Design D Wins!

[Derwin]

Well, fellow enthusiasts, it appears that DESIGN D has won! But I think we all were thinking it would anyway. But this is indeed a reason for great celebration. We have finally passed that hurdle, and now can go to the next step in this process....BUILDING AN ACTUAL PROTOTYPE!

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg205/dreamquestbiz/D_front_sport.jpg

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it........! =D

Derwin

[MarkH]

We gotta get that Today show video or post a link or something! That was awesome!=y:

[Derwin]

You seen it? Nuts! I missed it. It was on at 6:30am here in Chicago, and I missed the whole thing. If anybody knows how to get the video, let me know. I want to add it to this site, and I also just want to see it myself!!

Well, fella's.......we're getting closer!! ;)

Derwin

[CelticFlyer]

That's very encouraging. I preferred "D" over "C". "C" was nice, but it looked rather bloated compared to the stealthy lines of the "D" model. I still would have been more than happy to drive "C" though.

I wonder what sealed the deal. Was it the virtual wind tunnel models?

[PHEVadvocate]

I found this picture, still looking for some video and more pictures! :RADAR:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23700176/?pg=2#X_Prize_Cars

[CelticFlyer]

Dig those crazy wheels. I'm in love. :cool:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/GrabberOrange/VentureOne.jpg

[CelticFlyer]

Here's a pic I swiped from the VentureOne site:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/GrabberOrange/Splash_8.jpg

Dudes, I don't know about you, but I'm totally stoked. I know this is going to be well worth the wait!

[Derwin]

Well, which one is it? I seen the one on the cnbc site, but the version posted on the Venture Vehicles Main Page is different. I think Ian needs to clarify this and let us know which design is the final design.

[jmeineck]

Derwin,

I think it will be the design CelticFlyer posted from the X-Prize pictures!!! with the cool rims.

[Derwin]

That makes sense, but why did Venture Vehicles just put the D design now on their main page? This is what makes me think it will be the actual D design. I could be wrong! I hope Ian clears this up for us.

[Miracleman89]

I think you are missing something Big D! They are both it!!! the one from the X prize is the regular model and the one from the home page is the sport edition!

[Derwin]

O.K. That sounds good to me! =y:

[Miracleman89]

At least I think that is how it will go if I remember right, that is how they had it set up in the survey we did a while ago!

[MarkH]

OK you image gurus...

Let the Photoshopping begin!


:cool:

[Miracleman89]

I will try to work on some stuff tonight if I can get time but it will have to be late because today is my wifes birthday!:Beer:

[MVRacing]

MM,
I agree, they look the same to me with the exception of the wheels, changable see thru panel in the door(sport version), then in the web site head on shot it is hard to see the small creases in the body in front of the pod radiator opening.

[MarkH]

I will try to work on some stuff tonight if I can get time but it will have to be late because today is my wifes birthday!:Beer:

Happy Birthday to her!

[MVRacing]

So guys,
With Rouch added as a stratigic partner I'm going to assume that is the manufacture location for the first run until VV gets their facility set up.
Thoughts?

[rogwild]

Well it sounds like a "Road Trip" for some this summer, to try to get some 'Unofficial FTRC" photos of construction/testing. Maybe Ian will 'authorize' a Forum Pass for members, or set up a 'Show & Tell' day sometime after the running prototype is finished.
I'm sure some of our ingenious 'Club Members' will find a way to 'get a peek'!

[Derwin]

Here's a sneak-peek at the license plate on the Venture Vehicle model...

http://www.flytheroadclub.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=259&stc=1&d=1206027386

AZE asked the question....Could this be the new name for the vehicle? Personally, I don't think so, but it's possible.

Hey.....ARE WE EXCITED YET? =y:

Derwin

[MarkH]

Where the ... um ... heck did you get that pic? I don't think we have seen that end of the V1 before.

[Derwin]

Sorry about that, Mark! Here is the link to that photo, along with others..

http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/new-york-2008-automotive-x-prize-competitors-under-wraps/711084/

Derwin

[rogwild]

Here's a pic I swiped from the VentureOne site:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/GrabberOrange/Splash_8.jpg

Dudes, I don't know about you, but I'm totally stoked. I know this is going to be well worth the wait!

Anyone, notice that they 'mirrored' the image? No 'steering arm' on the right side (guess they figured it would be too 'ugly', or don't know what it will look like yet).

[MarkH]

Yep sure did. BTW, on that thread a while back about vanity plates mine was 100 MPG.

