Let me guess, the truck of the future will be made out of aluminum (body) high strength steel frame, and the interior out of recycled materials, and be powered by a small displacement turbo charged engine? But in all seriousness the Chevy, and Ram above seem more like it could happen than the others., as we are only talking 10 years hence, and not any more! which is only around two cycles of style. The others seem too far out, maybe more like 20 years.

A truck's interior is all about utility. Besides that, creature comforts are nice to have, but not necessarily something truck buyers want. "Futuristic" looking interiors are of no interest to me and I'm not sure other truck buyers want that either.

In order to successfully design truck interiors of the future, they need to look at what's selling now. Trims like the Laramie and King Ranch are near top of the line and are selling like hotcakes. The funny thing is, neither of those interiors would be considered futuristic. I would like to see interior ideas that take modern ideas an run with them rather than ideas that will never materialize.

Please don't hire these people (idiots) to do interiors because all them interiors look like SH$% to me.

I agree with HEMI MONSTER and johnny doe.
I didn't buy a truck to entertain and impress people with a luxury interior, I would have bought a Caddy instead! My truck gets dirty I want materials that don't stain, my shoes are muddy, hands greasy.
People that design trucks are going soft, going girly, my truck shadows a big tough guy like me!
What happened to rear window gun racks, or the high space under the front seat where I can hide a 6 pack? How about ash trays and crank windows?

@Tom#3
What I find funny is if you go back to 20 or 30 years ago, no one could have cared less about a trucks interior, that was probably the last thing on people's mind. Times have sure changed. It's now quick possible to find a truck with a better top of the line interior than some cars.

I think some have lost sight of what this exercise is about.

Maybe if some look at certain aspects of the designs they would be able to appreciate the work.

Also, a transfer of design into other vehicles could be possible.

I think using a pickup was incorrect, but it would have given the students who haven't seen a pickup a challenge on the design of an unfamiliar object.

This is what training and development is all about, knowing how and when to place a person outside of their comfort zone.

This was a good personal development exercise for the future of automotive design.

@Big Al from Oz
Maybe so. We need bright minds who are interested in design and can thing outside the box.

This site is about trucks, so the comments are going to reflect that, not how designs could be used in other vehicles. I actually hope those who participated in these designs get some constructive feedback, both positive and negative.

@HEMI MONSTER
So, you are telling me most of what you write on PUTC isn't what you really consider?

You write what you write here because your paradigms dictate what you consider a pickup driver should be and act like?

Or, what is acceptable for a pickup, even though you like the plush interiors, but hey it doesn't sound tough in front of the guys?

You've made the most outstanding admittance yet on PUTC.

So, can your comment now be taken at face value, or are you placing 'pickup truck' spin on what you state?

Next you'll be telling me you're some metrosexual.

@Big Al from Oz
I don't know know what your problem is, but there is nothing unreasonable about discussing trucks on PUTC. In fact that is supposed to be the only subject of discussions as indicated in the rules: "Stay on topic. We want to hear your opinions and thoughts, but please only comment about the specified topic in the blog post."

That being said I find it hard to believe that you cannot accept that people will comment from a "pickup truck" paradigm.

If you don't like the fact that people are discussing trucks and truck "stereotypes" so to speak, then I don't know what else to tell you. One thing for sure, I'm not going to engage in debates with you anymore. This is getting ridiculous. You're free to do whatever you want. Carry on.

WTF

@HEMI MONSTER
I hit a soft spot?

I figured that. You see, I was on topic.

How do you design and develop?

What we have here is a bunch of guys PRETENDING to be redneck pickup types.

The fact is I can go back and rehash topics regarding their VIEWS on what a pickup represents.

What do you think the pickup manufacturers are reading on these sites?

Do you think they are reading the crap about what HEMI V8 thought about his Mustang, or zvirus's view of a Ford?

Do you think they read into the fanboi'ism. That kind of stuff isn't productive for any company to base development on. Sort of like having the KKK write the immigration policy.

They are looking for product information.

What I have just gotten from you is what you write isn't necessarily what YOU consider pickup design is.

I bet 80% of the 'stuff' blogged on this site isn't accurate and what a person believes in. Just look at the drivel that comes from guys like papa jim or DiM.

No, what I wrote is very relevant to this article. It's it just hit a nerve with you.

All this talk of a Spartan interior, what garbage.

@Big Al

do you think they should be punished, though?

@papa jim
What construes punishment?

What is punishment?

How is punishment dealt?

What forms of punishment is there?

You see you are simplistic.

Only the great and powerful Oz gets to be The Punisher--the rest are unworthy.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

@papa jim
Look to beyond how a child views punishment.

Punishment is used for a violation.

If something isn't a violation, then punishment isn't necessary but some form of rehabilitation is used.

GM has of the past 'hidden' problems. Until GM can prove to me that it is worthy of my money I will not buy from GM or consider GM.

Toyota should of been in the same boat.

Companies have a responsibility to the consumer.

Especially when a company and the company's workers are bailed out by the consumer/taxpayer due to the companies own mismanagement.

The company should then be given more than a 'rap over the knuckles'.

I know you are a GM diehard, but this probem you must deal with. It isn't my problem.

Currently I have little respect for GM, until they can prove otherwise to me. If the consumer is turned off by GM and they lose out, sell GM to an international consortium for all I care.

