Το Lexus NX αποκτά ζάντες από πάγο

Η Lexus για να γιορτάσει τα Χριστούγεννα ανέθεσε σε τέσσερις καλλιτέχνες να δημιουργήσουν ζάντες από πάγο πάνω σε ένα πραγματικό NX 300h. Οι άνδρες χρειάστηκαν περίπου 36 ώρες για τον κάθε τροχό, 144 ώρες συνολικά, για να δημιουργήσουν και τις 4 ζάντες-γλυπτά από πάγο, χρησιμοποιώντας τεχνικές με χρήση λέιζερ, με τον σχεδιασμό του project να είχε ξεκινήσει τρεις μήνες πριν.

Το

εντυπωσιακό είναι πως η Lexus χρησιμοποίησε κανονικά τις ζάντες από πάγο, με το NX να διανύει μερικά μέτρα σε έναν δρόμο του Λονδίνου.

Η Lexus μας έχει συνηθίσει σε παράξενα projects όπως το εντυπωσιακό hoverboard, αλλά και την origami ρέπλικα του IS που μπορείς να την οδηγήσεις.

Lexus on Ice: NX Ice Wheels02:04 Lexus on Ice: How the Lexus NX ice wheels were made04:10 Δελτίο Τύπου

LEXUS NX RIDES ON THE WORLD’S COOLEST WHEELS – CRAFTED IN SOLID ICE

The concept of driving on ice has taken on a whole new meaning for Lexus, which has crafted the world’s first set of working wheels and tyres made from frozen water.

Brussels, Belgium – True to its mission of “creating amazing” and inspired by the craftsmanship that goes into every vehicle it makes, Lexus commissioned a team of ice sculpture specialists to explore how ice could be used in place of conventional alloy metal and rubber.

After three months’ research, design and testing, the finished wheels were fitted to a Lexus NX for the ultimate ice drive. The car itself was deep-frozen, stored for five days at -30°C (it started first time) before being driven off down a London road.

The addition of in-wheel LED lighting added an extra dramatic dimension to the cutting-edge contemporary styling of the NX.

The project was undertaken by Hamilton Ice Sculptors, a London-based business established for more than 35 years with world-leading experience in producing innovative and large-scale works. For the Lexus commission – the first of its kind – genuine NX wheels and tyres were laser scanned and replicated using computer design and numerical control techniques. The result was an unprecedented fusing of art and engineering.

Just as the skills of Lexus’s famous takumi craftspeople are used to achieve the highest quality, the human hand and eye were fundamental to the success of the project. Four sculptors worked for 36 hours to produce each wheel. The millimetre-perfect finish was achieved with hand-crafting, using Japanese steel chisels and shaping tools. Even the tread patterns on the tyres were faithfully reproduced.

The ice was made from softened water taken from a moving flow to ensure it was perfectly clear when taken from the freezer. Acrylic inserts were added to ensure the wheels could take the load of the NX.

Richard Balshaw, Lexus Director, said: “Creating Amazing is what Lexus is about. Projects such as our hoverboard, the origami-inspired cardboard car and now a dazzling set of fully functioning ice wheels, demonstrate how we use advanced technologies and the best craftsmanship traditions to achieve outstanding results. That’s not just for eye-catching one-off projects, but for the cars we deliver to our customers, too.”