Here is the orginal sketch for these overlays:

This design process was approved on Wednesday July 30th 2008 01:34:43 PM

Here are two more and I'm out. Would love to see some sketches from other community member. Peace.

i like the 2nd alot! if i get some time i wouldnt mind doing some variations!

Im liking the way the front end is starting to take shape. I am not a great fan of the lights at the moment, they seem a little pushed out when they are smaller units, as this vehicle is quite wide to begin with I think they may look too far out in reality. Love the two tone front end break up though, links in nicely with the rear section.

I have offered a varient, hope you dont mind me using the underlay, just figured it was easier to get my point across about the lights.

Just a study looking at the colour break up on the front end.....strays a little from the front proposals you have been suggesting before. Feel free to disregard it.

Thanks for the quick responses, Palethorpe and djfearnley! Of course I don't mind if you use my sketches as underlays - that's the way it's done! I like the headlights a lot.  "Eyes" are so important to a vehicle.  

djmfearnley, the latest sketch is an excellent front end graphic!  The grille/light treatment changes the body sculpture significantly, so I think I'll have a crack at moving the lights out of the grille graphic...  Thanks a lot.  Any other ideas, LM Studio Designers?

djfearnley, here's one way to separate the headlights from the grille, while using your "face" idea.  It's not as cool from a distance, I think, but would allow us to retain more of the front fender and "nose" idea from aerospace inspiration.  Let me know what you think...  Thanks!

hmmm, I quite like that, I'm seeing secondary vents just before the lights....I'll sketch it up.

Just tidied it up a little here and tweaked the bumper to wrap with the graphic feature at the front...any better?

David, that's rad.  I went ahead and turned your first sketch in a pensketch just for fun.  It's such a strong graphic.  Wanted to see how it worked with the form language of the vehicle.  What do you think?

wow guys thats great work! its a lot different, but it works well! it works really well with the rest of the body shape in ur latest sketch lmdesign. it looks like the car is frowning. i can really see some promising headlight development from this latest style... hmmm

Yeah!!! That's beginning to take shape. Your right Palethorpe it has blended the front with the rest of the vehicle. It looked poised and ready to pounce...very nice. Good translation into another view LM.

Djfearnley, here's a quickly markered version of it..

I like the marker version...very nice and poised. I jsut quickly rendered up the front with the lights seperated. Just thought I'd suggest an interchangeable nose piece, so you can custom it to the style you would like...don't think it works amazingly however it does link in a little with the P-51.

love marker sketches as usual.. my favorite us second ..third one is not bad either..I like bigger headlight from second and I like underneath panne from third one ..it helps aero for sure..thanks ..good work

here's some ideas..

More markers:

Thanks, djfearnley, for your input on this.  I did a quick 3/4 version of the marker sketch with your front end.  I'll put it up as a new Design Process entry for Studio evaluation.  Thanks deuxfov, for the sketches.  Let's keep going on the front end until we're satisfied!

here's another design variation..maybe look too much like mustang.though..what do u think?

@LM, I like your marker sketch, front end looks great..but it looks too sharpy and angular ..personally, I don't think it goes well with whole body theme.. I like your initial front end better..it goes well with theme..what do u think guys?

Thanks for that, Sangho.  I'll go back to the "old school" on the next variation, for comparison...

Great comment deuxfov, I see your point about too angular and sharpy. Though djfearnley's front end graphic is certainly compelling and from the right genre. I do like the echo of the secondary material prominently displayed in the front as it is in the back, but I know that it might be better if that material was not just prominent in the eyes but originating from the bottom of the car and coming up.

Thanks for that, Sangho.  I'll go back to the "old school" on the next variation, for comparison...

Thanks for that, Sangho.  I'll go back to the "old school" on the next variation, for comparison...

another one.. This is based on LM's last marker sketch. how about bigger headlights and smaller grill in front. and composite material underneath.. just my thought..

I hope the rear view development of the vehicle creates just as much interest in the Studio as the front. Still looking for more feedback and sketches from the LM Designers out there!  @deuxfov: Thanks for the latest sketch - I'll work with those ideas in my next versions!

Just a bit of fun...

