cardesign

Honda Z600

Posted on by Medina Davide

This is my design for a new model of the stylish Honda Z600. The Z600 was a micro car manufactured between 1970 and 1974, celebrated for its quirky “sporty” design and compact dimensions. Often nicknamed the “water goggles” or “TV-set” due to the thick black plastic bezel surrounding its rear glass hatch, it was powered by a high-revving 598cc air-cooled, two-cylinder engine derived from Honda’s motorcycle expertise. Despite its diminutive size, measuring just 123 inches long and weighing approximately 1,300 pounds, it could reach top speeds of roughly 75-80 mph and achieved an impressive 40-50 mpg. Marketed as a fun, efficient city car, the Z600 played a pivotal in establishing Honda’s automotive presence in the U.S. and Europe.

The Trabant saga

Posted on by Medina Davide

Joke of the day: if we add the third volume (third box) to a Mini, we almost get a modern version of the Trabant 601. Vertical tail lights with chrome frames, horizontal well defined shoulder line, rear window almost touching side windows, smooth sides with no moldings.

Human friendly cars

Posted on by Medina Davide

A more livable car interior

Cars are getting bigger and bulkier on the outside but darker and more claustrophobic on the inside. Smaller windows, gloomy grayish shades. Safety during crashes played a role in this transformation and, of course, there are structural constraints to consider while designing the passenger compartment. Still we can make the atmosphere more convivial, remember the 1984 Renault Espace? That was great.

Fiat 500 4 door

Posted on by Medina Davide

I know, I know, do we really need a 4-door Fiat 500? Maybe not, but the romanticism of the 2-door model has the inconvenient shortcoming of not being practical. You may argue that Fiat already features the 600 with four doors, but that’s different model: it’s way bigger and more expensive. Four doors on the tiny 500 would make life easier when going for groceries, shopping or taking kids to school. Clearly, fifteen additional centimeters to the original length are needed to fit two more doors and real people in the backseat, as we all know human beings can’t be folded and stored in the back like empty bags. Actually they can but it’s not recommended, that’s why cars have ‘Emergency Trunk Releases’. The truth is the population is getting taller and fatter, microcars are still cute but not anymore as practical as they used to be in the 70s or the 80s. The list of manufacturers quitting 2-door versions of their cars is increasing every year, not even Volkswagen bets anymore on a 2-door Golf GTI. The challenge is to balance the cuteness of the original model with the needs of nowadays drivers. Not easy, I know, especially on a Monday morning like this.