GM's 'Bare Necessities' Concept: How Little Car Do You Want?

By John Voelcker

1,683 views Aug 11, 2009

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GM Labs Bare Necessities Truck Concept

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Among the many vehicles shown, described, or teased at this morning's big General Motors press briefing was this unusual green concept from GM Labs, called 'Bare Necessities'. The two vehicles--a car and a truck--are meant to be maximally minimal.

While the event itself focused on the next two years of vehicles from "the new GM," every car had a message to convey. Borrowing the famous motto adopted by Bauhaus architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, the message of these two seems to be "Less Is More".

The idea is to improve the efficiency--not just gas mileage but the efficiency of the entire production process--of a four-seat car by cutting cost and complexity while using sustainable materials. Their metric for success: the lowest cost-per-mile for owners.

The GM Labs blog is the company's way of gathering early-stage feedback from the public at large, though we respectfully suggest that what blog commenters say they want isn't necessarily what real people will actually buy when standing in the dealership.

Still, the blog poses the question, "What is bare necessity to you? What is essential in your vehicle?" From the sketches,  necessities include open surfaces and shelves, two-tone color schemes, and of course iPhone integration.

One intriguing possibility: Offloading increasing amounts of in-car entertainment into ancillary devices, with perhaps no more than a USB port to plumb them into the vehicle's speakers. That'd certainly reduce part count, cost, and complexity.

No powertrain is specified, though you could expect a radically downsized gasoline engine, perhaps a hybrid electric system, maybe even full electric drive.

But we're eager to hear what GreenCarReports.com readers consider to be their own bare necessities in a car. For instance:

• Do you need four doors?
• What accessories can't you live without?
• What would you give up in your current car for lower price and running costs?

Give us your thoughts in the comments below!

GM Labs Bare Necessities Interior Concept

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GM Labs Bare Necessities Car Concept

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[GM Labs via MotorAuthority]