[CelticFlyer]

This is bound to be the COOLEST thing on the road. :cool:

[RAN]

OK, I'm confused..... the mock-up used on the Today show looked more like a modified C version (with modified C pillar, which was my biggest gripe about C~!), and the new pic on the FTR homepage looks like a D model.

Perhaps if the roof from the A pillar back on the Today show version were black, we'd be looking at the same thing.

The good news is, if they *are* different models, they're both hot hot hot and I'd now buy either one of them and not look back! :-)

[MVRacing]

:LOL::LOL:

Did you notice the warning scrawled on the 2x4 frame in the autoblog photos?

:LOL::LOL: "Do not tilt":LOL::LOL:

[MVRacing]

Was I seeing correctly ... wasn't that Ian behind the rope line at the end of the Today show spot wearing an X prize hat?

[cpaddock]

I DO like the cool rims but don't like the low profile tires! Won't keep me from getting one but I dont see how it would even work for tilting, on the front wheel at least. There is a reason motorcycle tires are nice and round in section.....something to do with constant
contact patch at various angles of pitch/lean/tilt. Low profile tires only last 1/4 as long as "regular" tires, and transmit much more road vibrations. Great for racing on all new asphalt, but is that the real world?
Aloooooha!

[rogwild]

"cpaddock", I am sure that Vv will have a lot to learn once they actually get a working prototype and start actual road "testing", and ROUSH Tech. will have a bunch of knowledge to share with them. I bet we will see appropriate tires-wheels on the production models.

[RAN]

I agree cpaddock about the tires. Let's just say that the renderings of the V-1 are in the "flashy concept-car" realm at this stage. There's still room for the real world to settle over certain details :-)

[MarkH]

Hey, does anyone have a link or a transcript of Ian's 1:00pm announcement?

I looked around and didn't see anything.

You know, today has been a very good "Fly the Road" day. =y: National exposure, New York Auto Show announcement, unveiling the winning design. All thats left is to read an Ian recap.

Cheers fellow fliers! :Beer:

[bhicks]

I'm very excited to hear a decision has been made, I prefered C over D because I liked the rear end much better on the C model than on the D, but that was just my choice. As long as my wife and I can get in with no problems and ride comfortably, I'm ready. BRING IT ON.

Ian, you and your team, you guys ROCK.

[Mark Tomlinson]

Hey guys, I've looked over the FlyTheRoad site and forums several times. At NO POINT is there ever an official design decision statement. Oh sure, it's pretty obvious - but it's NOT final until Ian says it's final. For all we know, there may be a model "E" that resembles D and therefore they just used a bunch of D graphics.

The first post in this thread pointed out that D was an educated assumption. Let's not loose site of that.

[rogwild]

"C", "D", "E", or "Vhatever"; at least we have a Final Design 'Direction' (probably more changes before production anyway)!:Beer:

[Derwin]

Yeah, I think it is fairly safe to say that the "DESIGN DIRECTION" has gone down the path of the "D" design. After all, they posted this up on the main page of the site AFTER making it clear that they are joining in on the X Prize contest. Also, the mock-up being displayed appears to be the D design. So, although Ian has not used WORDS to declare a design direction winner, all of the other evidence is indeed there to come to this obvious conclusion. But, as rogwild has said, we have a loooooong way to go, and there are definitely going to be changes along the way.

Derwin

[Hwy1rnr]

Here's me during the survey of C vs. D:
"Well, I like that and that about the C...and that and THAT about D!"
"Hmm. C..."
" Uhh, D..."

Bottom line: I'm standing in line for whatever letter of the alphabet becomes available for purchase. As long as it'll hold two 6+-footers "comfortably", Vv's got my $$.

[PHEVadvocate]

Looking at the pictures of the New York X Prize floor model, it looks like the “D” wings will block the rearview mirrors line of sight.

I would like a rear camera(s) instead of the mirrors! The Aptera has only rearview cameras and they are a motorcycle too!

IAN Please, I will live with the "D" wings if you drop the crappy mirrors for some cameras! =y:

Just take the mirrors off the computer model and see what happens to the drag. :IDEA:

[CelticFlyer]

I would have to agree about the use of mirrors, however, the ones on the display model do not look as nice as the ones in the artist's rendition.

Here's the wind tunnel model Ian supplied earlier:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee299/GrabberOrange/VV_VolStreams.jpg

[smoove7410]

It is obvious the mirrors and windshield wiper were last minute add ons for the show to make the vehicle look more ready. They will use nicer mirrors for production.

[CelticFlyer]

I'm sure you're right; the ones on the mockup look like those cheesy aftermarket ones you find in auto parts stores. I hope they go with the ones on the artist's rendering, if they don't use rear view cameras, that is.