The Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles automobile designers’ conference that has evolved into an integral element of the Los Angeles Auto Show. Entering its fifth year, Design Los Angeles provides designers with leading design speakers and the opportunity to address common issues. More than 500 designers attended last year’s event.
The Los Angeles region, long hailed as a leader of creativity and consumer trends, is home to the world’s largest concentration of manufacturer design studios, representing automakers from North America, Europe and Asia. It is also the home of Art Center College of Design, one of the world’s foremost transportation design institutions where many of today’s leading automotive designers began their careers.
Design Los Angeles is unique in that automobile designers are playing an integral role in its ongoing development. Six prominent designers are on the advisory board to identify issues that are of interest to designers.
Audi R25
Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California
Audi introduces the R25, the latest prototype in its legendary racecar lineup.
The inaugural Los Angeles round of the ALMS 2025 incorporates innovative features never previously seen in any form of motor sports, such as high-velocity banks and tunnels, which allow cars to race “inverted” and the opportunity to pass anywhere with aerodynamic racecars. All top sections of the tunnels and banks are also WiTricity wireless electrical charging zones, which encourage the drivers to utilize these free energy zones instead of fuel stops.
BMW Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer
BMW Group DesignworksUSA
BMW has designed a hydrogen powered salt flat racer based on the premise of Reuse (instead of recycle). This concept utilizes existing, ordinary, and mundane materials, such as old oil barrels and barbeque lids, as main components for the body and wheel discs. Friendly, whimsical and sustainable, the concept employs goldfish as “co-pilots” or “canaries-in-a-coal mine” to ensure that the vehicle is running clean emissions (if your fish get sick, you must be running “rich”). The wheels are gel-nylon for necessary flex, allowing tires to be airless and re-vulcanized or re-treaded.
