Gordon Murray designs world's first 'flat-pack' truck | Global Vehicle Trust Ox

McLaren F1 creator unveils easy-to-assemble truck for the developing world.

From designing the 1988 McLaren MP4/4, one of the most dominant Formula One car in the sport's history, to the F1, still the fastest naturally-aspirated road-going production car in the world, Gordon Murray has since turned his attention to more altruistic projects such as his cost-effective iStream production process to produce the cheap and compact T25.

His latest creation, called the Global Vehicle Trust Ox, was designed in collaboration with the Global Vehicle Trust to provide low-cost all-terrain mobility to remote parts of Africa and the developing world, places where infrastructure and vehicle distribution channels are underdeveloped or non-existent.

What makes the Ox unique is that it was designed to be packed, shipped, and transported unassembled to places where it can be easily re-assembled without the need for setting up costly factories or dealership networks.

GMD estimates that the Ox can be assembled by a team of three skilled people in approximately 12 hours, with nothing more than a set of spanners and an Allen key.

According to Murray's eponymous design firm, Gordon Murray Design (GMD), an Ox flat pack package can be put together in the UK by three people in less than six hours, with six such flat packs being able to be packed into the average 40ft cube shipping container.

GMD estimates that the Ox can be assembled by a team of three skilled people in approximately 12 hours, with nothing more than a set of spanners and an Allen key that are also supplied with the assembly kit. This allows for assembly and maintenance to be carried out by local companies.

Furthermore with high import levies on fully-built vehicles in Africa, the Ox's flat-packed design means that it wouldn't classify as a vehicle nor require a prohibitively expensive local production line or supply chain.

Once assembled, the two-wheel-drive all-terrain Ox, with its 74kW/310Nm 2.2-litre diesel engine, would be able to haul a payload of 1,900kg. Its cargo hold on the other hand offers a massive load volume of 7,000-litres, and is capable of seating up to 13 people, or eight 44-gallon drums, or three 1,200mm by 800mm Euro-pallets.

Measuring in at 4,229mm long, 2,070mm wide, and 2,302mm tall, the Ox is shorter than the average large SUV, but it is as tall and wide as a heavy goods vehicle.

 Its rear-tailgate can be detached and used as a loading ramp, whereas the 'egg frame' rear bench seats can double-up as sand ladders for the Ox to traverse soft ground.

According to GMD the Ox's design brief called for high ground clearance, excellent approach and departure angles, good wheel articulation, a multi-purpose layout, and a three-person cab. Although it adopts a two-wheel drive setup, GMD says the Ox has been engineered to perform as well, or even better than, a four-wheel drive vehicle across a range of terrains.

Though it is a far cry from Murray's more exciting creations, the Ox carries his signature engineering mantra of maximising component utility and purpose. Its rear-tailgate can be detached and used as a loading ramp, whereas the 'egg frame' rear bench seats can double-up as sand ladders for the Ox to traverse soft ground, and not forgetting its F1-style three-seater cabin layout which places the driver in the centre, thus eliminating added costs of building separate left- or right-hand drive versions.

Murray describes the Ox's design and prototyping programme as one of the most interesting and challenging projects he had undertaken in his 45 years of car design, including his years designing the F1.

"The added challenge of a flat-packed vehicle design over the already tough targets for cost, durability, and weight saving made for a fascinating and stimulating journey from concept to prototype," said Murray.

Currently the Ox exists as a working prototype wearing Gordon Murray's traditional 'XP' prototype designation, which in this case is the XP3. In the meantime GMD and Global Vehicle Trust are looking for potential investors to pump much needed capital to complete testing and bring the project to full-scale production.

According to Sir Torquil Norman, the founder of Global Vehicle Trust, the feedback from aid agencies in Africa has been 'very positive' and presents a huge potential for charities, aid organisations, and development programmes.

"Ox is about making a difference now, being part of something ground-breaking and unique. Most of all it presents a real opportunity to make a fundamental and lasting difference to people's lives," explained Norman. "My dream is to one day see an Ox in every village in Africa."

Can you see yourself assembling a "flat-pack" truck? Tell us what you think in the comments below.