Audi Airomorph Concept

New Designers 1 Aug 2014

The Audi Airomorph is a design study of a futuristic Le Mans car featuring a textile morphing body inspired by catamaran racing. The author is Art Center graduate Eric Kim.

The project was sponsored by Audi AG, and developed by Eric Kim at the company’s headquarters in Ingolstadt, Germany, under the supervision of Kris Vancoppenolle.

Speaking about the main idea behind the concept, Eric explains: “Mimicking the catamaran fundamentals of racing I wanted to pursue a similar approach in my Le Mans Concept.”

The body consists of a single sheet of cloth layered over its frame, cocooning the driver in an ultra-modern cabin.

The skin is made of a silver expansion-resistant textile, which has the capability to stretch across movable metal wires controlled by hydraulic attuators. This allows the body to have a continuous motion and achieve the best driving conditions possible.

Each wheel pod placement has a cable attached to it. These cables are highly durable and can be increased and decreased in size, like a coiled spring, thus allowing the body shape morphing.

Eric comments: “Having the great opportunity to collaborate with Jenns Mooler in the Aerodynamics/Engineering Department, we worked together to create the best possible solution of a blown diffuser that is not only functional but atheistically pleasing as well.”