Electric Blue IKEA

May 24, 2021 2:32 PM

Code Name: Höga [Archive]

The Modular, Assemble-Your-Own Höga Is Ikea and Renault’s Fictional Car Baby
374 pieces
IKEA press release
Designed by Ryan Schlotthauer ... and re/upcyclable

posted by chavenet (16 comments total)

The lack of safety features means this will rely on a level of autonomous driving that currently does not exist. Not just the quality of the autonomous driving systems, but their ubiquity. Even if every hand-off driving car was a perfect driver, this car wouldn't be safe unless it were in a world where every car was autonomous.
posted by thecjm at 2:36 PM on May 24, 2021 [5 favorites]

Great design for the people who go to IKEA by themselves.
posted by srboisvert at 3:02 PM on May 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

There's another world in which that's a perfectly safe car -- it's a city car where the speed limit is 25mph and enforced.

And then pedestrians are safe too.
posted by clew at 3:41 PM on May 24, 2021 [6 favorites]

There are places where such a vehicle would thrive. Typically city centres where the speed limit is already 30kph, or less. It doesn't seem anly less safe for the driver than, say, an ebike (or a regular bicycle), though it is larger, which could arguably provide a little more protection for the driver.

The little one-seater pick-up trucks used throughout Japan, or the tuk-tuks used throughout Asia, they are all variations on this small, cargo-carrying vehicle concept.

I think it's a fine idea except for the notion that it's still going to take up enormous amounts of public space both when it's driving and when it's parked. In the city core you don't need anything larger than a transit pass and/or a cargo bike, except in exceptional circumstances where you can have a hired vehicle carry your large items.

So, ultimately, I'm against it, because we really need to shift away from personal vehicles in city centres. And out of city centres, this machine is useless.
posted by seanmpuckett at 3:56 PM on May 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

I like this as someone’s clever design school idea (never being meant for actual production) but I like even better the resuscitation of the ‘kit car’ and ‘kit frankenbike’ concept, that was a 20thC staple of DIYers and small-scale manufacturers. Every big city used to be full of workshops selling upgrade or adaptation. Anything that puts mobility design (or mobility thinking) in the hands of ordinary people willing to break out the socket set is Good and Cool to me.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:00 PM on May 24, 2021 [3 favorites]

Oh, I want to buy that base and hack my own car on top
posted by mbo at 4:21 PM on May 24, 2021 [7 favorites]

I hope the idea is that you don't park it, you take out your Allen wrench and disassemble it back into a kit.
posted by zompist at 5:42 PM on May 24, 2021 [11 favorites]

People can still do a hell of a lot of damage at 25 mph, and that floor-to-ceiling windshield does not inspire confidence.

Safety aside, it's also not not super well suited for anyone who wears knee-length skirts.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 8:55 PM on May 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

The car guys saw this comin
posted by ahimsakid at 9:49 PM on May 24, 2021 [1 favorite]

The article mentions the French idea of "voiture sans permis" - or article in English here - as part of the inspiration behind this idea. VSPs seem to be a peculiarly French concept: a proud tradition of tiny, shit, over-priced cars that you can still drive if you are incapable of passing a test or if you have had your license taken away. Painting them yellow will at least help others to avoid them.
posted by rongorongo at 12:22 AM on May 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

I guess this is one way for Renault to improve their build quality.
posted by threeze at 12:48 AM on May 25, 2021 [3 favorites]

It’s just a school project, the rest is made up. No need to debate if its roadworthy.
Notice that the wheels can’t turn, for instance. Cool idea though.

The ikea link is an unrelated thing. So this post seems to be part of the hoax, too.

I love the design, but I can’t quite sit with faked news these days.
posted by svenni at 1:08 AM on May 25, 2021 [4 favorites]

It’s got accessible access!
posted by MtDewd at 4:42 AM on May 25, 2021

In the 80s, we designed cars where you could disassemble 374 pieces.
posted by bendybendy at 5:42 AM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

> we really need to shift away from personal vehicles in city centres

I agree with you, for able-bodied folk. For those who can't take the weather or carry their groceries, microcars like the Dutch Canta are an interesting niche.
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 9:51 AM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

> “ it's still going to take up enormous amounts of public space both when it's driving and when it's parked.”

Looking at the design, I think of Dome Tents. With the drivetrain in the platform, why not a pop-up version? Pack kit down and stick it on a shelf!
posted by xtian at 5:07 AM on May 28, 2021