Guardian gives us a first look at failed prototype car Steve Jobs asked to see in 2010
Designer Bryan Thompson with the prototype V-Vehicle
The Guardian has an interesting piece on a prototype car that caught the interest of Steve Jobs in the spring of 2010. Called the V-Vehicle, it was an attempt to create a lightweight, low-cost, gas-powered car whose secret was cheaper materials.
Working with designers Tom Matano and Anke Bodack, Bryan Thompson had developed a car body made of polypropylene and glass fibre that was 40% lighter than a conventional steel vehicle and would cost 70% less to produce. The creamy white hatchback had unpainted, upgradable body panels and a “space frame” body, a design technique usually reserved for high-end cars like the Ferrari 360 or Audi’s line of cars.
Within a few hours of receiving an email saying that Steve wanted to see it, Thompson and the team had taken the car to Steve’s house – where Apple’s co-founder had plenty of advice to offer during the 15 minutes he spent sitting in the car …
