Concepts

As more people seem determined to spend their entire lives in the bathroom, gadget makers are responding in kind with products that fit in with the decor of tile and plumbing.

The latest example is a waterproof iPod speaker from a Taiwanese company called Nova. Gizmodo says it can either sit on a shelf or hang from the shower head in a way that "suggests a playful life attitude," to quote the company.

But if you're partial to baths instead of showers, you may need one more thing to go with it: a splashproof remote.

We're all about blue-sky thinking here at Crave, and this is some of the bluest we've seen. From the drawing board of Dutch inventor John Bakker comes the personal air and land vehicle (PAL-V), a cross between a Carver One three-wheeler and an autogyro that can be driven and flown at speeds as high as 200 kmh (125 mph).

While on the road, the gasoline- or biodiesel-powered machine relies on the same Dynamic Vehicle Control (DVC) system that enables the Carver to tilt when cornering. For flight, it uses the DVC combined with a gyrocopter rotor blade, which … Read more

Usually a spaceship-looking vehicle like this comes only in concept form, but the Aptera three-wheeled elecric or diesel-hybrid car--if it can accurately be called a car, anyway--has not only made it to the prototype stage but is available for pre-order. And why might you want to pay $500 just to wait in line to buy one?

Consider these stats: 230 miles per gallon on the highway for the hybrid version, according to Gizmodo, and an estimated 10 seconds from zero to 60. All this for the relatively paltry sum of $20,000 too, as long as you can contain yourself … Read more

As if YouTube presidential debates weren't enough, Mazda turns to the Internet to find a designer for its future Mazda 3 model. The company posted the Mazda Design Challenge on Facebook (Facebook registration required), inviting would-be automotive designers to submit their ideas for what the 2018 model should look like. For the initial entry, you will have to submit a 150-word description of your vision for the 2018 Mazda 3, plus an optional sketch. Our advice: don't skimp on the sketch--visuals help, especially in a design contest. Mazda judges will choose 10 semifinalists, then throw it back to … Read more

If automotive design interests you, take a look at these videos documenting the development of the Opel Flextreme. We covered the Opel Flextreme concept car at the 2007 Frankfurt auto show. It's essentially the Chevy Volt for Europe, using the same series hybrid powertrain. The Flextreme is a bit bigger and, most notably, it has a couple of Segways stored in its rear. If you want to find out why, watch the videos.

Flextreme design Part 1 This video is mostly an interview with Mark Adams, vice president of design for GM Europe. He talks in general terms about … Read more

We're not convinced about the wisdom of this one. GM is using this week's Frankfurt auto show to reiterate its commitment to alternative fuel cars with the unveiling of the Opel Flextreme, a concept plug-in car that builds on the buzz of the E-Flex drive train from the Chevy Volt. The car itself relies on a series hybrid drive train, which combines a lithium-ion powered-electric motor with a biodiesel combustion engine that is used solely for running the electric motor when the battery's charge runs out.

However, as blue-sky as the vehicle's power train may be (… Read more