The extreme sports user can be categorized in many different ways, three of the main groups of extreme sports users involve: Water Extreme sports persons, Motorbike Extreme sports persons and Outdoor Pursuit sports persons. I wanted to look at the kind of vehicle an extreme sports user would use why they are suited, and for what else they could be adapted for and have design potential for an extreme sports user on the road.

Mini Beachcomber (Concept)

Looking at future vehicles that maybe coming into the market over the next few years, the Mini Beachcomber is a vehicle that has been specifically designed and aimed towards a market of users who are going to use their vehicle when taking their surfboard, wet-suit, down to the beach. The vehicle has been designed with the surfer and water sports user in mind, with a rugged ability for the vehicle to go off road when driving down to the beach, the seat themselves almost look like they are wet-suits themselves. The boot of the car offers large amounts of space for wet-suits, bikes, safety equipment and maybe even a hamper of food, so I see no reason why this couldn’t be used for day trips.

This concept could be explored further to incorporate a similar styled motor home/toy hauler trailer, by adding this trailer you would have the ability for the extreme sports user to be on the road for as long as they wished. The mini beachcomber could be used to pull the trailer between sites and locations whilst at the same time could unhitch the trailer and go
exploring when you arrive at your location.

Nissan Qashqai

Described as ‘A stylish crossover vehicle dynamic driving characteristics of a sporty hatchback with the robust, solid virtues of a compact SUV.’

The Qashqai has been around since 2007, and has now got a revamp in 2010. The Qashqai known for its economic features, with lower exhaust emission levels and improved fuel economy over other cars in its class. This car I would categorise to be aimed towards the outdoors pursuits user, someone who enjoys the outdoor lifestyle of camping and such activities as rock climbing. I would also suggest that motor sports adventurers that partake in motocross and bmx racing would also be attracted to this type of vehicle. The boot space can be extended with flattened back seats, which would allow more equipment to be stored. With the same token I feel this car would welcome the design of a stylised trailer which could be towed by the vehicle as a living space so users could camp overnight/weekend when at an extreme sports location.

Skoda Yeti

Could this be the answer in bringing together the high-riding nature of SUV and the practicality of a hatchback for an extreme sports user?

Much like the Nissan Qashqai it is a four wheel drive which aims to be a hybrid of SUV and hatchback, the Yeti offers the user large amounts of space throughout the whole car either for passenger comfort or more space to stuff in your extreme sports equipment? More space offers more room that if the car was to be used by a surfer/bmx biker, it would mean that the trailer doesn’t need to be as large and concentrate on being a living and sleeping space for when on the road.
The slightly elevated middle part of the bumper flows alongside the lines of the
elevation down both sides of the front of the car and these lines in styling flow right down the sides of the car. The car holds enough round and smoothed off areas for it not to be considered heavily boxed like and restricted, it has its own feel of smooth lines and flowing shape to be attractive (although not as much as the Qashqai.)
The four by four nature of the design would allow the car to adequately pull a small trailer (living space,) for an outdoor pursuits user. The styling and lines could be echoed in the trailers design carrying through from car to trailer, the trailer could be made a great stylistic extension of the car itself.

Ford Kuga

“its intelligent all-wheel drive (AWD) system allows you to escape off-road… The bold, contemporary exterior is matched by an interior that’s sophisticated, spacious..”

This crossover vehicle aims to be a vehicle which can cater for the off-road user with the pictures showing the functions of carrying your surfboard, bicycle, as well as dealing with any type of road condition. Whether you choose to have your outdoor pursuits in the snow, the beach or off road in mountains and rocky roads.
The vehicle has very distinct styling and is something I am immediately drawn towards, with great space for loading equipment and takes advantage of the split rear tailgate technology. It looks rugged and at the same time maintains the styling of a sports vehicle which appeals to the younger audience which takes part in outdoor pursuits. I believe that trailers could be part of the Kuga’s design and take advantage of the styling and unique detail the Kuga has transporting it onto a trailers design making it distinctive in their own right as well as not looking out of place when the trailer is towed by the Kuga on the road. The Kuga would be a perfect vehicle for which someone could explore the mountains or surrounding area of a trip away leaving the trailer behind as a base camp to come back to relax to at the end of a long days extreme sports.

And for something which combines car and trailer design..

Mini Cooper: S Clubman

This design caught my eye for its flowing style, looking at the trailer you immediately see the copied stylistic lines and curvature. As well as the colour scheme in outside paintwork as well as the subtle use of the green/yellow used in the mini cooper’s front bumper is then used on the interior of the Clubman and in the inlays of the windows.

Although the height of the Clubman is obviously several feet higher the lines flow from the start of the mini through to the back of the Clubman, the curvature and subtlety of the back end of the mini cooper is also used at the back of the Clubman. The Mini Cooper often a fan to many water sports users (such as surfers) has the ability to carry the board on its roof rack, their is no reason why surfboards (and kite boards, etc) couldn’t be stored away safely inside the Clubman. The retro styling of the Mini Cooper (first released in the 70s) comes through in the Clubman with the interior it has, as well as the pair of Swan chairs.

Did you disagree with any of my selections?

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Article written by Jared Thompson

Head writer of Design Something Blog, currently studying Product design at the University of Central Lancashire in his final year. He has interest in minimal, clean and simplistic design styles.

Follow Jared (@Jthompsondesign) on twitter!