By Cheri Sicard
What happens when the world’s most iconic RV designers merge with some of the most innovative automotive designers? Airstream’s newest concept trailer!
Throughout the decades, Airstream has done a number of collaborations, but few have actually changed the shape and structure of the iconic silver bullet trailers. That’s about to change with the Airstream–Studio F. A. Porsche concept trailer.
The most surprising thing about Airstream’s new concept trailer? It can be stored in most ordinary garages!
Airstream president and CEO Bob Wheeler said there were several things they wanted to accomplish with the concept trailer that, innovative as Airstream is, they just couldn’t accomplish on their own. So they brought in some outside thinking.
They wanted a sleek, lightweight travel trailer with a low profile. Most importantly, the trailer needed to be garageable and capable of being towed by an electric vehicle.
Airstream also required that the trailer be a work of industrial art in its own right, but with all the functionality and quality you would expect from an Airstream.
The idea was to come up with an RV that would appeal to urban dwellers who might not have room to store an Airstream in the driveway, or who might not even have a driveway.
The designers faced the challenge of creating a trailer that is comfortable and that people can stand in, but can also fit under a garage door. The solution is to make the roof raise and add independent suspension that lowers the chassis when needed.
The entire roof section raises in a parallel fashion in order to provide interior height throughout the entire trailer. Sure, other RV manufacturers have made popup roofs before, but none as sleek and stylish as this one.
Aerodynamics was another important factor to the designers. As this trailer is meant to be towed with an electric vehicle, there had to be as little wind resistance as possible. This quest is why the back end of this Airstream concept trailer looks significantly different than what we are all used to when we hear the word Airstream.
In this trailer the back end is flat, not rounded, and features a large picture window, and a tailgate that opens up to provide additional living space.
The interior has to be as efficient as the exterior, too. Every square inch of the trailer is utilized for at least two purposes, sometimes three.
Airstream has yet to announce when this new concept trailer will be available. However, you can sign up on the website to be apprised of news as it happens.
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How much, how big, what does it weigh? All questions that need to be answered and were not addressed in this video. A total waste of newsletter space. No specs, just drawings by engineers who never use their designs. Where do they camp that doesn’t have mosquitoes that will invade when you open the rear hatch? Engineers and journalists have a lot in common. Pick a subject and start talking without thinking, “what if”? Sorry if I offend someone, I’m not an optimist, nor a pessimist, just a realist, does the idea work? Yes or no.
This is a CONCEPT trailer as clearly stated, not ready for market. Unlike you, some people might be curious to see what upcoming innovations are in the works. And yes, you are insulting. Consistently. Look no further than your comment on my Mason Jar article for another example.
Needed to be said Cheri !👍
If it was mosquito season I would probably think to close the rear hatch. I did not see that it was required to be open.
So, what I saw as I kept jumping ahead to find some ‘meat’ in this video was a concept trailer. As Bob below said, no specs given and of course, no price estimate. If it’s Airstream it’ll be spendy. And, what does Porsche have to do with it?
If you watched the video you know what Porsche has to do with it. This is a CONCEPT trailer not ready for market, so no specs. And of course it will be spendy.
As stated: This is a CONCEPT of the F.A.Porsch Studios. CONCEPT – “a plan, idea or intention”.
I am curious how much time, effort, and $ were spent on this project? We own an Airstream and love most of it. However it drives us crazy that Airstream, as does other brands, continues to show poor quality control and uses $2 dollar parts in places where a $6 part would make a big difference in part longevity. Airstream also does not always do a great job in listening to current owners ideas for designing a better unit.
Virtually every aircraft in history began with a “concept” design and experimental build! As with most everything – design to concept to product is the procedure. I especially relate Airstream to aircraft obviously because of their aluminum/rivet constructs. Wouldn’t matter if it was made in plastic – the tho’t starts somewhere – the concept! There are design-concept targets – specs, price, sub-products and on and on – all to be worked out when on the production line and with subsequent “changes” and “upgrades”. Rome wasn’t built in a day either!
Interesting but I’m waiting for the Bentley/Airstream collaboration to be released for pre-order.
😀 😀 😀
Interesting concept, we’ll have to see where it goes