@djfearnley: That is awesome. Very, very close to what we had in mind, but hadn't sketched yet. Great "warbird" feature with the two grilles and paint scheme. We will pursue this as well. Thanks to all for the work! Any more designers in the mix?

Here's a grille with more of an aeronautic influence.  Cheers to djfearnley - this one is closer to the warbird inspiration than some of the others, imo.

I did two more sketches using the original theme, plus a little Warbird influence from djfearnley-  Here's 1:

Here's another sketch, my personal favorite:

Hey LM design, Im liking the three development sketches after my warbird render. I agree, the final version is nice, the lights are looking good and I like the part lines separating the nose cone. Keep up the good work guys, looking forward to watching the development into 3D.  David.

Wow LM design, the three last sketches are really fantastic... I love the last, really proportionate but I find the front a bit too flat! Anyway great work!!

Agree with djfearnley about the part line for the nose cone. #3 of the ones you just added is powering forward in the right direction. Form is following the inspiration of aerospace and the function of an intake with little fuss. I like it alot.

This design process was approved on Thursday July 31st 2008 05:15:48 PM

HA!  Very cool rendering...  here's my latest version of the sketch, which is quite similar!

I personally wanted to keep the simplicity but aggreesive look...what do u think?

I like it, because it retains a lot of the surfaces we developed in Design Process.  I think the lights look a bit "ogre-ish" though. Mine could still use some refinement too!

yeah..agree..I will do more variations ...coming up...soon

Here is the preceding sketch, with my compliments to djfearnley:

And the original sketch, turned from a front-end idea by djfearnley:

deuxfov, I want a photoshop rendering demo from you one of these days!  Your style is rad.

thanks. I need to learn marker technique from u,then..let's trade. haha..

Wow guys your works are impressive... I like new fronts!
I try to do something!

Awesome line sketch, Reggiani.  Very detailed graphics...  will consider this input in the Process.  Thanks.  Would love to see more, as well!

Hey folks!  I haven't commented here in a while, I just caught up with the last few weeks.  This vehicle is looking great, we've got some real talent contributing to this process.  Deuxfov, LM and djfearnley mostly, with added sketches from a few others.  There have been a few really intriguing and unique front end graphics.  My question is this:  how much are we trying to stick with the P-51 inspiration?  Are we?  I know this started as a BMW sketch and the community adopted it as a jet themed/inspired ride.  It shows to me that along the process the form and graphic influences have taken more the path of the rough/rugged UV that this vehicle will be in it's realized functional state.  Has the P-51 been bred out because of the rugged four wheel low flying nature of this vehicle?  Or was there just a fork in the road and this lost it's way?

@Brianm:  I remember you mentioning that your favorites were iterations 3-6.  We liked the graphics and the "feel" of those but all agreed that they became too "doughy" and rounded in curvature to match the inspiration.  We looked closely at the P-51 and appreciated the length and directionality of its fuselage area after the nose and the distinct "kick up" after the ventral belly scoop on the P-51 D.  We sought to emphasize these features, which were in accordance with an American vehicle.  Maybe that helps to understand our thinking.  I do, however, agree that the current front ends are more "musclecar" than "aerospace!"  We're looking to move back in the "nose cone" direction with the next sketches, so watch this space!  And thanks for your comment!

Thanks, LM Design!  I don't recall that commentary in the process, and obviously I didn't go through the whole chain throughly enough before commenting, haha.  That said, I'm really glad the rear "kick up" and break up in the body (that you guys are also bringing in to the front end).  This process is coming along great!  Also, using this 30th named iteration as example, I appreciate that deuxfov has put a more realistic wheel size on the hot concept drawing.  Since this vehicle is getting very real, those things are important as the body isn't designed till the end around 30s then 17s are slapped on and look haphazard. Bravo to all taking place in this process! I'll be watching this closely again!

LM Design- Thanks so much, I'm glad that you like my sketch and... will try to so some other fronts!

I will try*... sorry

Wow Reggiani..Awesome overlay sketch!! I really like how you executed.. I mean it..@ LM design.. I really like that overlay sketch..I will try to go that direction..thanks Reggiani!!

Regianni - that's my favorite front so far.  Love that direction.  It's simple, but still has pizzazz.  I would love to see some of the headlight concepts converge with that front end.

just a bit of fun...

