Subaru SHARC Wins LA Auto Show Design Challenge

We saw BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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and MercedesMercedes-BenzGermany, 1924 > present197 models
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entries into the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, but we had not seen the contest's winner until now. Subaru'sSubaruJapan, 1953 > present34 models
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6 videos
SHARC beat both Germans and three others to take the design award. 

Subaru's design was called the SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept) and was meant as a 24-hour highway-monitoring vehicle in Hawaii. The vehicle would patrol a hypothetical bridge connecting the islands of Hawaii. The SHARC can either operate autonomously or be operated by a police officer.

The SHARC is made from cords that expand under compressed air to give the vehicle its shape. When not in use it can be stored in a barrel. Like nearly all Subaru's, the SHARC is all-wheel drive with adaptable suspension. In high speed situations the wheels have almost no camber, but if there is low traction, it can adjust wheel camber for the best traction. There are three cameras mounted on stalks that are projected to an operators 3D goggles

This year's challenge was to design a police vehicle for the year 2025. The designers had to imagine where the vehicle would be used and meet local emissions standards and other rules. 

BMW created a future California Highway Patrol vehicle with three drones that a passenger could pilot. Mercedes created an off-road police vehicle that would run on hydrogen from water tanks stored on the car.