Splinter Wooden Sports Car

Splinter is an original project of a high-performance sportscar concept made of wood composites. It was started by industrial designer Joe Harmon to explore new materials and ideas.

The Splinter concept was developed by Joe Harmon for his graduate project at the Industrial Design Course - North Carolina State University.

The main idea is to build a high-performance, mid-engined supercar from wood composites, using wood whereever possible, including the chassis, body, and large percentages of the suspension components and wheels.

The car has a target weight of 2500lbs and a power goal of over 600 horsepower delivered by a turbocharged 4.6 liters V8 unit.

The claimed goal of the team led by Joe Harmon is to "explore materials, learn, teach, share ideas, and stimulate creativity".

WaterCar Python

The Python in one word is the ULTIMATE amphibious vehicle. It is a hot rod on the water, excess of 60 mph water speeds, and a hot rod on the street, mid 12 second 1/4 mile times and 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The engine is based on the famous aluminum LS Corvette power train. Enormous Horsepower!

Whether you have selected water mode or land mode, the performance is absolutely outstanding. The best of both worlds finally combined into one.

Designed from the ground up to utilize the very latest in materials and the most state-of-the-art hull design. Each rolling chassis incorporates a light weight 304 stainless steel structural frame, state-of-the-art Dominator Jet, and the customers choice of Corvette engine. Every component is built from the best materials money can buy, and built to withstand even the harshest of conditions. Providing the owner a combination of speed and performance that was previously thought unattainable…until now.

The Python is hand built, taking the word custom to an entirely new level. From a choice of over 60,000 exterior colors and 4,000 interior colors/finishes, to the exact seat/pedal/shifter placement, tailored to perfectly fit the owner. Every detail, every curve, every screw, everything on this vehicle is built exclusively for you, truly to be one of a kind!

Ford FAB1

(from Ford Press Release) Ford is supporting the production of ‘THUNDERBIRDS’, a big budget, live-action family movie based on the cult ‘Thunderbirds’ TV show and due for global release through Universal Pictures from Summer 2004.

Ford’s primary involvement with the movie has been to assist in the development of Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward’s FAB1 limousine – a stunning pink, 27-foot, six-wheel/bubble canopy vehicle, which can transform between car jet plane and hydrofoil and features clear Ford Thunderbird design cues.

THUNDERBIRDS producer, Tim Bevan, commented, “FAB 1 provides the first glimpse into the new-look THUNDERBIRDS movie. We hope to realize fully the genius of the original series and bring it to life for an entirely new generation worldwide.”

Ford Design Europe led the design of the FAB1 vehicle and also delivered a number of ‘virtual’ concept vehicles for the movie. The Ford EX concept is also prominently featured in one of the movie’s chase sequences and other Ford vehicles, including the new Focus C-MAX, will feature in appropriate scenes.

“For our design team, it was essential that the new FAB 1 captured the essence of the original – its size, power and sheer presence,” explained Chris Bird, Director of Design for Ford of Europe. “The people that have worked on this car were already fans, so we hope the end result will please ‘THUNDERBIRDS’ purists as well as the new generations of movie goers who will see it in action on-screen.”

Set in 2010, the film is directed by Jonathan Frakes, famous for his role as William Riker in ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ TV series, and as the Director of ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ and ‘Clockstoppers’ feature films. It is produced by Working Title, Europe’s most successful production company, which numbers amongst its hits ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ and the current box office hit ‘Love Actually’.

The cast is headed by Sir Ben Kingsley (The Hood, number one villain), Anthony Edwards (Brains, head boffin for International Rescue), Bill Paxton (Jeff Tracy, head of International Rescue), Sophia Myles (Lady Penelope) and Ron Cook (Parker).

Snow Bikes

World-Class Snow Bikes

Snow Biking or Ski Biking is quickly becoming one of the most popular Extreme Snow Sports. Don't believe me? Try going to YouTube and searching for "Snow Bike". What you'll find is a lot of people making their own snow bikes, ski bikes, or snow bmx from old parts in the garage and a pair of chopped off skis from grandpa's attic. Take the risk and guesswork out of making you own; we've spent three years developing the Storm to meet the demands of the most avid Snow Biker.

The Storm is a serious piece of machinery. No toys here. It is designed for those who seek adventure and fun. If you are serious about keeping up your riding skills during winter you need to ride the Storm.

With our patented fold-down top tube, loading and unloading the Storm on chairlifts is a breeze. It is so simple anyone can enjoy the freedom of snow biking, whether it's bustin' a 540 tail-whip in the terrain park or carving through fresh powder at your favorite resort the Storm is for you.

The Storm is also designed to be stable in a variety of snow conditions and terrain. Our snow bike specific skis will perform on groomers, icy, and powder conditions. If you are serious about action sports you need to ride a Storm.

Honda NAS

The U.S. motorcycle market often defies comparison. American tastes and trends can reside oceans away from the demands of riders in Asia or Europe. That's reason enough to justify the existence of Honda R&D Americas (HRA), but the creative minds toiling away within this top-secret two-wheeler think-tank do far more than merely exist: They fully intend to shape our motorcycling future.

What's more, by all appearances, this latest creation from HRA will achieve exactly that goal. Meet the New American Sports, an innovative exercise in sport bike design aimed at the very heart of what drives every mechanically minded motorcyclist across the USA: gorgeous hardware.

According to Martin Manchester, executive designer at Honda R&D Americas, "This concept bike takes a new direction in motorcycling, a path that emphasizes the beauty and aesthetics in the execution and creation of a sport bike."

Tony Schroeder, HRA senior designer, launched the NAS project in the winter of 1999, and he described how this futuristic concept took shape. "With an advanced project like the New American Sports, we aren't forced to work under a cloud of urgency; there are no production deadlines to meet, so we're free to take our time and think outside of established norms and push the limits. Unlike most advanced projects, however, the goal with the NAS was to not only create the image of a futuristic machine, but we also had the green light to take the bike to an unusually high degree of finish work. Part of our goal with the NAS was to develop and perfect new methods of model construction, and to push motorcycle engineering concepts into the 'what if' realm.