In order to enhance quality and meet future needs, GM and its strategic partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), share a common vision for addressing the need for personal mobility through a radical change in personal urban transportation. They are exploring several solutions for tomorrow’s drivers. Among the most promising is a new vehicle form called EN-V.
From the name of EN-V, which is short for Electric Networked-Vehicle, maintains the core principle of personal mobility – freedom – environmentally friendly. Not only to be free from petroleum and emissions, this car also to be free from congestion and accidents. Three EN-V models were unveiled in Shanghai. They represent three different characteristics that emphasize the enjoyable nature of future transportation: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). The concepts will be showcased from May 1 through October 31 at the SAIC-GM Pavilion at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
GM EN-V Concept is giving it the unique ability to carry two passengers and light cargo. It’s propelled by electric motors in each of its two driving-mode wheels. In addition, everything in EN-V is drive-by-wire, supporting its ability to operate autonomously or under manual control by combining the Global Positioning System (GPS) with vehicle-to-vehicle communications.
It weighs less than 500 kilograms and is about 1.5 meters in length. By comparison, today’s typical automobile weighs more than 1,500 kilograms and is three times as long. In addition, today’s automobiles require more than 10 square meters of parking space and are parked more than 90 percent of the time. Xiao (Laugh) was designed by GM Holden’s design team in Australia, while the look of Jiao (Pride) was penned by designers at GM Europe and Miao (Magic) was designed at the General Motors Advanced Design Studio in the U.S. state of California.
The EN-V’s innovative interior design, which provides maximum visibility to the world outside. A simple interface for activating Wi-Fi-based technologies keeps occupants connected to the outside world.
The design gives each EN-V its own personality, with a unique opening, elegant interior and innovative color, lighting and seat technology. Xiao offers a more lighthearted appeal, with its “gumball blue” paint and nautical-inspired design. Miao takes most of its design cues from the consumer electronics industry, as evidenced by its sleek, masculine looks. Designers also used Miao to display innovative lighting solutions, including extensive use of LED accent lighting. With its clean lines and bright paintwork, Jiao takes its design influence from bullet trains and Chinese opera masks. The body and canopy of GM EN-V Concept are constructed from carbon fiber, custom-tinted Lexan and acrylic, materials that are more commonly used in race cars, military airplanes and spacecraft.