@djfearnley:  That is awesome.  Very, very close to what I had in mind, but hadn't sketched yet.  Great "warbird" feature with the two grilles and paint scheme.  We will pursue this as well.  Thanks to all for the work!  Any more designers in the mix?

Ahhh, I'd like to get in the mix of deveopment too, but I'm quite busy right now.  Keep it coming guys!

Ahhh, I'd like to get in the mix of deveopment too, but I'm quite busy right now.  Keep it coming guys!

Thanks guys, I really appreciated your comments! Thanks so much!!

Some front and headlights variations...

Reggiani, these are great. Might I recommend that you number these so that we might all discuss them with proper reference. Great work.

Hey everybody !
I post there my little contribution to this hot collaborative design process. My drawing is a bit wrong with regard to the current balance (I need to train more), but I'd like to highlight some points. First, I feel the current DLO too automobile inspired. The body of the P-51 (the plane) is so smooth that the canopy is a real eye-catcher. Maybe could we be more evocative on our car ? Then, In my opinion, the air intake under the car was a great idea even if the feasibility... !!! I tried to keep it in a graphically different way. That's not perfect like that but I think that we may keep something referring to this aeronautic part. The last point concerns surfaces on wheel arches... where I just wanted to evoke wing's "stump".
Maybe is that too much there, but that's important to keep in mind why this car is called P51, and how we want anyone guess it...  
■Aurel.

JRogers- Thanks, now I add some numbers
Aurel- I really like your side view, great work!

@Aurel:  That is a beautiful rendering with awesome color choice and lighting. The vehicle proportion is on target, but the cabin is too tight and door openings a bit small for feasibility.  I love how aerospace "canopy" it looks, though.  Your surfacing choices are interesting:  I'm not convinced by the partially covered wheel openings, but it's a cool idea. I really like the fender shapes you have - excellent surfaces.  Thanks, man!

Oh...  @Aurel:  I LOVE the side window graphic you presented.  We've explored the same idea here in the studio.  Right now, it seems that it will make the window too small for feasibility, but I love it as a graphic shape.  Bravo.

@reggiani:  Thank you for labeling your front views with numbers.  That makes the discussion a lot easier!  I like the air vent and skid plate in #3 very much, as they stay close to the body surfaces.  The headlights are all very nice shapes.  I like 3 & 4 particularly, but we would like to use the "section" of the vehicle body to define at least one edge of the light graphic, if possible.  Thanks for your design exploration- we would love to see more!

@aurel: that's really awesome rendering...I like some of design features as well,,like how you treat rear fender blends in to side body pannel..my favorite feature is rear trunk area.. love it. I agree with LM. I'm not really convinced about wheel opening..but it's cool though.. love it overall..oh..belly scoop part is good too..we get same visual effect and more realistic..I guess. really good..aurel..@djfeamley: thanks for all the efforts u made here..that's really good line sketches and awesome ideations.. maybe I have to do more work .catching u guys up..good job guys..

This design process was approved on Tuesday August 5th 2008 09:43:22 AM

WOW!! I read the article of CarBodyDesign.com... Really compliments Deuxfov for your prototype ... I like the new rear but I prefer Iteration 26! Compliments Deuxfov!!

Can't wait to see the physical already!!! love the overall 'muscle' like outfit on this project. American rally muscle rally fighter! congratulation to Deuxfov!

Can't wait to see the physical already!!! love the overall 'muscle' like outfit on this project. American rally muscle rally fighter! congratulation to Deuxfov!

Can't wait to see the physical already!!! love the overall 'muscle' like outfit on this project. American rally muscle rally fighter! congratulation to Deuxfov!

Looks Great!

This build story was approved on Tuesday August 5th 2008 10:18:00 AM

i can feel the magic - passion induced design - that's what makes designer's love their job...and it will be lots of work but how awesome to have this concept 'foetus' in the works. congratulations Deuxfov you must be stoked

Congratulations not only for the Deuxfov and LM,but for all of us ho were involved in any way .I can't believe this will acctually hit the streets in the near future.This is really great thing you are doing and I wish for all of us to have a meny great designs like this in times to come.Burn those streeets!

Congratulations Deuxfov for the excellent work, and for the wonderful design that the Fighter has become. LM am thrilled to see you move from strength to strength, and also congratulate you on making design drive your company. LM for life.

