The Ultimate Explorer Vehicle: Test Driving Bran Ferren's KiraVan

The KiraVan is meant to be the ultimate exploration vehicle—a ’Swiss army knife on wheels.’ A pet project for designer Bran Ferren, who named the van after his daughter Kira, the KiraVan also acts as a test bed for travel tech and vehicle engineering.

After a tour, we take the KiraVan for a test drive.

Could this be our ride to far-flung destinations in the future?

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[BRBTechTalk]

It kind of reminds me of asking a friend to go backpacking overnight and they show up with the biggest backpack they could find and stuffed it full of stuff they will not need on an overnight trip, then twisting their ankle in the first 500 meters of the trip.

[RonakDhakan]

1 of the qualities of an exploration vehicle should be ease of troubleshooting / repairing. They have made it so complex that they will need the whole team which built it to come along with all the required equipment to have a chance of troubleshooting it.

[jmeagherjm]

I don't think "The Ultimate Explorer Vehicle" accurately describes something limited to 5mph that pisses fuel on itself.

[romeroramontbooker]

Is that the old guy from jurassic park ?

[ChevronDanbira]

As an engineer I just see 1001 things that could break down on this toy truck. This thing wont even survive a mile of harsh Dakar-like terrain.

[PhilipCostantino]

Anyone else get the feeling that the vehicles namesake, Kira, is just inconvenienced and annoyed by this project and doesn't give f**k about it?

[JimCorrigan]

It would have been embarrassing in a more public place?

...like the internet? Lol.

[G_Kaz]

when you have more money than you need, you come up with this

[snnyburnett]

What a monstrosity.
People have driven the pan american highway in land rovers and jeeps and this guy builds this goliath that would sink into the earth under its own weight once it leaves the highway. The only thing missing is a mural of manifest destiny on the trailer and a browning M2 on the roof to keep those pesky locals away while you watch survivor on satellite tv.

[tyfighter_]

"high quality components" motorcycle won't start, truck won't shift into first, diesel leaking everywhere.

[recterbert]

Unfortunately the KiraVan has fallen victim to the same fate as its creator's last project, the Jurassic Park.

[none_]

I don't care about how practical or how functional something like this actually is, I want one. So badass.

[somethingsomething]

This just seems like a rich guy and his toys surrounded by a bunch of yes men, it sounds like he's made money in the past but I don't see this being very profitable.

[Mrshroompower]

The very definition of over engineering

[mattmarzula]

"...Let's make sensible decisions about using high quality products with a high degree of craftsmanship."
How much does it all cost?
"I don't know..."
Did I take this out of context? Seems like this monstrosity is very limited and beaten by a strong back and a good pair of boots. At least they taught their daughter to say "No" and "Don't". That's going to come in handy.

[Aldorthemerry]

"So this is kitchen"

Nice to meet you kitchen

[fatgoit]

KISS the basic design rule that this guy has never heard off.

[mplconsulting]

@ Bran Ferren Most people are so envious! The world needs more visionaries like you! Greetings from Germany!

[Mr.ThomasP]

that moment when your multy million dollar go anywhere project FAILS on flat road going 30mph lulz

[Renderct]

For a ’Swiss army knife on wheels’, It doesn't look very practical.