The Worst Of Both Worlds? The VW Orbit / Machimoto Story

Sometimes you look at a concept and just wonder, why did they think this would be a good idea? The Italdesign Machimoto seemed to be a car with all the disadvantages of a motorcycle with none of the benefits. But it was an iteration of several designs that Italdesign, and Volkswagen, thought could be the future of automotive design, and maybe even the next Golf.
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Sources:
www.italdesign.it/project/new...
www.italdesign.it/project/meg...
www.italdesign.it/project/cap...
www.italdesign.it/project/tog...
www.italdesign.it/project/orbit/
www.italdesign.it/project/mac...
www.traumautoarchiv.de/html/6...

[@T.E.S.S.]

The Machimoto - especially with those bozos in jumpsuits and helmets - looks like something you'd see driving round the underground/undersea base of Dr No/Goldfinger/Hugo Drax etc etc

[@sambagogo777]

That image of the "1983 Renault Gabbiano Concept" looked like a combination of Austin Princess and Austin Allegro with DMC DeLorean doors!

[@misorodzinak8829]

The Machimoto looks like something that would be used to transport loyal armed lackeys around a Bond villain's underground lair.

[@karlosh9286]

speaking as someone who prefers 2 wheels when the weather is good over 4 wheels, I like the idea of a machimoto ! with the 6 people in it, all with matching silver outfits and crash helmets, it does look like it came out of a 1970s James Bond Film ! ( Moonraker ? )

[@daviddouillet4138]

The Orbit looks like a current car, tells you how crazy and avant-garde the 80's design studios were.

[@_sabot]

Yeah, they should reconsider it as an EV

[@Emppu_T.]

They really have that syd mead aesthetic

[@nadeemchaudhry6585]

Another brilliant video, weird to say the least. As always appreciate the hard work you put in to these videos to keep us entertained.

[@GlitterGuru]

That Orbit Concept is fantastic, I want one!

[@good_deeds_always_get_punished]

Back then, there was an urge to dream, design & showcase new ideas from the hearts of the company. Now these firms are full of sales managers wanting to quick money & join another firm with a fatter paycheck. Hence instead of these, we now get subscription services.

[@ironiceire]

i know this is a truck, not a car, but maybe you could think of making a video on the one and only truck designed by Marcello Gandini: the Renault Magnum, I think it would make for an interesting video topic, as you could delve in to the process of Renault's privatisation as well, such as the selling of the agricultural division to CLAAS and their truck division to Volvo Trucks.

[@johanwejedaldesign]

I was 13 years old when the Machimoto was shown and I fell in love with the outlandish futurist styling when I first saw it in some magazine. In fact, the impact ItalDesigns mid 80:ies concepts had on me made me want to be a designer. Btw I still think this is a totally cool design, albeit rather useless. Thanks for making this video!

[@jonnycando]

I wonder if stylists and designers have to do daft things once in a while just to keep their creative juices flowing?

[@johanwejedaldesign]

@@jonnycando As a ultra creative person myself, I know how easy it is for designers to have a total avalance of wild ideas (we are born this way and I for one certainly do not need any drugs to think differently and come up with weird stuff). Sometimes you just got to try the craziest things out for real, however rediculous them seem, just to get them out of your system! ;)

[@ticotube2501]

My association with this is a 70s/80s James Bond movie, were this would be used to drive evil troopers around in some kind of giant underground base.😂

[@alpinistbear]

Please do a segment on the Golf. Would love to learn any interesting facts you might uncover.

[@niklaswejedal463]

I absolutely LOVE both the Orbit and the Machimoto - both cars had a profound influence on me, choosing to study industrial design and then transportation design. Especially the Machimoto - it might be useless, but the design is pure 80s futurist beauty. Love it, love it , love it! I also love all the 70s/80s MPV/monovolume design studies shown - back when design meant trying to improve cars, not just make them look "cool"...

