MOOV's Acrobatic Stunts

Giving new meaning to the term "muscle car," this concept uses biomechanical muscles

MOOV's Acrobatic Stunts

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

The MOOV concept, designed by Jean-Michel Raad, won first prize at the 13th MA Design Degree Show at Coventry University, where Raad is a student. The urban motorbike concept was inspired by parcour, a French street sport involving running, leaping from roofs, scaling walls, and other Spider Man-like activities.

To that end, the vehicle incorporates "biomechanical muscles" that allow the chassis to transform, enabling the rider to perform acrobatic stunts. Biomechanical muscles is active area of robotics research, and they are beginning to be used in advanced prosthetics.

Schwartzapfel, a certified car freak, writes BusinessWeek.com's Concept of the Week column. He has studied the automotive marketplace and worked as an advertising/marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.