Alaska Motors Competition

Local Motors has announced the results of its Alaska Motors Design Competition, which asked to create a concept for an Alaskan race in 2013. The first three places were won by Anthony Colard, Pierre Gimbergues and Armand Herve.

Launched back in December 2009, the Alaskan Motors Competition asked the Local Motors' community to create a racing vehicle for theWrangell Mountain Extreme, a fictional race to be held in Alaska in 2013.

Unlike the previous contests, this one was not constrained to real-production limits.

The first place was won by the B-Polar Concept by Anthony Colard.

The vehicle has a unique moving chassis with a rotating axis around its fuel tank.

This allows the B-Polar to go over snowdrifts, go in and out of crevasses, over rocks and through any kind of rough terrain.

The gas tank is located in the middle as the vehicle is GPL powered for less impact on the environment.

There is a small engine in the front to power the front wheels and a larger one at the back of the car for the rear wheels, which produce the main traction.

The wheels are equipped with holes to evacuate the snow; disk brakes are hidden in a sphere in the middle of the wheel.

Anthony explains: "My Alaska Motors concept is B-Polar, as a reference to one of my inspirations, the polar bear. It has a very bipolar design as well, with organic front and mechanical rear, all along with the feel of a buggy."

The second prize was received by Pierre Gimbergues for his Banshee Concept, a snow racer conceived to face any kind of bad weather and difficult ground, thanks to its 4-jointed articulated, directional and suspended caterpillars.

"Inspired by mountain animals, the Banshee is incredibly capable, able to climb, and jump. Moreover its 4 additional big lamps allow for perfect visibility throughout the blizzard. Banshee is powered by a hybrid bioethanol and electric engine."

The third winner is Armand Herve with the TW-Ice Concept, a two-seater vehicle powered by a BMW V12 bioethanol engine. The name refers to the idea of 2x (2 times).

The vehicle has two distinct parts connected together by a semi-rigid material. Because of this unusual suspension, the vehicle cannot flip over.

The TW-Ice can use tracks or wheels depending on the circumstances.

The rear storage space can store everything is needed for the race, including a compartmentalized box

(Source: Local Motors)