Renault Float wins Central Saint Martins car design competition
Yuchen Cai’s levitating ‘Float’ concept, using Maglev technology and modular connectivity, has been selected by Renault as the winning vision for a future car.
Renault has chosen the ‘Float’ concept, created by Central Saint Martins MA Industrial Design student Yuchen Cai, as the winner of its competition to imagine the car of the future. The project stood out for its radical departure from conventional car architecture, proposing a levitating, spherical pod using Maglev technology.
Float’s design abandons the traditional four-wheel layout in favour of a single, transparent sphere capable of carrying up to two passengers. The concept uses magnetic levitation to float just above the road surface, eliminating direct contact and promising a smooth, near-silent ride. A magnetic belt around the pod’s centre allows multiple Floats to connect, forming a temporary convoy or group vehicle as needed.
Cai’s vision also places autonomy and digital connectivity at its core. Users would summon a Float via a smartphone app, with the vehicle operating without manual controls. The modularity means pods could join or separate on demand, adapting to passenger numbers or journey requirements, and supporting flexible urban mobility.
Competition and recognition
The Renault competition, run in partnership with the London art and design college, encouraged students to rethink urban transport. Float was selected over other finalists including ‘Flo’ by Stephanie Chang Liu and ‘Vue’ by Tuna Yenici. Cai’s prize included a two-week placement at Renault’s design studio in Paris to further develop the concept alongside the company’s professional designers.
