Cadillac Aera Wins LA Auto Show Design Challenge

Another win for American manufacturer GM at the Los Angeles Auto Show, after the Chevrolet Volt was named Green Car of the Year during the event. The carmaker's entry in the 7th edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge, the Cadillac Aera, won the competition.

Powered by nothing more than compressed air, the Aera uses a so called Pneumatic Drive System with a 10,000-psi composite air storage tank capable of storing enough air for some 1,000 miles. On the outside, the flexible polymer skin, somewhat similar to the one used by NASA for the airbags of their Mars Rover airbags, has been designed to improve aerodynamics.

The concept developed by Cadillac features other high-end technologies as well. An all-in-one wheel system that combines rotary actuator propulsion, steering and suspension functions, while the drive-by-wire system decreases the mass of electrical components.

"The Cadillac Aera concept was designed to continue the forward-thinking imagination of Cadillac’s ‘art and science’ philosophy,” said Jussi Timonen, lead designer for the Aera. “It's designed as a small city urban vehicle, but we approached this 2+2 touring coupe very much from the brand's luxury perspective."

“Every detail of the Aera was conceived to minimize the vehicle’s environmental impact without sacrificing the style, comfort and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the Cadillac brand.”

The Aera secured the third win for GM at the LA Design Challenge. To get the award, the model had to battle fierce competitors wearing the badges of carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Maybach.