 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys. I'm a university student designing a concept car for active living, mainly focusing on snow sports and the interior of the vehicle. I hope you don't mind me coming to you for some research to help me create new ideas for a car interior. I'm concentrating on creating the concept of a 4 seated crossover between a coupe and an SUV, sporty and fun to drive to mountains but with a practical interior and 4WD to handle the snowy bits.
What are the five essential features you see in a vehicle/vehicle interior for snowsports and what three innovations would you most like to see in a new model?
Thankyou for your time!
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brian
brian
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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stability on snowy roads would be vital - so no big clunky high centres of gravity. Under floor stowage for skis and snowboards maybe (because they drip!).
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covski,
- in car ski storage that doesn't get in the way and doesn't get snow melt water everywhere (see Audi/Range Rover seat ski bags)
- external temp gauge
- Lots of heat sources - heated windscreen, mirrors, seats, integrated glove&boot warmers/dryers
- large pedals so you can drive safely with ski boots on (as opposed to less safely)
- integrated snowplough to plough past the idiots who thought they could get away without chains/snowtyres
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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how about a cavity underneath all the seats that you can slide skis into. It'll need to be big inside. Think about folk driving to the alps, maybe 4 people in a car, with skis, boots, gear and normal luggage on top of that. Thin tyres to cut through the snow would be a good thing too. Something along the lines of a Honda Element, but with space for skis under the floor and more futaristic looks. Replaceable body panels and they could take a beating in the harsh weather. Space in the back to be able to get changed out of the weather. Some kind of winch attached to the car would be good too - for helping other people out of jams. Would be good if it was concealed though.
Plenty leg and head room.
Some kind of fitment inside to attache mountain bikes to would be good too  Mind you, the best bit of car design for a while (as far as sport equipment goes) is the Vauxhall Corsa with the bike rack built into the bumper that slides away when not in use.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think they essential thing for me would be the ski storage! It's such a pain in the backside, even gets irritating when heading to the snow dome etc. Range Rover Sport esque! V8 petrol is fantastic if a little thirsty....put a V8 into it, plenty of power to blast up the mountain passes.
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nah - a big turbo diesel like the new bmw 1 series engine. It's got 2 turbos, one wee, one big. means no turbo lag but still lots of grunt. and, diesel is cheaper in france, where the mountains are
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shoogly, i could go for a v8 diesel i guess.......
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
| plenty of power to blast up the mountain passes |
I would have thought the priority for mountain passes is engine flexibility, manoevrability and road holding, rather than huge amounts of power needed. But absolutely definitely diesel (at least if you assume current continental price differentials will continue). But emissions need to be low - future regulations will dictate that, but also reflecting snow sports lovers respect for the mountain! Maybe like a Prius. Also a device which enables you to switch on de-icing with remote control - no scraping windows. changing gear constantly on mountain roads is a pain, but full time automatic wouldn't be the answer either, given the need to override it on icy roads etc. So maybe switching between the two.
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pam w, power and engine flexibility can come at the same time you know...
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brian
brian
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pam w, petrol is cheaper in Switzerland.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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covski, I think anything that encourages vehicle use is a bad thing. If it is unavoidable to drive, the vehicle should be as economical as possible. It should have hybrid technology at the very least.
Ideally, you'd just have good public transport so a car is not necessary.
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docsquid, i don't know-on a completely selfish level-i love driving! Especially mountain roads.
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You know it makes sense.
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ski's for the car .... Rolling down the slopes in a Porsche Cayenne would really scare those pesky snowboarders.
In all seriousness the one thing all cars, minibuses and coaches , that drive long distances, need is ....... a way to lean your head to the side so that you can go to sleep without, placing your head on you hand and geting serious ache in your arm or without placing your head on the window pane and getting serious headache from the vibrations.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Maybe with some clever suspension system to give better snow clearance.
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Poster: A snowHead
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parlor, you beat me to it. Jon Olsson's car is awesome 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How about, a compartment to put your boots. It would kinda come out when you press a switch, place the boots on it, press switch again and it would go back into the main chassis of the car being essentially "hidden". Then there's ski storage and stability.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Something that stops the door lock from freezing - and allows the windows to lower when it's icy. And a heated windscreen wash bottle. I know it should not freeze up anyway with the right gloop in it - but for whatever reason, you can get caught out.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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A genuine 5-seater for those of us with 3-kids. Not 4 seats and the 5th smaller, or really the armrest!
