Subaru's Sharc (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept) has won the Design Challenge at the LA Auto Show.

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Click photo at left to view all the LA Auto Show Design Challenge entries.

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This year's Design Challenge theme - Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025 - called upon automotive design studios to create the ultimate 2025 law enforcement patrol vehicle that supports the needs of dynamic urban environments.

As a futuristic model for 24-hour highway monitoring, the SHARC provides protection and rapid emergency response solutions for Hawaii's highway patrol.

Five other companies - BMW, General Motors, Honda and Mercedes-Benz - showcased entries featuring cutting-edge vehicle designs with drone technology, land and air capabilities, electric vehicle systems and renewable resource-fueled vehicles equipped with topographical scanners.

With global collaboration among its design studios, the creative minds at Subaru developed the cutting-edge SHARC as an affordable and environmentally conscious highway patrol vehicle that meets Hawaii's strict UltraGreen carbon-neutral environmental regulations. With visible trends in reduced highway patrol budgets worldwide, SHARC vehicles are powered by renewable energy and operate autonomously, eliminating the need for a large full-time highway patrol staff.

Entries were judged by multi-discipline design professionals who selected the winner based upon various factors including: consideration of future needs for advanced technology; speed and agility on future freeway systems; creativity of the solution; meeting the specific region's mandated emission standards; and environmental sensitivity for maintenance and recyclability.

- © Fairfax NZ News