maybe a shot without the top or a rear view?

[Olimk2]

Yes will post other views ...Cockpit space is on scale, with factory donor winshield, unlike many "stylish" roughs shown here / grm ! Wheels are not 22' too...Top looks big because covers b- pillar zone as well.
I can assure occupants fit in...Driver position based on initial ffr datas doesn't help!
This is a "track" version, other views are street version (no ground effects) with different rear decks option...stay tuned!

[StatGSR]

here's my last evolution in race trim, submited last week...

I like it! I just would like to see a properly to scale version (side view, front view, back view, angle vew)

[2KWIK4U]

I like it too..... but the back of the front fender doesn't look like it matches the lines of the rest of the car. Nice original design though.

[Olimk2]

Thanks for the comments side/front view not ready yet to show, will follow with street version, easier to understand...

[Olimk2]

Ok! here is the street version of the thing, sorry for the size of the picture, a bit small.
Included, closed version "fastback" with gull wing semi doors.


1502
1503
1504

[PhyrraM]

The blue 3/4 front view looks very nice to me. I like the low doorline for good visability and it shouldn't induce a claustifibic feeling that so many new cars (and proposed 818 designs) seem to have. The panels look simple to produce, but have overall decent lines. The rollover bar looks well integrated in this view.

The rear 3/4 fastback also has fairly clean lines, but the rear side panels seem to end in a ungainly 'blob' behind the doors above the rear air intake. Not a fan of gullwing doors, but I think these are fairly well intergrated and keep the sides low. Is there a reason that feature is different on the blue car?

The rollover 'bubbles' just don't work for me on the yellaw 3/4 rear view targa version. They need to be more subdued or eliminated. I think a simple tubular double rollover hoop and a fairly flat deck would look much nicer. Maybe have the deck roll down into the rear of the cockpit like old Corvettes? A insert could be placed between the two hoops to support the rear of the targa when needed.

Overall, I like it. Good job. I appreciate that you took some effort into using OEM parts in a unique design to control costs. I do wonder how much of the overall 'feel' of the design can be translated to something real world. Any plans to port to 3D rendering or introduce properly scaled drawings?

[readymix]

The only problem I see is with the lamps. The front headlamps on the Impreza went through 3 different iterations from 02-07. All with VERY different shapes. And the tail lamps went through two iterations during that time, 02-03 being different than 04-07. By reusing those items in your design, you are likely going to ADD cost to the production of the vehicle, as the headlamps would require 3 different molds made, along with the hard mount points on the frame since those also changed. So, there would also need to be 3 different frame attachments to allow those headlamps. With the rear end, you'd need two different rear bumper shapes for the different varieties of lights. That's alot of extra production parts that cannot be mass produced since they are donor specific. Unless FF prescribes a specific donor year. Which really lowers the amount of available donors down, as you are taking a 5-6 year span of donors down to 2 years. In the case of lamps, it would likely be cheaper for Factory Five to simply do like they did with the GTM, use generic Hella rear tail lamp parts, and do an inset front lamp assembly molded into the fender with a clear plastic cover.

[Xybram]

I have to agree with PhyrraM, I don't like the transition behind the door. How about either transitioning on a slope (more angular) or making this area another air inlet. Just a thought. Nice job.

Chris

[Olimk2]

Thanks for the comments! I'm not 100% HAPPY with the shape behind the cockpit aperture as well, but wanted to keep it basic so no intake here (cost). As for the headlamps, i had to make a choice, but think they come dead cheap from the breaker or there are aftermarket with leds or stuff like that...Other solution is shown in the "cup" rendering...
For the rear deck, i've made different solution available, the "pods" is an independent piece, so it can be changed...


PhyrraM, this design can be translated at 90%, i keep 10 for adaptation and "surprises" when you pass to scale one, didn't see the chassis...and tweaks to the styling.
It's my "real world" submission. Scale drawings on the way (i've started from a side view) , no 3d sorry! Hope the judges share your vision!!!!

[Olimk2]

1510


Thanks for the comments! I'm not 100% HAPPY with the shape behind the cockpit aperture as well, but wanted to keep it basic so no intake here (cost). As for the headlamps, i had to make a choice, but think they come dead cheap from the breaker or there are aftermarket with leds or stuff like that...Other solution is shown in the "cup" rendering...
For the rear deck, i've made different solution available, the "pods" is an independent piece, so it can be changed...

[Olimk2]

Ok boys, next design will be very very different...thanks again!

[Gun Bunny]

I like the gull wing doors, and the fastback they're used with, but the t-top/targa hybrid view is nice also. You just need to de-emphasize the cowlings behind the seats, not eliminate them entirely. The completely flat backs, especially with a near-vertical rear glass, just don't do it for me, and neither do any of the alternates in that six-pack you posted :/.

I'd also go with Xybram's suggestion above, turn the two spots at the base of the C pillars into air intakes for the engine compartment/intercooler, which would allow you to clean up the sides a bit. That deep channel needs a bit more refinement IMO. Shallower/slightly more rounded perhaps? They're the only really angular shape on a design that strikes a nice balance between sharp and flowing lines. Otherwise, a very nice design.

Bonne chance, mon ami!