Luxury auto maker Lexus recently created the new model NX Crossover. According to reports, the modelwas frozen under -30 degrees Celsius before the ice wheels were installed.
RT stated this type of car will unlikely hit the market for this obvious reason: Who would buy an expensive car any user could use only for winter? Although the NX Crossover is packed with cutting edge technology, still, it will not be as useful as the regular type of car sold in the market.
"The car was given a spin round the streets of London, where the special wheels were made for the vehicle," the report said. At the moment, Lexus is currently thinking whether they could replace the conventional alloy and rubber with ice as the car's wheels.
According to the same source, the sculptors took 36 hours to complete one ice wheel. So all in all, they spent 144 hours for the entire wheels. These ice wheels were created from softened water which are perfectly clear after it was taken out from the freezer.
Sculptor Jack Hackney said on the company's website that this is one of the hardest things they did so far for a sculpting project. "Logistically and technically, it's up there with one of the hardest things I've had to do."
What complicates the process is that they have to place the car in deep freeze for five days at -30 degrees Celsius to ensure the ice will not melt once the automobile will be placed on top.
"The manufacturer spent three months on researching and testing the ice tires. The team used Japanese steel chisels and shaping tools and even the tires' tread patterns were reproduced."
Richard Balshaw, director at Lexus, said, "Creating Amazing is what Lexus is about. Projects such as our hoverboard, the origami-inspired cardboard car and now a dazzling set of fully functioning ice wheels, demonstrate how we use advanced technologies and the best craftsmanship traditions to achieve outstanding results."
"That's not just for eye-catching one-off projects, but for the cars we deliver to our customers, too," he added.
Ross McGouran, the hoverboard test rider, expressed what it's like to ride on Lexus NX Crossover model. "Everything I knew about skating went out the window."
The board weights 11.5kg with powered magnets and liquid nitrogen. It is constructed from a natural bamboo. Because of this, Lexus came up with "SLIDE" as the brand name.
Lexus' official website said that the new NX Crossover model is inspired from the classic skateboarding and the company's design principles with a perfect balance of the natural and high tech results of their car models.