[@808bigisland]

Same boat. Love the 70 and 80s italian thoughts on transport. Gandini, Giugiaro, Bertone did some of the best sculptures.Syd Mead was out there.

[@ticotube2501]

I really don't like the aesthetics of the Machimoto - but still get your point. Prototype car design is very much like an artwork, so very subjective - plus it is always super interesting what technical, economical or other constraints impacted a design or were overcome by alternative approaches.

[@runoflife87]

Well, speaking of tall station wagons one can remember Nissan Prairie and Mitsubishi Chariot which had their slice of market pie by late 80's.

[@araujo_jean]

Another great episode! Now we need one on the Volkswagen Futura, another concept car that predicted a lot of stuff that actually became reality.

[@BigCar2]

Cool concept - I should take a look at that.

[@RodrigoPerez79]

This!

[@Aranimda]

I miss large windows for a great surround view on today's cars. For years now the trend is more metal and less glass resulting in tiny windows. Please bring back models like the Citroën DS.

[@CaSuMog]

Capsula is a bit like, urgh, Multipla ?

[@vlad3k]

Nah, more like a Toyota Previa ! 😊

[@saidnimr959]

…a Multipla remade by Disney

[@tulopadullo_n_5700]

Well, an element they have in common is they are both gorgeous

[@brulsmurf]

Hilarious. Imagine to pick up a group of people with this thing. Comedy gold.

[@Metal_Maxine]

My first impression of the Machimoto was "oh god, a multi-seater C5"

[@oldesertguy9616]

I appreciate that Volkswagen and Audi were willing to try new things, and I realize it is easy to say "what were they thinking" when you already know it didn't work. Btw, my wife and I owned a 1996 Plymouth Voyager mini-van. It was actually a great vehicle for a family, especially on U.S. roads and parking lots that have lots of room. When I was a police officer I was eating at a local restaurant when a bus full of British tourists pulled in. They asked to take photos of me and my police car, which was an 80's Ford Crown Victoria. I thought they would be interested in the fact that I was wearing a large handgun and had a shotgun in a rack against my dashboard. No, they didn't seem to care about the weapons, they were amazed at the size of my police car! Sorry for straying from the subject matter. My mind tends to wander.

[@MrDuncl]

Americans in Europe would be taking pictures of an old Mercedes A Class. Doug DeMuro was so fascinated he has just bought one. I find it amusing that on Cars and Bids some Americans seem fascinated by Japanese Kei car sized vans. They were popular here in the 1980s but once people realised your legs are the front crumple zone people couldn't wait to change them for something like a Renault Kangoo.

[@andrewcocos]

@@MrDuncl can't imagine a sane person "couldn't wait to change" for a Renault Kangoo!

[@danield8528]

"Mom, can we have an ATV?" "No, we have an ATV at home." The ATV at home:

[@kabalu]

I miss my time at the mars mission - the macomoto was a nice subsurface vehicle

[@Tarex_]

Interesting to hear the background on the upcoming golf video, for the decision to facelift the golf III Cabrio into the IV look keeping the same chassis, which gave the opportunity for quite some whacky tuning, the square jetta front also fits the rounded Golf 3 without larger mods.

[@MuellerNick]

That dashboard at 3:50 The engine revs up to 70000 rpm? It says "RPM x 1000", and the numbers go from 0 to 70. HAHAHA! Anyhow, yet another very interesting video!

[@showsiff]

That 1991 VW Orbit concept really looks like it inspired the VW Logus from Brazil, their version of the early 90s Ford Escort

[@KevinChu168]

Wow I have the same LEGO CAR on left side behind you. The one with the two RED seats. Awesome.

[@sageoz9886]

1:15 It’s the Total Recall Johnny-Cab!

[@saurannuraliyev1695]

Thank you,enjoyable great job!

