Heatherwick Studio has revealed their very first car design, the Airo concept at the Shanghai Motor Show. The Airo is an electric car designed for IM Motors, a new Chinese car brand, and it can vacuum up pollutants.
Cleaning the air with the Airo by Heatherwick Studio.
The big feature of the Airo concept is its HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration system. This is what allows the car to actively clean the air from pollution while it drives. Here’s a word from Heatherwick Studio themselves:
“Airo isn’t simply another electric car that doesn’t pollute the air. Instead, using the latest HEPA filter technology, it goes further by also vacuuming-up pollutants from other cars as it drives along. Designed to simultaneously address the global space shortage, Airo is also a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping. As a new room for our lives, with a changing view, Airo is a car intended to transport us to a cleaner and better future.” – Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio
“… a multi-functional room with extra space for dining, working, gaming or even sleeping.”
The interior of the Airo can switch between manual and autonomous driving. To change between the two, the front seats can turn 180-degrees around and face the rear. In this configuration, a table can be unfolded to create a dining or workspace. Alternatively, the rear seats can function as a living room couch to watch movies or play games.
When the sun sets and it’s time to turn in for the day, the interior can be turned into a bedroom. When in this mode, the glass roof can be made opaque. That feature does seem to be something you can choose, so a starry night could still be enjoyed.
Source: Dezeen | Heatherwick Studio