http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/09/29/worlds-first-3-d-printed-car/#.VC3Fo874I3E



"A Simpler, Streamlined Build

The Strati is a sleek two-seated, roofless electric vehicle that weighs about 2,200 pounds with all its non-printed parts attached. Most of the car was constructed in a shipping container-sized 3-D printer, which used nozzles to squirt layer after layer of a carbon-reinforced thermoplastic to construct the chassis from the ground up. The end product looks a lot like a topographic map of an Italian roadster (see the assembly video below).

The primary advantage of 3-D printing the Strati is that most of the chassis components are already complete after it comes off the printer. Once the steering wheel, shocks, tires, electric motor are all quickly installed, it can be driven off the lot.

The Strati can reach speeds of about 40 miles per hour and can travel 120 miles on a charge, but a gas engine could also be fitted. Local Motors expects the Strati to retail for about $18,000."

ETA:"When asked what would happen in a crash, though, Mr. Earle, driving the two-seat car, said it would be like a rock slamming against a brick wall."

18G for 40 mph

Gotta start somewhere.

Would you really want to go faster than that in a car that came off a printer?

Kind of my point, doesn't really seem to offer much (safety,range,performance) for a whole lot of money. Not to mention what is insurance going to run you on something like that?

I get it, Its neva been dun befo,
But stuff like this is all concept, To even pretend folks are going to line up and buy enough of this kind of thing to support a company is silly.

Unless you have a "green energy" bailout in the pipe its just not realistic.

How much does a 5 year old Jetta tdi with 60k miles on it go for?
Now compare these two

The company probably has about four employees, and there are a lot of rich people out there that buy stupid shit like this just to say they have one.  They just drive them around their estates like golf carts.  How much do you think people pay for golf carts like these?

Please tell me the hitch pin clips aren't holding the wheels on.

It look cool but no thanks

Maybe with a Hybusa engine in it

could esily print in crumple zones into its chasis

$18,000 40mph big wheel?

Although, I don't like the styling and I think the performance is abysmal and the price ridiculous,
I am none the less a little excited to be witnessing the real-time evolution of new manufacturing processes.

3D printing is primitive as it stands now. In 30 years, I can foresee it becoming a prime-time process for rapid manufacturing.

Maybe this is the Model T of that?

Model T performed almost on par with its competition at a fraction of the price.

Oh, my bad,
I didn't realize it was a golf cart. I thought they were building an automobile.
If they are in the golf cart market, then yes, they probably stand a chance.
40 mph is pretty damn fast for a golf cart!

Not a golf cart.  My point was only that there are people will spend stupid money on something unique to put around in, just for the novelty of it, and bragging rights.  Hopefully, they will sell enough of them to get them to the next level.

Impressive.  Most... impressive.

Pot hole in winter time would look like dumping a box of legos,

Are the wheels held on with a cotter pin???!!!  

hahaha, a lot of critics on here.  Were you expecting the first 3D printed car to be some sort of supercar? It's a prototype to see if it works.  It does. Quit bitching....

in for crash test video to see rock on brick wall action...