Open Source Car

[91z4me]

I don't know if anyone here has seen this but it seems really cool. Thought I would share.

http://www.theoscarproject.org/index.php?o...ge&Itemid=1

[aaaantoine]

So is someone gonna actually build this thing or what?

[91z4me]

So is someone gonna actually build this thing or what?

I don't know. I guess it depends who is on the financial backers.

[thegriffon]

LOL, I've been thinking about the feasability of an Open Source car design, (or rather an open-source architecture) for some time. It would save time if someone were to contribute an existing architecture to build from, as Nertscape provided the core for Mozilla, and now benefits from the continued development. Any changes made by anyone to the basic structure, suspension, available driveline options etc. would be made freely available. Someone may improve rigidity and NVH, another handling, another may provide an awd design, another an off-road version or increased towing capacity, someone else may develop a light-weight version, a more compact or larger version, all of which would be freely available for any automaker to design a body and interior for and build.

[91z4me]

LOL, I've been thinking about the feasability of an Open Source car design, (or rather an open-source architecture) for some time. It would save time if someone were to contribute an existing architecture to build from, as Nertscape provided the core for Mozilla, and now benefits from the continued development. Any changes made by anyone to the basic structure, suspension, available driveline options etc. would be made freely available. Someone may improve rigidity and NVH, another handling, another may provide an awd design, another an off-road version or increased towing capacity, someone else may develop a light-weight version, a more compact or larger version, all of which would be freely available for any automaker to design a body and interior for and build.

So there would be an open source chassis and the automakers would be coach builders? Nifty, we could see much more expressive designs and such.

[thegriffon]

Not chassis as such, but the basic architecture (floorpan, firewall, front and rear subframes etc.). I doubt you'd see more expressive designs, but it could reduce the cost of developing lower-volume products and various derivativessuch as crossovers, size variations. To some extent GM is enforcing the design principles internally-rather than each region developing their own proprietory programs which only run on their (manufacturing) systems, they must now contribute to a global program everyone (within GM) has access to, capable of running anywere and adaptable to each users needs. Instead of GM NA developing their own unique version of Delta so they can build an awd HHR, they work with GM Europe to ensure that the global architecture can be fitted with an awd system. Then in future Opel can use the same system in Europe to build an awd Astra OPC, and GM Daewoo can use it to build a crossover to match the Qashqai and swb RAV4 sold in Europe (hypothetically).

[regfootball]

the ecoweenies, lawyers, and feds would legislate this out of existence.