Discussion
Hi there, I am part of the design team at the University of Huddersfield who have created the Toniq-R pre-production prototype and am more than happy to justify any of your design queries.
Firstly may I thank you all for your honest comments, the more the better.
The car was designed to bring the Lotus 7 shape upto date, we have used the Westfield chassis as a basis and this defined the hard points (fixed points that we couldn't change whatever). The advantages of basing it on this chassis is that tooling for production would be similar to that currently in use, so the concept could be made in reality almost immediately.
There are no mudguards on the concept as this is the lightweight racetrack version, all road cars would have four cycle wings similar to the Lotus 340R. Further developments and time would enable us to fit the cycle wings to mock up a road going version, as well as mirrors and a Formula 1 style wind deflector.
The electric blue line running through the interior houses a fuel cut off switch at one end and the petrol tank cap is mimicked at the other end.
The simple lines flowing through the car accelerate as they approach the nose before sweeping off again. This has been done along with the aggresive twin fanged nose to enhance the cars taught appearance.
The aluminium side ticks emphasise the Toniq-R's lightweight design by exposing this raw material.
Firstly may I thank you all for your honest comments, the more the better.
The car was designed to bring the Lotus 7 shape upto date, we have used the Westfield chassis as a basis and this defined the hard points (fixed points that we couldn't change whatever). The advantages of basing it on this chassis is that tooling for production would be similar to that currently in use, so the concept could be made in reality almost immediately.
There are no mudguards on the concept as this is the lightweight racetrack version, all road cars would have four cycle wings similar to the Lotus 340R. Further developments and time would enable us to fit the cycle wings to mock up a road going version, as well as mirrors and a Formula 1 style wind deflector.
The electric blue line running through the interior houses a fuel cut off switch at one end and the petrol tank cap is mimicked at the other end.
The simple lines flowing through the car accelerate as they approach the nose before sweeping off again. This has been done along with the aggresive twin fanged nose to enhance the cars taught appearance.
The aluminium side ticks emphasise the Toniq-R's lightweight design by exposing this raw material.
quote:During the original article in which PHers were asked to comment on a selection of designs, did you find any of the comments useful or were the comments too forthright to be constructive and useful?
Hi there, I am part of the design team at the University of Huddersfield who have created the Toniq-R pre-production prototype and am more than happy to justify any of your design queries.
MC
Yes we did take all your thoughts into consideration. In total there were about 70 comments, all straight to the point, loving or hating it - but that’s what we like.
The reason that we actually asked for the Pistonhead reader’s opinions was because Westfield were apprehensive about production feasibility having seen these initial sketches and then dropped all support to us. All your views encouraged us to go our own way and produce a car with the character of what a lightweight 21st century Lotus 7 should be like.
Come and have a look at the car yourself, at the University of Huddersfield from Saturday 22nd June to Wednesday 26th June at the Transport, Industrial and Product design show where there will be many other interesting design projects as well as 15 more new car concepts – all quarter scale models.
The reason that we actually asked for the Pistonhead reader’s opinions was because Westfield were apprehensive about production feasibility having seen these initial sketches and then dropped all support to us. All your views encouraged us to go our own way and produce a car with the character of what a lightweight 21st century Lotus 7 should be like.
Come and have a look at the car yourself, at the University of Huddersfield from Saturday 22nd June to Wednesday 26th June at the Transport, Industrial and Product design show where there will be many other interesting design projects as well as 15 more new car concepts – all quarter scale models.
I really like your new take on a new lotus 7 for the 21st. century, in fact I've designed a new version myself using any lotus 7 lookalike chassis, but updating the styling. I'm working on a prototype and hopefully some financing will come through by the end of the year to finish up the project.(anyone interested?)
I also think that creating a new version of a Lotus 7 is always going to be hard, but I wish the TONIQ great success!
Check out my website for my version of a 21st. century lotus 7.
Ciao
Italo
www.fuoriseriedesign.com
I also think that creating a new version of a Lotus 7 is always going to be hard, but I wish the TONIQ great success!
Check out my website for my version of a 21st. century lotus 7.
Ciao
Italo
www.fuoriseriedesign.com
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