The entries for the 2012 LA Auto Show Design Challenge have been revealed and we have to note the similarities between the visions of law enforcement vehicles from the year 2025 from BMW, General Motors, Honda and Subaru; the entry from Mercedes-Benz stands removed from the pack as it is suspected to preview a future G-Wagen.
BMW's E-Patrol (Human-Drone Pursuit Vehicle) is a bulletproof, thermally powered pursuit vehicle that can deploy three drones should the main vehicle not be able to keep up with a suspect vehicle through the congested streets of Los Angeles in 2025. Once deployed the drones can monitor the target vehicle or deactivate it with an EMP strike.
General Motors has used the expertise gained from building the Chevrolet Volt to design a trio of vehicles that make up the Volt Squad. Built around the Volt's electric propulsion system the three vehicles (a car, bike and a Stormtrooper-like hover bike) were designed under the ideals of 'OBSERVE, PURSUE and ENGAGE'.
While GM has three vehicles, Honda actually has two separate entries, one from its US-based design studio, and one from its Japanese counterpart. The American entry is a two-vehicle system called the Drone Squad. The Auto-Drone acts as a mobile command unit and is capable of operating manned or unmanned. The command unit can deploy unmanned Moto-Drones (motorcycles) that can operate as either response of rescue vehicles.
The Japanese design is a trike straight out of Judge Dredd. Designed for the famous California Highway Patrol (CHiP) the Traffic Crawler features a front end that looks to have been inspired by classic American metal, specifically around the upright grille. The patrol vehicle has been designed to offer sporty mobility with the toughness to respond in severe traffic conditions.
The Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept, or SHARC for short, is an autonomous vehicle that patrols the super-highway that links the islands of Hawaii.
The entries will be judged by a panel of experts including Bruce Meyer, board member of the California Highway Patrol 11-99 Foundation, former racer and past chairman of the Petersen Automotive Museum with the winner announced on November 29.