If you’ve been off-roading before, it’s likely you remember bouncing around the back of a 4×4.
But the days of clinging on for dear life could soon be a thing of the past, if a new concept car is anything to go by.
The concept vehicle, called The Huntress, features wheels that can twist autonomously to cope with uneven terrains.
If you’ve been off-roading before, it’s likely you remember bouncing around the back of a 4×4. But the days of clinging on for dear life could soon be a thing of the past, if a new concept car is anything to go by
The concept vehicle, called The Huntress, features wheels that can twist autonomously to cope with uneven terrains
The Huntress is an electric off-road concept car designed by Connery Xu, that wouldn’t be out of place in the Transformers franchise.
The two-seater vehicle features an independent suspension system, which allows each wheel to move autonomously in response to different conditions.
Half of the car’s body is also able to twist off-road according to different conditions, such as uneven terrains and bumpy roads.
The Huntress is an electric off-road concept car designed by Connery Xu , that wouldn’t be out of place in the Transformers franchise
The front of the car features an unusual set of headlights that can rotate horizontally, according to Mr Xu’s sketches
The front of the car features an unusual set of headlights that can rotate horizontally, according to Mr Xu’s sketches.
As the lights rotate, they reveal another set of headlights, providing drivers with better visibility in dark or foggy conditions.
Meanwhile, the electric motor is placed at the rear of the car, with spare tires also positioned between the two back wheels.
Unfortunately, the car is currently still a concept, and it remains unclear when, or if, it could become a reality.
Half of the car’s body is also able to twist off-road according to different conditions, such as uneven terrains and bumpy roads
Unfortunately, the car is currently still a concept, and it remains unclear when, or if, it could become a reality
However, it offers an interesting glimpse at what the future of off-roading could look like.
The Huntress isn’t the first concept car to hit the headlines in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Hyundai’s ‘walking car’ concept moved a step closer to reality after the vehicle manufacturer unveiled a new $20 million (£16 million) development centre to expedite its arrival.
The aim of the New Horizon Studio, which has opened in Montana in the US, is to build vehicles for future customers who want or need to travel over terrains which are challenging for conventional ground vehicles.
The Huntress concept car offers an interesting glimpse at what the future of off-roading could look like
It will focus on the development of Ultimate Mobility Vehicles (UMVs), including a car with legs that can simply walk over anything it struggles to drive over.
The South Korean firm previously showcased designs for UMVs at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2019.
The Elevate concept, which resembles the All Terrain Armoured Transport (AT-AT) walkers found in the Star Wars universe, combines a traditional wheel with a leg that unfolds for dangerous terrain.
Elevate: Hyundai’s walking car conept
The Elevate concept is based on a modular EV platform with the capability to switch out different bodies for specific situations
The Elevate concept is based on a modular EV platform with the capability to switch out different bodies for specific situations.
The robotic leg architecture has five degrees of freedom plus wheel hub propulsion motors and is enabled by the latest in electric actuator technology.
This design is uniquely capable of both mammalian and reptilian walking gaits, allowing it to move in any direction.
The legs also fold up into a stowed drive-mode, where power to the joints is cut, and the use of an integrated passive suspension system maximises battery efficiency.
This allows Elevate to drive at highway speeds just like any other vehicle.
But no other can climb a five foot wall, step over a five foot gap, walk over diverse terrain, and achieve a 15 foot wide track width, all while keeping its body and passengers completely level.
Further, the combination of wheeled motion with articulating legs provides a new paradigm of mobility by enabling faster walking speeds, unique dynamic driving postures and torsional control at the end of each leg.
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