2009 Prius

Short Description:

Metamorphs from steampunk speedster by day to glowing sea walnut comb jelly pulsing thru the dark at night.

The steampunk Streamliner started with a Prius engine and chassis.  We removed the rear hatch, body panels, windshield and other windows, cut the top off, removed doors, rear compartment area.  It was basically a rolling frame with a motor at that point.  We then bent and welded up a frame of metal tubing to give it airship curves.

Fully addressable RGB LED strips were attached to each tube and connected to a central control system located by the driver.    The frame was covered with a ballistic nylon skin which was dyed burgundy in a mottled effect to give it an old leather effect, this was heat shrunk and coated with water and chemical proof urethane coating.  Additional addressable white flood lights were mounted strategically under the skin to provide larger glowing areas.  Finally addressable blacklight segments were installed underneath for animated ground effects.  We made custom wheel covers with art nouveau curves and found an old 1950’s windshield to put in.  All the lighting is tied together at the control unit which is by the driver and accessible by driver.

I love kayaking and my father and I built custom skin on frame kayaks in traditional Greenland style.  I loved the bending of the wood and the form the skin takes as you stretch it over top.  I am also a fan of airships and old planes which use similar skin on frame construction.  I have created an art vehicle inspired by this method of construction.  It is a steampunk speedster with sensual art nouveau curves.  It looks great with the sunlight reflecting off the black metal parts and taut burgundy red skin.   The entire frame is covered in individually addressable RGB LEDs that are hidden under the translucent skin…until night time, when it metamorphs from steampunk speedster to glowing sea walnut comb jelly pulsing thru the dark.

Lighting:

Fully addressable RGB LED strips were attached to each tube and connected to a central control system located by the driver.    The frame was covered with a ballistic nylon skin which was dyed burgundy in a mottled effect to give it an old leather effect, this was heat shrunk and coated with water and chemical proof urethane coating.  Additional addressable white flood lights were mounted strategically under the skin to provide larger glowing areas.  Finally addressable blacklight segments were installed underneath for animated ground effects.  All the lighting is tied together at the control unit which is by the driver and accessible by driver.

Operation:

This Streamliner is operated like a Toyota Prius.  It has normal accelerator, brake, steering wheel, and all signaling lights (tail, brake, turn).  It is legal so has headlights and mirrors so I can see around me.  It also has a rearward facing camera that is on at all times, so I am see behind me always, not just when backing up.  It has all legal safety gear: seatbelts, airbags, horn, so forth.  It has no sharp object protruding and is as pedestrian safe as a normal Prius in all aspects, but is, of course, much more well lit and visible.  It is street legal, registered, plated, and insured.

Enter/Exit Procedure:

Folks can access vehicle by opening the door and sitting down like a normal vehicle.  Then they buckle up like a normal vehicle.

Propulsion Type:

Standard Prius Hybrid Engine.  It is green.  I did add EV mode switch where it can be told to run only off the electric motors at low speed.

Design Safety:

It is legal so has headlights and mirrors so I can see around me.  It also has a rearward facing camera that is on at all times, so I am see behind me always, not just when backing up.  It has all legal safety gear: seatbelts, airbags, horn, so forth.  It has no sharp object protruding and is as pedestrian safe as a normal Prius in all aspects, but is, of course, much more well lit and visible.  It is street legal, registered, plated, and insured.  Folks can access vehicle by opening the door and sitting down like a normal vehicle.  Then they buckle up like a normal vehicle.