Jump directly to the content
VAN-TASTIC

Legendary Italian car maker reveals futuristic caravan with ‘expandable body’ and self-driving tech

The creation’s ‘cockpit’ can be converted into a mobile office or secondary bedroom, all centred around the concept of ‘flexible living’

LEGENDARY designers Pininfarina have unveiled a futuristic caravan that represents the pinnacle of technological innovation.

The Italian design house has recently showcased concept designs for its AI Transformer Home Trailer, or ‘AI-THt’.

Illustration of a futuristic electric caravan.
5
Design experts Pininfarina have teamed up with AC Future to develop a futuristic caravanCredit: You Tube/AC Future
Illustration of a futuristic electric caravan.
5
Called the 'AI Transformer' - this machine functions as a towable ‘home trailer’, a static ‘home unit’, and even a ‘drivable home’Credit: You Tube/AC Future

This sleek motorhome, created as part of Pininfarina’s partnership with AC Future - an American firm that builds “sustainable, transformer homes” - functions as a towable ‘home trailer’, a static ‘home unit’, and even a ‘drivable home’.

The drivable version is equipped with self-driving technology, although the firm has yet to reveal any specific details of the automated driving system.

Additionally, they have not disclosed any figures regarding range or performance.

According to , the creation’s ‘cockpit’ can be converted into a mobile office or secondary bedroom, all centred around the concept of flexible living.

Read more Motors News

While the AI-THt is a 24-foot home trailer, it offers up to 400 square feet of interior space once deployed.

That’s roughly half the average space of a UK home, which is around 900 square feet.

The static ‘home unit’ features the same level of interior space but also includes an additional 40 square-foot outdoor patio.

Naturally, the unit includes a living room, office, bedroom, and wardrobe, with appliances and water heaters powered by solar panels installed on the roof.

The ‘home unit’ has a starting price of $98,000 in the US, which is roughly £80,000 in the UK.

It is claimed that it can be used as a small holiday home, Airbnb rental, summer house, or even for military use.

Traveller shows off 'show home pristine' caravan with £2k Crown Derby china and chrome EVERYTHING

Pininfarina is renowned worldwide among car enthusiasts as the brains behind some of history's most iconic vehicles, such as the Ferrari 308 GTB, Alfa Romeo Spider, and Peugeot 406 Coupe.

Indeed, the styling of the 406 Coupe has been likened to a Ferrari.

This comes as Honda looks to launch two ultra-futuristic EVs to rival their two biggest sellers.

The Japanese giants unveiled two wedge-looking motors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week - called the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV.

Naturally, these could go up against the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y - the US car maker’s stylish saloon and crossover SUV respectively that have both become regulars on the road across the UK and beyond.

The two Honda designs, much like Tesla’s offerings, look almost identical although both remain in their prototype phase and will come into production by 2026.

Illustration of a modern tiny home campervan interior with a kitchen and living area.
5
AC Future have already revealed concept shots of what it could look like insideCredit: Pininfarina of America
Illustration of an electric motorhome's interior, showing a dining area and a bed.
5
That includes a luxury living room with plenty of lightCredit: Pininfarina
Illustration of a futuristic campervan with expanding living space.
5
The static caravan can expand, giving the occupents much more space than if it was a mere trailerCredit: Pininfarina of America
Topics