Yanko Design - Form Beyond Function

Be One With the Machine

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 10:00 AM PDT

Named after the Japanese word for “immersed”, the Mazda Shinshi concept aims to do just that! A stark contrast to the current autonomous movement, it’s designed around the driver to create the sense of the vehicle being an extension of the body.

Placed at the center of the vehicle, both driver and passenger will experience an exhilarating, racing-style sensation. This also has its technical advantages including better weight distribution, panoramic vision, and enhanced feedback.

As far as looks go, it’s gotta be the sexiest Mazda out there! Thanks to the centered driving position, it sports an extremely narrow, jet-like cabin. The flared front half has all the trimmings of a modern supercar but the open rear wheels and jutting tail are reminiscent of Formula One. Inside, the F1 attitude continues with a tightly enclosed yet highly visible cockpit and wide-handled, dashboard-integrated steering wheel.

The powertrain consists of 4 in-wheel electric motors fed by a high charge/discharge rating supercapacitor, accompanied by a rotary bio-fueled engine that serves only as a range extender for the main battery. This setting allows the Shinshi to have enough clean energy for the cities and plenty of power for fun on the racetrack without running out of battery.

Designer: Miguel Angel Bahri

The Skateboard that Goes ‘Vroom’

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 07:05 AM PDT

When Tony Hawk meets Tony Stark, you get the 121C Arc Aileron. Not your average skateboard, the 121C Arc Aileron puts a motor underneath the board, giving you the familiar feeling of riding a skateboard, with the added push of a brushless DC motor that propels you at up to 35km/h.

Built for the skateboard enthusiasts, and to attract the segway/hoverboard loving crowd, the Aileron isn’t just a thrill-machine… it also serves a higher purpose by being the perfect vehicle for commuting rapidly in the city’s crowded hustle-bustle lifestyle. The Aileron comes from Arc Boards, a company known for their high-performance skateboards in Singapore as well as internationally, and partners with 121C for their carbon-fiber construction. Carbon fiber is by far the most ideal material for the skateboard, making the Aileron weigh just a mere 4 kilos, while also being able to take the load of up to 120 kilograms. Uniquely though, the carbon fiber used in the Aileron is completely upcycled from the aerospace industry, reducing landfill waste, while also ensuring that the material is of the highest aerospace-grade quality.

The Aileron comes with a wireless remote, featuring a beautifully intuitive jogdial control that allows you to speed up or slow down the Aileron. Packed with a motor capable of giving you 35km/h of speed, the Aileron also has a braking system that can be operated by the remote too. Essentially an automobile in skateboard clothing, the Aileron ticks all boxes for being compact, convenient, reliable, lightweight, rapid, and cool, because no one ever looked good on a hoverboard or segway!

Designer: Hung Yi Ho

BUY IT HERE: $929 $1099

Introducing, the Elec-trike!

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 03:00 AM PDT

If Formula One refers to motor powered vehicles, what type of power do you think Formula Zero might refer to?! The answer is… YOU! The power-assisted Audi Formula Zero trike is perfect for zipping between short distances.

Channeling an uber-minimalist Audi aesthetic, the stripped-down design features a modular structure for easy assembly and maintenance. Its framework consists of aluminum, plastic and composite materials, making it incredibly lightweight yet durable. Safely enclosed within the panoramic glass cockpit, drivers can pedal away while protected from the elements. The unusual trike configuration features a two wheel arrangement in the front and a single wheel at the rear, making it essentially a trike, but giving the driver the feeling of driving a 4-wheeled automobile. Solar panels supplement rechargeable plug-in power so you’re always ready to go so long as the sun is shining!

Designer: Pavel Babienko

An Architectural Answer to Road Ecology

Posted: 29 Mar 2017 12:00 AM PDT

However necessary they are for modern transportation, highways have a huge negative impact on the ecosystems and wildlife in areas where they’re built. Designed for every major intersection, the Green Circle architectural concept aims to vertically restore space otherwise lost to highways.

The twisting structure serves as both an elevated garden and sanctuary for animals like birds which can safely nest without disruption. Each Green Circle is designed to capture usable rainwater and harness solar energy to power an integrated pump system. Not to forget, instant iconic landmark status!

Designer: Xian-Rong Lin