could someone invent a transformer bike rack built into the rear bumper of new cars?

[eddief]

When one considers how many million cars have add-on bike racks, seems as if in this day and age someone could come up with a really slick built-in, 2-bike rack. Actually, I want the car manufacturers to do this, not an addon part. Push a button, a compartment opens up, pushes out 2 rails, unfold wheel holders and top bar clamp, load it up and go. I want one.

Engineers have done a fine job of getting rid of most ragtops, they should be able to provide us with a bike rack solution.

[christian]

Could someone? Sure. I'm hardly an engineer, but I can figure out how to do this. Will someone? I doubt it. Doesn't seem like much of a market to me. (Sorry to be a downer.)

[likebikes]

already exists:

http://41.media.tumblr.com/d173c6907200ff6ccef451a971096422/tumblr_n8hndefvvN1t3op8ao1_500.jpg

http://youtu.be/WyRFCIFRjY0

[juanhenry]

Time for a Kickstarter!

Also: I hope this doesn't happen. I would be out of a job.

[eddief]

Who knew. That's exactly what I had in mind.
already exists:



http://youtu.be/WyRFCIFRjY0

[eddief]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5hcMOzMtx0

And that is on a car that is now a Buick sold in the U.S.

[Saint Vitus]

This is America, cast your wants for such intelligent auto accessories to the curb. The Encore has no such thing other than an aftermarket add-on type. And that hot Astra J hatch and wagon, not coming to the states either. Trucks, 4 door luxury land yachts and tuner coupes are all this market seems to want (dopes).

btw, this is an awesome idea.

[Gsinill]

Kind of funny that none of the other European car companies is offering this as an option.
Cool idea (didn't expect this from Opel ;)).

[paredown]

This is America, cast your wants for such intelligent auto accessories to the curb. The Encore has no such thing other than an aftermarket add-on type. And that hot Astra J hatch and wagon, not coming to the states either. Trucks, 4 door luxury land yachts and tuner coupes are all this market seems to want (dopes).

btw, this is an awesome idea.

Really makes you wonder why Buick would not make this available--although usually when I see choices like this, I assume it is because of fear of lawsuits...

[Louis]

Actually, I want the car manufacturers to do this, not an addon part. Push a button, a compartment opens up, pushes out 2 rails, unfold wheel holders and top bar clamp, load it up and go. I want one.

Speaking of wants, I wants these, but will likely settle for putting my bike in the back of my Subie.

http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u326/Stuart_Coombs/image003.jpg

[torquer]

Really makes you wonder why Buick would not make this available--although usually when I see choices like this, I assume it is because of fear of lawsuits...
Maybe they know their market...

2. Buick

> Avg. age of buyer: 60.3 years
> 2013 U.S. unit sales: 205,509
> Unit sales pct. chg. (2012-2013): 13.9%

With an average customer age of 60.3 years, Buick's clientele is older than that of any other non-luxury vehicle.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/10/04/24-7-wall-st-cars-oldest-buyers/16587437/
In any case, this built-in carrier does solve the problem of your rack obscuring your license plate (although I recall another recent thread concluding that this wasn't really a problem, unless the cops were looking to bust your chops anyway.)

[Saint Vitus]

There was a Buick ad campaign a while back, something to the effect: "This isn't your grandparents' Buick anymore". I guess that had zero effect on those cited figures. Unless of course it was Tiger's ex busting his chops, er ah window out in his Buick Manipulator or what ever the hell they call their landbarge, that sent the youngster's fleeing from the marque lol