It's so inspiring to have our community behind us as we develop this vehicle.  Here's a rear view sketch...

Here's another variation:

I have to comment on the overall design flow; So far very good. One part i can say that may hold true to unique LM identity is the side view. LM design your renders are stunning, but i feel in the rear end study, a silent influence keeps on appearing, that is "BMW, DNA".  Dont get me wrong i love BMW, but i feel LM may be only represented with the LM sign. Your Front end studies are fabulous. But still i feel it needs a graphic identity that would shout LM. I also gave it a shot, to see what i could do with the front and a slight touch on the side view. I would suggest a re-working of the rear light, maybe a L-shape or M maybe. Otherwise i will come up with a rear light study in time to come.

@Me2:  I hear you loud and clear and really appreciate your input and especially your sketchwork.  Your graphic shapes for grille openings are always innovative - I also like the way you handled the material breakup on the rear fender area.  It's great to have the support of the whole LM Studio across the world.  I'd love to see your ideas on the taillights.  

Me2, comments like that are the heart and soul of the Open process we have pioneered together. We are wide open to hear your thoughts. We are sensitive to derivative notions and intend to be our own design force as a brand. Don't worry, we will not settle on a BMW or any other brand, but part of that depends on your valuable input. One big comment, is that we have seen a number of excellent front end studies (and for that matter they could have been back-end studies and the same lesson would be applicable) that were beautiful in and of themselves, BUT that were not integral to the basic warbird inspiration which guides this vehicle. No doubt, this vehicle has muscle car proportions and is American in feel, but it needs to remain consistent with its warbird roots. We do not want to choose graphics for graphics sake. Any commentary or reasons that you could provide which back up your thoughts on front or rear graphics are most appreciated, and will help us to adopt the ideas. Your are as always a most appreciated community member. I am humbled by your willingness to be frank and think deeply. Go Local.

thanks for all the supprts everyone! I belive this is all about whole community's participation and building a car based on everyone's opinion. this is so~ awesome.. I love to hear what community talk about this design and future of LM.. Can't wait to see this vehicle on the road.

Thx LM Design, Jrogers, Deuxfov; Always a pleasure being a part of this fabulous community. Jrogers i kind of ran off the warbird theme when sketching these rear end studies last night. Ill whip up more, next time round time aviation in mind.

Me2. Super. I especially like the two bottom ones. The "LM" is subtle and nothing if not fun to see. The bottom right really gives me a lot to think about. On that one I especially like the shape of the "deck lid" on the rear of the vehicle that appears to have two rear rudders or control surfaces like the P-82. Very Cool.

What about the Lights on the back of the two rear fin control surfaces?

I actually like the subtle LM design in the tail-lights.
However, with the front end designs of the last few renderings, I think it's starting to look half BMW, half whale-shark, Why not go with the original SHAPE, and just divide up the grille differently?

Thx jrogers, suzq004. Ill run more sketches with the p-82 feel and the p-51 for the rear end.  

Here are the rear ends i had time to sketch for the Fighter. hope to squeeze in more later in the week.

Me2, Thank you for taking this rear end idea into your own mind. I am not sure that we are really that far off, but there are also such great avenues to explore. By far my favorite of the ones you have uploaded is the following.

However, I am not certain that the round lights are the best, nonetheless, they really make this stand out. Perhaps they should be even larger and more commanding if they are going to be round. think Ford GT size! Wouldn't that seem like a thruster of light.... Just an idea to play with. Your participation is such a pleasure to watch in this build process.

Hi every one, here is the development of the rear study jroger has directed me on. Thx Jr

Me2, I really like where you're going with this.  ESPECIALLY 4&5 . Great work, seems we're back on theme and building on this original DNA.

Always a treat having time to work on LM's Fighter, thx Ari

This build story was approved on Tuesday August 19th 2008 08:50:06 PM

This is a critical step in translating 2d sketch work into 3d surfaces.  Each line is translated into side view, plan view, front view and rear view.  

This build story was approved on Tuesday August 19th 2008 09:37:46 PM

As promised, we worked closely with Sangho to develop his vision.  He flew into Massachusetts from California as soon as he could, and stayed for a week.

Sangho stayed at a Bed & Breakfast Motel, and Jay or Ben picked him up each day.

