# Boat-Shaped Cars The Volkswagen Terrafine by Niklas Palm Looks More Shipshape Than Road-Ready By manzil | Published 2010-06-26 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/volkswagen-terrafine References: [thedesignblog.org](http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/volkswagen-terrafine-allows-off-road-rides-without-harming-the-surroundings/) & [niklaspalm.se](http://www.niklaspalm.se/) Swedish designer Niklas Palm has designed the [Volkswagen](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/volkswagen-id-life) Terrafine, a vehicle that [closely resembles a boat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rand-roamer-29-boat)--in its aesthetics, at least. The car possesses a flexible body that allows the driver to raise or lower it in rough terrain, much like a skateboard. The Volkswagen Terrafine derives its power from an [electric engine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elevated-velocity). See more images of this concept vehicle by Niklas Palm above. Would you drive this eco ride? **Implications** - Modern customers desire items featuring some sort of entertainment value. Products that are whimsical but still functional are more appealing than those which are only practical. In order to attract more customers, a company could develop more of their designs with this in mind. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 97% | Activity: 84% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Boat-shaped Cars:** Creating car designs that resemble boats is a trend that provides an opportunity for companies to appeal to consumers who value unique and whimsical designs. - **Flexible Car Bodies:** Cars with flexible bodies that allow for adjustments on rough terrain present an opportunity for companies to innovate and create new solutions for off-road driving. - **Electric Cars:** As the popularity of eco-friendly solutions continues to grow, creating electric cars provides a trend that companies can capitalize on for a more sustainable future. ### Where This Applies - **Automotive:** The automotive industry can take inspiration from the boat-shaped car trend and create unique, functional, and entertaining designs. - **Off-road Driving:** The trend towards car designs with flexible bodies creates opportunities for companies in the off-road driving industry to create new solutions for difficult terrain. - **Renewable Energy:** The trend towards electric cars presents the renewable energy industry with opportunities to provide more sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for transportation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Water-Ready Sports Car Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/citron-above-and-under.md) - [Road-Ready Dune Buggy Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fordzilla-hypervan.md) - [Sculptural Spatial City Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/volkswagen-numa-concept.md) - [Future Urban Mobility Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/numa-concept.md) - [Turtle-Inspired Sleek Automobiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vision-imobility.md) - [Futuristic User-Centric Travel Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-volvo-space.md) - [Transforming Commuter Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audi-vista-roadster.md) - [Wood-Paneled Electric Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2023-nissan-ariya-surfwagon-concept.md) - [Elevating Passenger Level Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/audi-cascade.md)