Wtf u high? Eat some kangaroo and calm down.
Hells wrong with you posting all that shi?

I'd like to see a nice big overstuffed bench seat. Roomy and comfortable. I'm sick of tiny buckets and a big wide stupid console hogging all the room.

@ I got 51 problems but my RAM ain't one
Can't use your real name?

You really are a big man. I thought rednecks had balls.

@Big Al from Oz - "I got 51 problems but my RAM ain't one".

The average adult has 32 teeth. I would suspect that he has maybe 16 left.

That leaves 35 problems.

Figuring out how to pay for that truck he has is another.

That brings it down to 34.

Trying to put his home in a place that isn't routinely hit by tornado's counts for 20 problems because there are that many trailer parks in his region that will actually let him move to.

That leaves 14.

The rest is covered by alimony and palimony.

Quote from above article

The challenge was especially difficult this year, as none of the students had ever even driven a pickup before. Many of them were international students who didn't grow up in a culture in which full-size personal-use pickup trucks abound.
/QUOTE

ROFLMAO
Nuff said!

It is very interesting since the designers are NOT familiar with American pickup truck orthodoxy.
Many of the comments I read are to be expected. It would be like a bunch of atheists being asked to design a Roman Catholic Cathedral.
The faithful would not be happy ;)

Even though we see extremely luxurious pickup truck interiors i.e. Platinum, Long Horn, Denali et al, they do tend to follow a common script. Most are cowboy themed which does seem to go against the rugged cowboy image.

@Lou_BC
This is an interesting exercise of design.

As you stated many would have only seen images of pickups on TV or at the movies.

The students would have been given direction into what were the design parameters.

This is evident by all of the designs having a similar theme.

The theme is recreation and family.

The recreation and family theme would have been issued for a reason.

So Big Al from suck Ass is your real name? Lol
I see your man Lou_BC came to your defense.

The swivel seats in the Toyota are similar to those in my 77 Monte Carlo. I like the conference table on the Toyota. Yes I would agree with many that I would probably not buy a truck with those features but this was an exercise for designers and these concepts could apply to any vehicle, especially the new vans that will be coming out. Those who use their trucks for tough dirty work are not going to be interested in these designs, but the pickup truck has become more recreational and life style in nature which would make these designs more appropriate.

The issue is in the details; some of those ideas look great, until you realize they are nearly impossible to realize in the real world. Those big 'seashell' seats are not only view blockers for actual driving (though with cameras everywhere... no, still can't work--no space allocated for displays) but they're effectively non-adjustable--one-size-fits-all simply doesn't work.

That angled frame thingy for supporting the dashboard? Ummm... exactly how are you supposed to get into the seats? Yup, these designs are all futuristic (though swivel seats are what... 40 years old and still a failure?) and almost completely impractical.

However...
Heads up displays projecting onto the windshield is still a good idea--it's the designs that have caused them to fail. And for now we still have to have a redundant display for most of your driving data (speed, fuel, etc.) in the event that the HUD fails or gets washed out in bright light. There's also the matter of what to show up there.
And of course, with that big wheel in front of the driver, any up-front controls either need to be on the wheel itself or within easy reach to either side. These new infotainment systems are nice, but they've become confusing and distracting--you almost need a co-driver just to use the systems effectively... or be a fighter pilot. Now I'll grant we may no longer NEED those huge wheels for steering, but enough of us are old school that we might just be afraid of 'drive by wire', despite the fact that many cars today already have it. With a smaller wheel it might be too easy to over-control the vehicle, at which point the technology gets more dangerous rather than safer.

No, 90% of the things shown in these pictures need to be passenger-centric. The driver is still the pilot of a deadly machine--even more so considering the size and weight of the modern pickup truck. Distractions for the driver are NOT needed and the driver's station needs to be focused on operation and control of the vehicle itself. Other stations shouldn't even be 'active' unless occupied by a warm body.
That said, the vehicle information center should be right in front of the driver, not off to the side. While I'll grant we now have simulated analog gauges in the dashboard, everything the infotainment center holds with respect to the vehicle's systems can be made accessible in that display area, eliminating the center stack entirely and putting media centers in front of the passengers. Among other things, this could put real storage within reach of the driver rather than having to reach all the way across to the 'glove' box.

I don't have any real artistic skills for drawing these things out, but remember, K.I.S.S. None of these designs is simple in the least, though some of the ideas (like those stowaway back seats in the Nissan) aren't all bad.

These designs are well drawn and all, but uh..... I don't think I'd buy them if they were real.

@"51 problems" - you use a name like that and are surprised some one made fun of you?

That would indicate that you need to change your name to "52".

The lack of insight is a problem.

Interesting concepts but one thing I can tell just by glancing over is that none of these students probably really own a truck. It looks to me like all these interior designs were inspired by sports cars. Everything is too fancy.

I understand the goal to make seating comfortable but as a truck owner I'd like a truck that is more truck and less car-like. Save the frills and futuristic streamlining for something like a maserati. And to the students my advice is go out and actually test drive a few trucks. Look at the bucket seats from back in the 70s and 80s. We'd actually like some of that look to come back.

@"51 problems" - you use a name like that and are surprised some one made fun of you?

Yeah you should be more like LOU BC, who got his ass kicked on this site and had to change is name from "LOU" to "LOU BC" (BC representing his age and last time he had a good idea...lol).