Hi guys I have just been following the full journey of this very interesting vehicle concept- I like most of what I see so far, compliments to Sangho for his initial vision and the LM team for their part in its development. I hope to submit a few thoughts myself in the next few days, i was just wondering one thing, is the vehicle now going to be front engined? It looks like it is going that way, but I am just checking.

The vehicle will be front-mid engine (engine behind front axle).

Ah Cool, cheers for that Mike!!

This build story was approved on Monday August 25th 2008 01:48:09 PM

As you can see from the photo above, the model is not yet at a Class A surface.  The first step is to create the slab model (above), then apply the fillets and stitch the surfaces for a more continuous shape and a better representation of what the body will look like.

Looks good so far.  Are these birail surfaces with curvature and all that or just rough skins?  I'm just starting with alias so forgive me if I sound like an idiot.  How does stitching work?

the background and model colour reminds me of solidworks hehe! is alias easier to use?

@Vling: Birails and square surfaces offer the same level of curvature control, and are basically interchangeable in the end.  More depends on keeping the 3-D 3rd and 5th degree curves used to build the surfaces "in sync" and keeping all the surfaces single-span for reduced geometry.  Stitching is simply closing all the gaps between surfaces to form a single, continuous "class-A" surface for the vehicle.  Has caused me nightmares - hopefully not you, too...

@braunarsch: We opened the iges file at the Local Motors studio in Solidworks, so you're exactly correct.  It "turns" the model just fine and its diagnostic shaders are adequate, if not great...

This build story was approved on Tuesday August 26th 2008 05:35:01 PM

wow great work! i use alias quite a lot, and understand what a mission this is! looks great so far keep up the good work! i sympathise with you about stitching the surfaces, ive spent many hours redoing lines and curves over and over! haha

wow this is shaping up quickly.  another newbie quesion:  are you going to rebuild the middle surfaces to eliminate seams, if not how do you make sure there will be no seams when you mirror

Talk about speed, you guys are moving fast. Great work LM, Kim, all  thumbs up.

looks fantastic,but...the top seems to be kind of lower than it should be ---->

@Vling:  Good question, man.  You can insure that you don't have a seam running down the middle of the vehicle in two ways:  1) build your center surfaces across their full width, using three or five degree curves to create single-span surfaces, then trim down centerline when you're finished with the model.  2) Line up CVs on the Y-axis from centerline when you build the center surfaces so that they mirror properly with curvature continuity.  Most students use this technique, but I prefer the former, personally.

ely862me:  We're in process on evaluating this area of the vehicle, and will have some pretty cool images to share on the methodology we plan to put in practice to test it out before making changes to the Alias Model.  Don't leave your seat, or you might miss it!!

Also, thanks to all for the feedback up to this point, as it is essential that your voices are heard to make sure that we are delivering a truly innovative, sexy, and marketable design in a package that can actually be driven!

This build story was approved on Wednesday August 27th 2008 05:02:58 PM

Here's a closer look at the model once it has been stitched and mirrored in SolidWorks.  Ben and I also changed the view to apply perspective and also some lighting.

hey Mike,u re punished?Why u re working at the corner? :))
Lookin good so far...i don t know if the hood suits to the car...looks  like a corvette hood,years 70(IMO)

yay! soildworks! my favourite software (so far) :-P.... model looks good! my question would be... the first sketch (the BMW) was a mid engined vehicle (sumthin like a crossover if im not wrong), is this vehicle going to have a mid-engine arrangement like before, or the conventional front engine arrangement?

however, i would agree with ely862me, the front hood does appear like the old corvette stingray.... maybe a small tweak on the mouth (grille) would fix that ;-P

how cool this process is, i know. i love starting to model 3d on a blank screen. and to think, this is going to be transported into reality - what a buzz it must be. may the force be with u!
i noticed that the original concept iteration has rather straight curves, and surfaces are taught with sharp ridges, whereas the 3d model is a different language all together. was it important to keep the original design intent through this stage or not ? it seems someone there is a REALLY big fan of the classic corvette - the 3d model surfaces reflect the subconscious. for example, the flow over whell arches, the hood shape, and front horizontal crease...

