ESC4 by Nathan Wills, USA

2010: Electrifying! Beautiful, Innovative & Radiant.

Scale Model on Display at Michelin Challenge Design™

Biography

After studying engineering and a brief career restoring and fabricating Hot Rods and classic cars in southern California, Nathan became intrigued with the field of Automotive Design. He pursued this passion at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA where he graduated in 2009.

Nathan began his automotive design career at Bright Automotive where he was hired to help design and develop Bright’s first production vehicle in 2008. Since then he has continued to consult on other automotive projects with companies such as BMW Group DesignworksUSA, Honda R&D and ACCD Advanced Mobility. Nathan is currently heading Clutch Collapsibles, a company launched around his designs of collapsible bicycles and sports equipment.

Description

The ESC4 is a four-seat battery electric sports car for the 2015 American market. The main focus in designing the ESC4 was to create an electric vehicle that attracted sports car enthusiasts, yet with the convenience of four seats. To compete in the sports car segment, it was important to showcase the powertrain and allow owners to proudly display aftermarket components and modifications, similar to what is already happening in the Muscle Car and Tuner segments. To achieve this, the vertically mounted electric motor and control module are visible through the rear glass while the battery pack is tucked away in the center tunnel of the vehicles frame.

The ESC4’s exterior was inspired by a natural pumice stone, said to be nature’s most aerodynamic shape, giving the vehicle cabin its sleek shape. The athletically shaped quarter panels and forward reaching fenders give the vehicle a strong stance while making it clear from first glance that this vehicle is different from anything else on the road.