[@tonydipietro4225]

That New York taxi concept looks like the taxis in Total Recall haha

[@LKBRICKS1993]

I love watching your videos very interesting ❤️

[@sk8rboy509]

Excellent video! Another vehicle I’ve never heard of and yet another vehicle I would love to experience 😩🙏🏼

[@exoroxx]

I have both of them in a car quartet from the mid 90s with many futuristic concept cars and they were always inspirational to look at - especially the Machimoto.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Wonderful video! Would be amazing to see more concepts please (appreciate they're probably even harder to create than production car videos! Would love to see a video about the BMW Columbus created by Italdesign or Nissan's MID-4

[@BigCar2]

Actually it's faster to make these videos. Maybe more in the future.

[@SimonBauer7]

do the renault kangoo next!

[@viorelnegru9710]

Thanks for the incredible video❤. I think on that year this ,,futuristic” design was something normal.

[@joao.brigato]

Your channel is the best and I wait exited for your videos. But I’m missing the production cars stories. Have you ever tough about tell the VW Gol’s story? I’m not telling about golf, but Brazilian vw gol

[@MrDuncl]

and now you have the VW T-Roc convertible. I'm glad you mentioned Dune Buggies. A young colleagues parents forbid him from buying a Motorbike so he bought himself a bright yellow VW Beetle based Beach Buggy which I had the fun of going in once.

[@can-cruiser]

5:04 those 8 persons must know each other rather well.. 😄😄😄

[@deandupont5503]

Re. The Orbit: Did they really think the driving public would would want to own a giant Dust Buster?

[@toyotaprius79]

Pity it didn't come to market. In a world now oversaturated in a sea of crossovers.

[@meantares]

VW was never so bold. They still aren’t.

[@SofaKingShit]

Watches a video about an unfeasible and impractical vehicle. Comments that it's a pity it somehow never made any sales.

[@F4Insight-uq6nt]

1:18 : Johnny Cab From 'Total Recall.'

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

The dashboard is awesome!

[@Chris.Davies]

A transportation device which has all the disadvantages of a motorcycle and a car. But without the advantages of either. Well done, VW. Well done!

[@RomanJockMCO]

This kinda reminds me of a late 70s/early 80s GM design study: the Lean Machine. Except GM actually had a fairly good idea combining the best of a motorcycle and a car. I would love to see you do a video on that. Or since you used to work at Microsoft and seem interested in electronics how about a video on the first car ever sold stateside with a touch screen: the 1986 Buick Riveria. I look forward to watching any video you release. Keep up the great work!

[@dylanwillyams]

next you should talk about the 18 wheeler air plane and how it has none of the advantages of a plane.

[@rockmanfoswell]

imagine carpooling in the Machimoto- you better _really_ like your coworkers 😅

[@oskarsrode2167]

First thought was James Bond villain HQ car.

[@zoltanofthepeople8654]

I can see where Toyota got their idea for the Prius from looking at that 1991 Orbit concept. Great vid as always!

[@MrDuncl]

or maybe the Previa, which I always think of as Eggia.

[@zoltanofthepeople8654]

@@MrDuncl yeah, I'm not sure how the Previa design got approved by Toyota management

[@AlekreSD]

Big car, i would like to see video about Lancia Thesis. This car is now forgoten but it was unique car with design, technology and even had its own platform.

[@PK.Soniclight]

@Big Car - Thanks for this, had never heard of the Orbit. It's chassis reminds me of its earlier American cousin... the 1975 Pacer. I had one - white with white interior. Obvious manufacturing and other problems, but its chassis design was ahead of its time also. And fun to drive. Though having seen the Orbit now, I'd love to have a functional one Like a Pacer 2.0 :) Liking this type of design comes from that I am a former graphics and display designer, and the aesthetics are a nice ying-yang balance between curves and straight lines, as was the 1975-76 Pacer in its own way.

[@stevie-ray2020]

The 4-wheel, 2-seater, Arial Atom with its mid-engined, space-frame design, is truly a vehicle that gives the driver an experience akin to that of a motorcycle, but with the safety of a car!

