Every year, the L.A. Auto Show holds a design challenge, and this year's challenge was to design a highway patrol vehicle "that meets the challenges of a specific region's transportation and societal conditions in 2025."
There were six contenders from various design centers who created drones and multi-unit vehicles, and flying things, and an off-road-looking vehicle, all of which you can view at the
2012 L.A. Auto Show Design Challenge photo gallery
. They're very futuristic and cool-looking, like something you might see Batman driving, if he were a cop.
The winning concept is no exception. The Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept (SHARC), designed by Subaru Research and Development, provides 24-hour highway monitoring and is billed as an affordable and environmentally conscious highway patrol vehicle that meets Hawaii's strict UtlraGreen carbon-neutral environmental regulations.
The vehicle addresses the concern about reduced highway patrol budgets by powering itself with renewable energy and operating autonomously, which eliminates the need for a large full-time highway patrol staff. If you watch the video below, you'll see the wheels turn to giant propellers for flight. Less staff and no fuel—sounds like a good deal, but I bet maintenance would be a nightmare.
And for your viewing pleasure, check out this promotional video of all the vehicles
here
. Watch it when you have some time, because it's 12 minutes long and the music makes you feel like you're in a dance club.
I don't know much about design, but I'm realistic, and I personally liked the more conservative
fuel-cell Mercedes vehicle
, the Ener-G-Force, which they actually made and brought to the show (or at least the exterior).
Thi Dao is the managing editor of Government Fleet magazine.
