Sunday, July 18, 2010

HIgh-Tech Doesn't Even Begin to Describe...

Twelve cylinders, two turbochargers, a hybrid drivetrain, electronic all-wheel drive—pretty much the polar opposite of the back-to-basics Peugeot sports car below!

C H O P — This is one of my all-time favorite chops. I started with the Audi Rosemeyer Special concept, and extended it into a high-speed 4 seat luxury eco-hybrid with a W12 engine. Yes I did, lol. To illlustrate it's Autobahn-storming capabilities I included the Alps in the background—just like the mountains in the paintings of Southern Germany my parents brought home with them in 1960 when my dad retired from the Army.

Two years ago I worked up my 'bravado'—not an easy thing, lol, and I sent several of my chops in an email to Mark Stehrenberger, one of the best future-car illustrators in the world. I grew up with looking at his work in Motor Trend and other car magazines. I didn't expect to hear anything back from him, I mean he's so famous and so prolific, but darnit, I had a reply in less than 1/2 hour. He wrote back that he enjoyed my work and it was definitely magazine-worthy—especially a crazy car like this Audi. My year had been made! At the time I was posting at Motor Trend's forum every day, but not a single staffer ever commented on my work. It was really gratifying to bypass all of them and hear back from The Man himself!

Would a crazy high-speed twin-turbo W12 hybrid sports sedan for 4 passengers ever be produced for sale? I doubt it, which is all the more reason to create one in Photoshop. : )

8 comments:

  1. Audi is a strong styling leader in today's marketplace, I especially love their lighting - whats cooler than LED lighting ? Your concept captures their essence. Love it !
    Great story attached to it also. Congrats !

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  2. LOVE WHAT YOU JUST SAID HERE ABOUT THE MAIN MAN PATTING YOU ON THE BACK. SAYING YOUR WORK WAS GREAT.
    IF I WAITED FOR A PAT ON THE BACK I'D BE WAITING A LONG TIME BUT I GET A HUG IN SPRIT.

    DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I JUST TRIED TO SAY? I HOPE SO. I LISTEN TO SILENT. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU WALK AMONG THE FLOWERS AND YOU JUST KNOW THEIR ALIVE.

    GRANNY

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  3. thanks! it was a very cool day when I heard back from Mr Stehrenberger!

    I love Audi's new LED lights too. I'm a bit dismayed to have seen more than one car with one side's lights not working though. I really don't understand why VW/Audi can't get their electrical systems up to par.

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  4. Granny: Yes, I understand! I always enjoy your posts.

    OK. Turning off the mac for a few hours. As Arnold says, "I'll be back!"

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  5. I had a 83 Rabbit GTI and an 85 Scirocco. I'm always one to tinker with my cars and usually add sound systems, radar detectors, foglights, lets say alot of different electrical s**t. Anyway, I grew up in a Ford family and was used to their electrical systems and when I started playing with the VW's I was amazed at how different the 2 companies handled their wiring. All the electrical connections in any Ford I'd encountered were well shielded with nothing exposed. Not in the VW's ! It was the exact opposite !
    Open connections everywhere !! I can't speak for 2010, but old habits die hard. Wouldn't want to see their warranty repair stats. Think they'd have learned by now.

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  6. that's very interesting! i just assumed that something like a wiring harness/electrical system would be pretty much standardized. I'm the opposite of you... When I was installing stereos/foglights etc, I always had to bring it somewhere for the 'guy' to do, lol. That mythical guy that I think they spent an entire Seinfeld episode talking about. I'm about as useful with stuff like that as your average chimpanzee, and I don't mean to disparage chimps!

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  7. I can critique and collect art in many forms, maybe even conceptualize it, but I could never do what you do either. Its that yin and yang thing, or would that be yang and yang lol !

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