[@lyomon9981]

These concepts look awsome when ever i get money illl make one in that retro futuristic style but stanced and wide a widebody

[@93455Driver]

Weirdly there is famous Toyota factory called "Motomachi" which produced some amazing cars, not least the LFA.

[@Bassfully]

you can see the Machimoto at the wonderful Museo dell'Automobile in Turin

[@Keryaken133]

You should do a history on the london blacl cab it would be a great episode.

[@andreasbenning]

If I squint me peepers, the Orbit looks like a GM Dust Buster shorty. And doesn't the 3/4 rear view of the 1991 iteration of the Orbit resemble a Pontiac Aztek? Thanks for uploading!! Greetings from Sweden

[@sk8rboy509]

Definitely see the Dustbuster part 😂

[@mustsilm]

Actually this type of car/vehicle could work in a tourist sighting. In Capri island in Italy, they used modified fiats which are roofless and offered seating for 6-8 people.

[@MrDuncl]

I kept thinking of the Mini Moke.

[@624radicalham]

Fantasy Island used AMCs for that purpose!

[@Waccoon]

Heh... I remember when so many 80's concept cars had "headphone" style covers over the wheels. The cars themselves were weird, but I always loved the wheels. To be honest, I kind of miss the look of hubcaps and salt discs. Every car these days comes with 20" wheels, razor spokes, and rubber-band tires. It just looks goofy.

[@davidhinkson8856]

Looks like something out of a science fiction movie, which a lot of show cars looked like at that time. Ironic when you think that in the eyes of these designers, that was what we were supposed to be driving in the year 2000!

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

I wouldn't mind riding/driving a Machimoto. But then I do ride motorcycles. By the way, you can hear a CD player/radio. Bikes like several BMW models and Honda's Gold Wing have built in radios that can be listened to without special gear inside your helmet.

[@hrq007]

The oddest quirk is the Renault instrument cluster typeface all over the Orbit's instruments :P

[@MrEdrazo]

Please, cover up the Passat and the K70, too!

[@QuantumCat76]

That thing looks like it will be very popular amongst Evil Villains, like Blofeld, Dr Evil or Dr No, for transporting Henchmen around their lairs

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Absolutely Barf-tastic !!! Concept cars that are insane are used to get attention at motor shows, and perhaps to try out a new idea or two. However this takes it to an extreme... As for good design, I own a 91 Vanagon Westy, 84 4000 Quattro, 78 Ford E150 Cargo van, and my new daily driver a 2007 Mustang GT. All have practical designs, except for the Mustangs back seat, and the original front seats of all these cars, which have been replaced with Recarro except the Volvo 740 seat in the E-150... As for bad design, practically everything in manufacture today...

[@shaywhelan1]

Would love to get your insight into what has gone wrong with VW interiors. Why did they keep putting that hated no buttons heater controls into so many models

[@MrDuncl]

Tersla was doing something similar and everyone thinks Teslas are cool so it must be cool. After a friend traded in her new Skoda after 3000 miles for an older model with traditional controls I will steer clear of it. A shame as I am looking for a replacement for my Golf Mk7.

[@shaywhelan1]

@@MrDuncl we had a Golf MK 7 for our son to get to college. I loved it.

[@Jmeon4eva]

The 90's "Orbit Concept" looks like....Prius

[@jebise1126]

tall cars are brilliant... but some need to have a bit more clearance if you go on some gravel road

[@martinthorne8543]

It seems that GM may have been inspired to create their Dustbuster Vans after seeing these early concepts. LOL!

[@johnbee7729]

The Orbit looks cool. Luv the dash on it

[@neilrwilliams218]

The overall shape of the Machimoto reminds me of the ride vehicles from Test Track at Epcot.

