AUTO2010

An imaginative simulated "auto magazine from the future,"
discovered on the Internet, by Paul VanValkenburgh.

AUTO2010 is totally dedicated to the future of high performance auto technology. It's just like the car magazines you read today -- including road tests, engineering features, race reports -- except that it was written and photographed in the future, using revolutionary computer imaging techniques. It includes over 100 future automotive concepts that have never been seen in print, some of which are listed below.

It's actually a paperback book, with entire chapters describing the future technology of production cars, and methods of reducing congestion and pollution, and improving mileage. Other chapters describe the future technology of race cars, and what it's like to actually drive one. Perhaps you will be the first to develop some of these concepts. If you order the hard copy of AUTO2010, your chances are a lot better.

REVIEWS AND QUOTES:

• Automobile Magazine: "...wild and completely original ideas by a noted engineer/journalist."
• Car and Driver: "....dwells mainly in the realm of the bravely bizarre."
• Road & Track: "...remarkable value for its sheer slap-yourself-on-the-forehead ideas."
• OMNI: "An automobile lover's dream."
• Autoweek: "...heretofore unheard-of ideas put forth by a well-known automotive engineer/author."
• Motor Trend: "...take a fantastic voyage through the looking glass."
• Automotive Industries: "...my whole workday ground to a halt when it arrived in the mail...full of ideas that sound reasonable, feasible, and realistic...money well spent."
• Corvette Fever: "...stunningly realistic computer-aided photography...so masterfully details breakthroughs that you'll believe this really could happen."

CONTENTS

FEATURES

• EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION -- Writing in "Future Present" tense.
• CONGESTION SOLUTION I -- Clippings from futures past. The "towvan."
• CONGESTION SOLUTION II -- Commuters waiting for Prometheus. The "caravan."
• CONGESTION SOLUTION III -- Finally, arrival of the "Robocars."
• INTERVIEWING LEGENDARY AUTO FUTURIST SYD MEAD -- 50 years of breaking away.
• FROM INSPIRATION TO PRODUCTION IN 12 MONTHS -- Introduction of the new Railgun.
• FANTASY LIFE #34 IN A SERIES -- A day in the life of an auto design student.
• ART CENTER COLLEGE OF AUTO DESIGN -- Mecca for committed carradicals.

ROAD TESTS

• WE'RE CLIMBING THE WALLS -- Special test of the suction-traction "Remora."
• CHEVROLET IMPRESS -- For people who don't like road tests.
• PEGASUS 2010 -- Road/sky test of the latest fly-cycle.
• ROBOTEST TECHNIQUES -- Our new cyborg evaluator/writer.

SPECIAL TECHNOLOGY SECTION

• EXTERIORS -- Shapes and changes we never dreamed of.
• INTERIORS -- Intimate contact, and unexpected accessories.
• POWER! -- Engines, motors, flywheels, pedals, and drivelines.
• CHASSIS -- Under the skin with transparent technology.

COMPETITION

• THE 2010 INDY 500 -- "Training" cars for the win.
• WANNA DRIVE AN INDY CAR? -- What it's really like out there.
• SEN-SIMULATOR -- The world's fastest "racechair."
• FORMULA ONE COMMENTARY -- A future history lesson.
• THE MOSCOW FINALE -- World Car War 2010.
• F1 TECHNOLOGY REVIEW 2010 -- Team secrets exposed.

LIST OF SOME OF THE 100 ORIGINAL CONCEPTS

BODY:

• Body panel colors that can be changed electronically.
• Moving images and characters electronically generated on body panels.
• Body panels self-cleaning by electronic ultrasonic vibrations.
• Body panels that can change shape by electro-thermal manipulation.
• Body local air pressure sensors to change shape for aerodynamic optimization.
• Variable-opacity plastic panels to allow transparency.

ENGINE:

• Hybrid powerplants so small that their location is irrelevant (under seats?)
• A motor/engine totally contained in each wheel.
• Lifetime oil, with electro-chemical cleaning, and particle separation/storage.
• Individual electronic valve control allows startup without a starter motor.
• Computer selection of the most appropriate fuel and powerplant at all times.

CONTROLS/ACCESSORIES

• Steering and pedals on a plug-in module for use from any seat.
• A standard universal remote control on the steering wheel, for all accessories.
• Voice assignment of a trackball and toggle switch for the desired function.
• Electronically-enhanced audio and tactile feedback for better vehicle control.
• Wiperless air-jet windshield cleaning.
• Line of sight communication link to adjacent vehicles, with point selection.

CHASSIS/SAFETY:

• Electronic individual 4-wheel steer for optimum slip-angle control.
• One-switch transformation from street car to race car characteristics.
• Vacuum-traction assist for braking traction.
• Air-ride plenum in addition to normal suspension.
• Driver power assist from floor-mounted exercise pedals.
• Automatically controlled emergency 180-degree spin to provide rear impacts.

PLATOONING ON FREEWAYS:

• Gradual implementation of platooning with commercial "tow vehicles."
• Retro-fit hydraulic bumper latches for coupling private vehicles while in motion.
• Mini-module vehicles specifically designed for mechanical coupling.
• Converted semis that can tow 20 vehicles, two abreast in a standard lane.
• Computer mapping of adjacent vehicles for automatic emergency maneuvers.
• Steering wheel tug as a feedback for proper vehicle direction control.

FLYING CYCLE:

• Handlebar control of canard wings.
• Inexpensive fly-by-wire computer modules for low-volume ultralights.
• Folding wings that "fly" into position while in motion.
• Suspension that power-rebounds to assist the leap off the ground.
• Drive wheel acceleration assist for very short takeoffs.

MAGAZINE ROAD TESTS:

• Merging paper/electronic magazines, with touch-page control of bound-in disc.
• Cyborg test drivers and laser-grid locating of test vehicles.
• Surprise obstacle test for emergency maneuvers.
• Evaluation for "perfection in production."
• Writing style analysis and synthesis for computer-generated stories.

PROFESSIONAL "SPEC-CAR" RACING:

• Pit lane dyno check and electronic equalizer chip for spec-cars.
• Racetrack snapwalls to minimize impact damage.
• Towcar team strategy, with radio-synchronized throttles.
• Scoutcar team strategy, to predict optimum traction locations.

RACE DRIVER AIDS:

• Implanted electronic accelerometer for enhanced feedback.
• Polarized track surface-reading glasses.
• Visual field compression glasses.
• Bandpass filters for better perception of engine and traction conditions.
• Wind-vision goggles for observation of drafting turbulence.

"FORMULA NONE" UNLIMITED RACING:

• Computer-controlled laptime optimization.
• Computerized track-memory suspension.
• Control of response to random crosswinds.
• Utilization of wake turbulence energy from leading car.
• Direction control by tilting of the brake and accelerator pedals.
• Component ejection for faster pitstops.

ORDER INFO:

To order the hardcopy, autographed if you like, send $20.00 (ppd. in U.S.) to:

AUTO2010-N, Box 3611, Seal beach, CA 90740

If you want to pay a little more to order by VISA right now,
call Motorbooks International at 1-800-826-6600, and mention you saw it here.

ADDENDA:

FEEDBACK:
After you read the entire book, let me know if you have any other previously unpublished future concepts or links, or if you had any problems accessing this. I use Web-Counter to record hits, but if you want to get on a future mailing list, leave your e-mail address at: