2005: Germany.
Illustrations on Display at Michelin Challenge Design™
Biography:
Alejandro Vaca Torres, 33, was born in Bogota, Colombia but currently resides in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 1996 with a degree in Industrial Design. He was Summa cum laude for seven semesters at the university.
Torres recently received his Masters Degree in Design and Integral Studies at the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Kunste in Stuttgart, Germany in 2004. He is fluent in three languages, Spanish, German and English, and is proficient in most PC and Mac computer systems.
Over the past 15 years, Torres has varied professional work experiences including co-founding a magazine that specializes in architecture and graphic and industrial design. He also co-founded and was a designer for seven years at DOS Diseno LTDA where he developed projects using architecture, graphic and industrial design. During his pursuit of his masters’ degree he worked at Thomas und Partner, an engineering company.
Torres has participated in numerous courses, seminars and congresses and has placed in the top five in more than six architecture and design competitions.
Description:
The COD (Car on Delivery) is a clean non-pollutant multifunctional vehicle designed for the city traffic. It proposes a different form within its category that outstands also with its aerodynamic efficiency.
Its slim curved contour on the extremes and the proposed double turning articulation in the front and in the back answers to its function for inner city driving, making parking and daily driving in traffic much easier.
The COD’s exterior form is clean and without ornaments, with two sliding doors and a lift ramp on each side to raise and lower easier the goods. The driver has a high comfortable sitting position for a better control and sight, with monitors of the rear view wide-angle cameras on the dashboard. The two front passengers sit lower for security and stability, letting also a free view for the driver in all angles.
Its electrical motor is located low on the structural cross-formed backbone (for stability and more internal free volume) transmitting its power directly to the central wheels. It can be used for goods transport in a closed or open cabin, or as van for transporting people and luggage, thanks to its simple flexible platform.