[@Schreibtisch1]

00:00 totaly remonds me on the vehicles of James Bond - You only live twice. I mean these vehicles which the bad guys use within the volcano

[@andrewmarshall9340]

The Macchimoto's flush headlights give it a forlorn "I know I'm not gonna be around for long" look reminiscent of a Saturn S series.

[@andrewmarshall9340]

(Machimoto)

[@mgkole]

These concept cars from '80 look very cool!

[@LenTexDIY]

The fact that this got to the concept stage as a viable possibility renews my skepticism in humanity's ability to actually think through solutions

[@morenofranco9235]

Machimoto is just... what were they thinking?

[@kptkarp5581]

Beautiful Car

[@fosterfuchs]

The Machimoto seems like two Renault Twizys welded together side by side, and stretched.

[@XantroyX]

I think that is really cool. I'd have one.

[@Inflator82]

Imagine cruising in something like this with your family through Europe.

[@hfvhf987]

When all of a sudden you have a head on collision and all 8 of you slam into the dashboard at 60mph like jam sandwiches 🤣

[@RefikDelic]

Can you cover the CityEl car-motorcicle?

[@BigCar2]

I touched on it in a previous video I think. Can’t remember which one.

[@petertullemans]

Was it the the back to future part 2 movie?

[@Emppu_T.]

What a horrible concept, i love it.

[@adrianmonk4440]

It was Italdesign's redesign of the AMC Pacer. It had Giorgetto's characteristic angled planes (Just Kidding).

[@lickmymetalass]

so many cool designs and ideas in one video. thanks for this video.

[@Noah_E]

I own a 1992 Subaru SVX and a couple Studebakers, so like quirky autos in general. I actually kinda like the exterior @2:38, but the plastics in the interior look on par with GM (cheap and brittle) of the same era and I wouldn't trust all the German electronics in that dash. As an American, I can't understand why the rest of the world thinks VW = quality. Besides the whole gassing monkeys, dieselgate, terrible ID rollout, etc.

[@MrDuncl]

Until Tesla the Americans produced little of interest to the European market where 35MPG is considered to be a negative. Japanese designed cars were so popular they had to restrict imports until they set up factories here.

[@johna.4334]

Please cover the VW Golf...ASAP!

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

Has Italdesign ever come up with a normal looking or beautiful vehicle? All I see from them is horrendous space ships...

[@xp50player]

You showed the Megagamma and Scenic, but the closest successor was the Nissan Prairie/Stanza Wagon, and within only a few years of the Megagamma.

[@ianb9729]

Those passengers with helmets look like Kraftwerk's superfans

[@davidwill1320]

VW Orbit looks like it was inspired by the AMC Pacer.

[@flipadavis]

@5:00 Would need one of those yellow diamond window stickers that says "No Boners on Board"

[@delusionnnnn]

I remember seeing the Machimoto in Omni or Popular Mechanics and it just became a distant memory I wasn't even sure was real. It wasn't until about 2013 that I found something on the internet (handicapped by my not remembering the company nor the name), which isn't that surprising for some of this 80's stuff. There's still a lot less archival of classic magazines online in a practical, usable format than there should be. I was just glad to be re-assured a few years ago that this wasn't something I had misremembered as part of some teenage fever dream.

[@mastermnd22]

Looks like a perfect lunar Rover

[@geoffreypiltz271]

A motorcycle/car crossover that is a decent seller is the 3 wheel Can-Am Spyder.

[@gene978]

I want to try what they were smoking.

[@Justin_0241]

this reminds me of that four seater model car from Hot Wheels

[@adrianmonk4440]

Sometimes, you fire a Canon shell and it's a Dud.

[@darrensmith6999]

They should have stuck with designing cars for Morris ! (:

[@michaelcallummayaka]

Is it just me that sees a bit of the ID 3 in the Orbit?

[@CT37BN]

Orbit concept looks a mish mash of 86' Pontiac Trans Sport concept MPV and an AMC Pacer

[@Faraonqa]

looking at the new Hyundai and VW vans...we got there