That's what i also thought when i saw the car, like a cross between a 1960's offroad corvette and mustang..but i like it i'm sure it's gonna look different when you finish with it.

braunarsch - it will be a front-mid engine configuration, meaning that the engine will be in the front, but behind the front axle.

@braunarsch - interesting question that I would like to elaborate on even more than what mpisani said...As to whether this is mid-engine or "conventional" front engine, I would say that it is neither. After surveying, designing and building 1000's of cars, our team would say that there is nothing "conventional" about a front-mid engine. Only when one sees the effort used to package a driveline in such a way can he appreciate the revolution in center of gravity and wheel travel that front-mid provides. Check out the "conventional" FRONT engine in this pic which totally limits the length of control arms and thereby suspension travel.

Now check out this FRONT-MID engine whose suspension is anything but conventional. This is where we will make our money. And this is why people will die to own a Rally Fighter.

This build story was approved on Thursday August 28th 2008 05:51:36 PM

@jrogers... thanks for showing me the pics! so i suppose the suspension system will be a top notch one that could fit inside due to the arrangement of the engine... i notice that in some BAJA1000 vehicles, the need to install the huge suspension systems mean that you really gotta push bak the engine block... basically closer to the cabin...in that way, since this is a commercial car rather than just a BAJA car, won't that mean that you may need to make sure that the engine doesnt get too close to the driver's cabin? if so, what kind of size would the engine block be?

i think will be enough space for a v8 5-7 l supercharged engine...just look at the hood(is huge)...and the engine can come nearly under the dashboard(and the dashboard will be big too)

....just curious....what type of suspension would go on the Rally Fighter....would it be more toward comfort or performance, also would love to know more about the drive train...

Justice has been served. Jrogers you put the point across very well. FRONT-MID engine is something to behold. The surfacing works like a dream; I love how the model presents so far; It might have some similarity to the corvette sting ray 1967, but i feel it represents the American style and the way aviation has been a store house of inspiration. LM great job.

Hi ! Nice 3-D work... and very helpful for sketching. Thank you ! . Here is enclosed my latest drawing based on a CAD screenshot... Just for fun ! ■Aurel.

@Aurel:  Thanks again for your sweet rendering work on this project..  I like the separation between the fender areas and the central "nose" area on your rendering.  We've explored the "single nose cone" direction quite a lot, but it's good to have this proposal. Thanks!

@Aurel...   I also like your direction on the front fender shapes - more military & serious with the hard edge and the "flat" on the top.  Cheers.

hey guys..It's been a while..great 3d works.. and thanks to Aurel for sweet rendering.. good process so far.. love it. It's always good to have many community members participate here. awesome!

Hey Ben & Sangho. Thanks for your positive feedback. I wanted there to see how we could keep the nose of propeller planes... without being as explicit as old studebakers. Very complex. However, the P-82 allows to develop a strong aeronautic identity thanks to the fenders instead of the front grille... Maybe a good way. I will try much more soon. ■Aurel

@Aurel, I love the excellence in your last render, but I would prefer to see the fenders be more emphasized as they transition into the nose of the vehicle. This treatment in your render appears to focus on a single nose-cone/fuselage more than perhaps it should. Your thoughts of the P-82 are so CORRECT. Can't wait to see where you take it next. I do like the difference in materials as you transition into the nose, the powerful lights, the wheels that look like nose/propeller spinners, and the crisp lines on the body surfaces. You are so talented.

This build story was approved on Tuesday September 2nd 2008 05:25:12 PM

Now that the rendered models are complete, we will check the vehicle proportions in the physical realm with a rough full scale mock up allowing us to begin packaging some of the components and passengers as well before going to the expense of milling a model.  This will allow us to make any changes we feel necessary before milling models and eventually, tooling.

Since you've done the basic sketch model done, why not kicking in simple shaders to the 3d model with defferen colors(the mat part and shiny part and so on...). to see the feeling of the car with the actual texture. Will be nice to see some simple wheels put in as well, not just the tires... great job, LM and Sangho! exciting!

Great Point Dooj. We are working it and they will be out soon. There is still more to do on the model, so we are balancing rendering work with basic shape creation. Soon, soon, soon. We also enjoy all of the efforts to date from those who have rendered and contributed to the Rally Fighter. They have helped immensely. More to follow every day.