Lola Vision T Revisits Can Am Madness With Modern Precision

• Inspired by the Lola T160 and Can Am race cars

• Strong focus on stance, width and proportion

• Clean wedge profile with controlled surface work

Can Am automobiles still have an undeniable impact on enthusiasts today. With their wide stance and low profile, these vehicles exuded nothing but speed with little to no regard for practicality; therefore, they're no longer being manufactured or seen on our roads.
The Lola Vision T builds off of these strong fundamentals, taking cues from the past but designing around those principles.

Full gallery featuring the Lola Vision T can be found right at the end of this article. 

This concept developed by John Jungtaek Cho for the AGP March Competition remains true to his vision by designing a simple vehicle. The Lola T160 is utilized as a reference point, and as such, the shape of the vehicle develops based on the T160 but with a modern twist. In other words, however, the body will be long and low with an overall width to create a vehicle with a distinctive profile so that the vehicle can be easily recognized even when it is far from view.

It starts with the stance

Right away you'll notice the way this car looks so very planted.
The tires are cambered out to the maximum, while the body of the car remains low to the ground and there is a void of distance between them; therefore creating a long-looking car from front to rear. This is what creates most of the Can Am characteristics on this vehicle and it has all been achieved accurately.
There are no proportionate problems of distorted proportions. No large cabin with a small rear. Everything on this car has been built where it should be.

A wedge that holds together

Most of the story is told through the side view.
An uninterrupted expanse of a low nose transitioning smoothly at the rear of the vehicle and a long clean line running front to rear makes for a clear read in one glance; a typically good characteristic of an automotive product.

No other features or embellishments are needed to create drama or excitement; the overall design of the vehicle itself does an adequate job of providing the presence needed.

Clean surfaces, no distractions

The car has terrific overall proportions with perfect panel fitment and sharp body edges. The lines are straight and all surfaces are simple, general shapes, without extra detail added unnecessarily.
This gives it a feeling of being composed; one does not see detail and scramble to find out what is going on. Instead, it is perceived as one whole object.
Additionally, it implies a designer who concentrated on getting the body shape correct, rather than trying to add features to the car beyond the shape of the body.

The idea is very clear.

This car is a modern interpretation of a Can Am-type vehicle, based on its relative height/width relationship. There were no themes or references added to the design.
You can see the relationship between this T160 and the vehicle above but it doesn’t force you to see it. The relationship is there but in a subtle manner.

Placement

Much of today's research and development of concepts relies heavily on high-tech-based narratives (e.g., Electric drive systems, digital controls, and autonomous-related narrative). This does not apply here.
There was no pre-existing powertrain needed to establish the idea. Focus is placed on the physical properties of the vehicle (e.g., exterior dimensions, aesthetics, surface treatments, etc.).
As a result, this provides a reader an easier reading experience, as well as a more meaningful design contextual experience.
The Lola vision T works because it is a focus on base level information

(e.g., proportion, stance & overall shape), and does not have anything that appears forced or added as an attempt to occupy space.
John Jungtaek Cho has taken a common design concept and executed with precision. Therefore, it stands apart.

Connect with JOHN JUNGTAEK CHO

To explore more of JOHN JUNGTAEK CHO’s work, including ongoing projects and portfolio highlights, you can follow or connect with him on the following platforms:

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