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What Stephenson means by biomimicry
In a 21 September 2019 interview with New Atlas, Stephenson said, “It’s hard to find something that’s not beautiful in nature. The closer you can keep things to nature, the more successful your design is likely to be overall.” He describes looking for natural forms that might offer useful inspiration, rather than treating one species as a universal template for vehicle design.
That distinction matters: an animal reference can help explain a designer’s visual choices or intended function, but it is not evidence that a vehicle performs like the animal. The examples below are Stephenson’s design accounts unless otherwise attributed.
How nature informed his car designs
McLaren P1: sailfish
Stephenson linked the McLaren P1 to the sailfish, drawing on the fish’s speed and turning ability as well as its visual character. The comparison describes the inspiration behind the design; the interview does not establish a measured aerodynamic benefit from the analogy.
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New MINI: bulldog stance and human forms
Stephenson described the New MINI’s short, squat stance and personality as bulldog-like. He also discussed using forms of the human body as a source of design inspiration. These are accounts of the car’s character and styling, not claims that the animal or anatomical references determine its technical performance.
How he described biomimicry in Lilium’s eVTOL
For Lilium’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, Stephenson connected two natural references to different areas of the design:
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- Hammerhead shark: He related the shark’s head shape and turning characteristics to the forward canards. He said the canards provide lift and help keep the nose from dipping.
- Manta ray: He described the ray’s flowing form as an inspiration for the aircraft’s rear wing and rear fuselage.
These are Stephenson’s explanations of the design and the functions he attributed to its features. They should not be read as independent aerodynamic test results or proof of a particular improvement in lift, drag, range, or safety.
Why flightworthiness comes before appearance
In a 2020 interview with Goodwood Road & Racing, Stephenson drew a line between aircraft and cars: “Aircraft design is different, more like race car design, in that aircraft are not bought for their emotional design; first and foremost it’s all about flight worthiness.” He said an aircraft must be safe even if it can also look good.
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That constraint places biomimicry in context. In aircraft design, a natural form may inspire an idea, but the resulting vehicle still has to meet flight and safety requirements. An appealing resemblance cannot substitute for evidence that a design is flightworthy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Later eVTOL projects: Prosperity I and Supernal
Stephenson’s studio later announced work on other eVTOL projects. These examples involve different companies and design references, so their stated aims and status should be kept distinct.
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| Project and date | Natural reference | What was described | Evidence and status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoFlight Prosperity I; studio announcement, 19 June 2023 | No animal inspiration is specified in the announcement. | Frank Stephenson Design said its team worked on the aircraft capsule’s exterior and interior, ground handling, and packaging. Stephenson said weight and safety were priorities and described reducing cross-sectional area to reduce drag while retaining a comfortable passenger cabin. | These are the studio’s account of its priorities and design work. The announcement also reported that AutoFlight’s aircraft claimed a 250 km (155 mi) flight on a single electric charge in February 2023; that figure is the studio-reported claim, not an independently verified record in the announcement. |
| Hyundai Motor Group’s Supernal cabin concept; announced 18 July 2022 | Butterfly-inspired. | Hyundai described a five-seat concept cabin drawing on automotive design methods, with a forged-carbon-fiber structure, ergonomically contoured seats, and automotive-style storage and controls. | Hyundai said in 2022 that Supernal was working toward U.S. certification for commercial use starting in 2028, with the E.U. and U.K. shortly after. That was the company’s plan at the time, not confirmation of current certification or launch status. |
The Frank Stephenson Design announcement describes the Prosperity I project and its reported flight claim. Hyundai’s 2022 Supernal release gives the cabin details and the company’s then-current certification timeline.
Quick Recap
How to read these nature references
- Inspiration: The animal or natural form Stephenson or a company says influenced a design.
- Intended function: The purpose attributed to a feature, such as the lift Stephenson said the Lilium canards provide.
- Verified performance: A measured result supported by independent evidence. The cited design accounts and announcements do not provide comparative biomimicry performance statistics.
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