By Tessa R. Salazar
Wini Camacho, a Filipino independent car designer based in Europe, has created a design concept for an ultra-compact 2-seat electric car that looks like a spaceship yet remains practical for urban centers swamped in traffic and struggling for parking spaces.
Measuring just 3.1 meters long and 1.85 meters wide, the Audi ZERØ’s far-out design is meant for maximum efficiency with minimal complexity.
The architecture is so simple and straightforward, Camacho summarized the concept to this author as “1 Sphere + 4 Tubes = Audi ZERØ,” which sounds like an Einsteinian equation.
“The Audi ZERØ reimagines automotive design through a radically simplified architectural concept. Reduced to its purest essence, the vehicle is composed of just 5 fundamental geometric primitives: One sphere and four tubes. A new mathematical philosophy. A new vehicle architecture. And a bold new vision for electric mobility,” Camacho said.
While created as a “what if?” vision rather than an official Audi project, in someone’s brilliant mind, it’s already a reality.
Yanko Design, an online magazine covering international product designs, wrote that “the electric concept abandons conventional body construction in favor of an eye-catching geometric framework made from four exposed cylindrical tubes. This is an interesting take on what an electric vehicle could look like if designers prioritized structural expression over traditional styling.”
Camacho breaks the explanation down further: “At the heart of the Audi ZERØ lies an uncompromising commitment to radical simplicity. Every element has been distilled to its essential purpose, creating a vehicle that is both visually iconic and functionally efficient. A single sphere forms the passenger cell, while 4 tubular volumes define the remaining architecture—two housing the wheel pods and two shaping the tapering body. Together, these 5 elemental forms establish a distinctive silhouette unlike any conventional vehicle.”
Camacho added that the Audi ZERØ is offered in two distinct interpretations. The CØupé represents the definitive expression of the concept, while the open-top RØadster pushes the philosophy of reduction even further. Dedicated racetrack variants of both models translate the same minimalist architecture into its most performance-focused form.
“With the Audi ZERØ, purity becomes a design principle rather than a styling exercise. It redefines purity by embracing absoluteness. Every unnecessary element has been removed until only the essential remains. The result is an object of remarkable clarity, demonstrating that true innovation is achieved not by adding complexity, but by eliminating it. Less is even more,” Camacho said.
He noted that “the interior follows the same philosophy of purposeful reduction. Its defining centerpiece is the steering wheel, engineered around a fixed aluminum center hub that integrates an innovative planetary analogue instrument cluster and tactile physical controls. Precision-crafted and intuitively operated, it combines advanced functionality with timeless mechanical craftsmanship, creating an interface that is both visually stunning and deeply engaging to use.”
The Audi ZERØ proposes a new design philosophy rooted in absolute minimalism—where mathematics beautifully shapes form, reduction becomes the ultimate expression of identity, and every element exists purely by necessity. The result is a design unlike anything seen before.
From Mercedes-Benz to independence
The author first interviewed Camacho in 2009 when he was a Mercedes-Benz designer based at the MB Design headquarters in Sindelfingen. He was featured several times by the author after rising to become a senior exterior designer for production cars.
Camacho has had a hand in several remarkable MB models: The two X-Class concepts (Stylish Explorer and Powerful Adventurer shown in Stockholm in November 2016 to preview the production version); the prototype of the AMG GT Concept (shown at the Geneva Motor Show); and the early-to-mid design development of the E-Class Coupé.
Palace-worthy design
When this author asked him in May 2016 what kind of vehicle he would design for a Philippine presidential aspirant, Camacho envisioned a concept inspired by a true Philippine icon: The jeepney.
“The jeepney projects the right qualities: Dynamic, tough, durable, persevering, versatile, unpretentious, and a showcase of Filipino ingenuity. These are qualities one looks for in a presidential candidate. My design will be a modern (and timeless) interpretation of the jeepney,” Camacho said. He added that a vehicle for someone whose destiny lies in Malacañang Palace “should be eye-catching, tough, and solid without being too grand and intimidating.”
For practical purposes, he said, the presidential ride should have “four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and be bulletproof. Other features include a removable roof hatch and rear footholds for bodyguards.” He then referred to his jeepney sketches he drew in 2010, reworked “to fit the presidential candidate vehicle image better,” Camacho shared.
To view Camacho’s portfolio of concept designs, click this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@winicamacho.
Banner image shows the Audi ZERØ CØupé concept
(Editor’s note: File photos of Camacho were provided to the author by Mercedes-Benz in 2012; images of the Audi ZERØ were sourced directly from Camacho.)