Plenty of internal power for the ipod, satnav, video
A fridge and kettle for a break on the roads
on a more serious note - headlights which can auto-adjust to driving on the right without use of reflectors. While I'm at it a car which you could drive left or right hand drive depending where you are
Looking at your username - I'm guessing you're either at Coventry or Warwick Uni?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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parlor, I want that!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Rossfra8, no you dont its the wrong colour
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| David Murdoch wrote: |
covski,
- integrated snowplough to plough past the idiots who thought they could get away without chains/snowtyres |
Is this a typo perhaps surely you ment to type Thermo Nuclear Warhead
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I saw a new 911 Turbo blast up the mountains today with 2 pairs of skis on the roof.
Yes please.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Ability to start engine and run heater and demister in resort with doors still locked and no-one inside. I have had a car in Canada with a block heater, and used another with a built in fan heater plugged in off external mains, but then you have to faff about with power points and cables.
Has to be 4 x4 with decent clearance. Be good to have lights with both LHD and RHD orientations, rather than fiddly stick ons, or driving on dips with the angle down.
Integral roof box for skis?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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parlor, hmmm... now just need to get it to clear the snow from the drive..
of course what a chap really needs is a helicopter 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Rossfra8, said
| Quote: |
| pam w, power and engine flexibility can come at the same time you know... |
yes, I realise that. The thing is, you don't need the power. who said this car was supposed to cost a fortune and guzzle gas?
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pam w, I don't believe either of those factors have been specified! In addition who suggested a V8 must "guzzle gas" can you inform me what you meat by this? THe new Range Rover Diesel V8 is fantastic, beautiful to drive and you get excellent miles to the gallon-pushing 30 if your stopping/starting etc. Also if you are stuck in the snow for example, the 4WD system and the extra powder under the bonnet help.
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You know it makes sense.
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covski,
As I drive in the Alps most weeks during the winter here are the extras I went for on my car .....
Heated front wind screen
Heated seats
Engine heater (so the diesel motor heats up quicker)
Cruise control (useful on those long drives)
The car also has traction control with an indication light and a temp sensor with a warning light (amber = cold, red = freezing).
Some 4WD systems start off as 2WD and only apply 4WD when the first two slip. A 4WD system that starts from a standstill in 4WD and then switches to 2WD (for economy) when traction is sufficient is better IMHO.
Winter features useful on other cars .....
The Audi Allroad type suspension allows variable clearance. Low for the motorway, higher for significant snow depths.
A GPS system with realtime updates.
StandHeizung (automatic heating system that warms the car engine and interior up without starting the engine) e.g. webasto http://www.webastoshowroom.com/blueheat/
As for useful new features
A shelf compartment with drain to store skis (either above or below the cars interior)
Storage for shovel and snow chains along with the clothing required to install them (thin protective gloves, head torch, jacket, pad to knee on)
A system to notify someone if the car is involved in an accident with a GPS location
A roof rack to store the mother-in-law, snowboaders and their hoodies 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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i think Land Rover must be doing the same project as you!
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Poster: A snowHead
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needs narrower tyres though
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Boris wrote: |
A genuine 5-seater for those of us with 3-kids. Not 4 seats and the 5th smaller, or really the armrest!
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Plenty of them around now Boris, just got an SMax for that reason, can get 3 kids in the back seat, each with their own booster seat, full 3 point harness, and all 3 seats that slide and recline.
Back on topic, I love the idea of underfloor ski storage, and auto fitting snow chains Pam
Cheers,
Greg
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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shoogly, what copying the Murano?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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An integral dehumdifier to remove moisture from coats, hats, gloves, boots etc... nothing worse than having to scrape ice from the INSIDE of the windscreen.............. it would need a moisture sensor to switch it off and prevent drying out the occupants....
I would also suggest some kind of snowboard detection device, linked to the satnav and ignition. snowbord detected and satnav switches off ignition on approach to Dover..... 
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