We all try to buy cars that suit our varied needs, be it MPV to get the kids to school or a sports car to help announce how well you're doing to the world. But Mazda has presented a future concept called Auto Adapt whereby the vehicles could change and alter according to their owners' personalities and driving habits.
Exterior
Drawing on inspiration from the insect world, and seeing how different species evolve and adapt to suit their surroundings, Mazda's Auto Adapt concept portrays vehicles that change according to the individual driver. As the world moves closer towards autonomous vehicles, those drivers who have no interest or desire to control the vehicle would travel in boxy shaped cars with opaque windows that allow its occupants to work (or sleep) while travelling. On the other hand, for drivers that still possess a desire to be in charge and possibly prefer a sportier driving style, their vehicle would take on a far more aggressively styled exterior, with suitable aerodynamic bodywork and driver's cockpit.
Interior
If you're a sporty driver then you'll love how the cockpit can adapt to suit a manually operated vehicle. In this case, drivers who prefer driving benefit from a design that is very driver-focused, placing all the necessary controls at easy reach. On the other hand, if you're a busy corporate high-flyer that can't spare even a minute, an autonomous cabin would change into a distraction-free zone. Controls would be moved away and if needs be even the windows could become opaque to block out any distraction from the outside world as it whizzes by.
Mechanicals
It's hard to know exactly what would power the Auto Adapt concept, but given the differing styles of vehicle, electric power could be the ideal choice as outputs could be easily controlled and adapted to suit the chosen driving style. And as battery technology is evolving at quite a pace currently (sorry, no pun intended) one would assume that packaging would be less of an obstacle by the year 2025, which is when the Auto Adapt concept is envisioned to be transporting its occupants.
Anything else?
The Auto Adapt was created as part of the 2013 edition of the annual LA Design Challenge, which runs alongside the LA Auto Show. Automotive design studios from around the world are invited to participate and this year, studios from Germany, Japan and the US competed to design "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025: Nature's Answer to Human Challenges."