The dimensions of car design

Maserati Alfieri concept car

• Published Apr 23, 2015 4:32 PM KST
• Updated Apr 23, 2015 4:32 PM KST

How car design is evolving

By Yun Suh-young

A car is "a tool that transfers you from reality to hyper reality" said Kim Hong-tak, Chief Creative Officer at marketing company Playground, who spoke at the Seoul Motor Show held from Apr. 3 to 12.

The motor show featured a two-day conference called "Car is art," under the theme "Experience the technology, feel the artistry," inviting car designers and car industry officials to share their insights.

Cars, as Kim says, often deliver us to hyper realistic moments; and the intensity and degree of that unrealistic feeling depends heavily on the design of the car as much as the performance.

What car designers have to say about the making of a car is beyond overwhelming when you start to understand how much detail, thought and inspiration are put into the beautiful steel creations.

Designing a car

Color designer Chun Hye-ryung at the Color and Trim Team of Kia Motors says color designers engage in deeper fields beyond the surface.

"We study the color combination harmony between the body color and the interior items. We engage in even the details of selecting the texture and feeling of the stitch and fabric. We're closest to influencing customers' emotions," she said.

Carlo Palazzani, designer at Gran Studio of Italy and former Ferrari designer, says a designer must "understand what is underneath the car."

"A designer should consider how much this car must be good in the race or on the road and find the right balance between beauty and function. The difference between an ugly car and a Ferrari is that it has beauty with function," said Palazzani.

"Designers are inspired by everything happening around them. Most of my inspiration comes from childhood memories and travel. I look for the elements from my own experience. I travel a lot and take in everything happening at work and what people say."

Design starts from the wheels, according to Palazzani.

"The wheel is the beginning of everything. Then comes the proportions which define the dimension. We define the object before going into details," he said.

"The wheel has been developed and used in different ways. For instance, in the past the wheels were small and strong. Later came the boxy volumes."

Park Do-young, sound designer at Hyundai Motors, fascinated the audience by explaining how much sound influences the image of the car.

"Cars have about 50 different sounds. Sound designing is creating necessary sounds for the auditory interface from sound logos of brands to alarm sounds," he said.

"Let's compare the BMW i8 and the Mercedes-Benz F015. BMW i8 exerts a manly, powerful sound which are virtual sounds created electronically. The Mercedes-Benz F015 offers a soft woman's voice that guides the driver. This shows how a car's identity changes drastically depending on the sound."

Future designs

Sound design is also evolving to meet the needs of the users.

Hyundai Motors' Veloster 2015 has recently equipped an "engine sound equalizer" which is a function where drivers can personally choose and adjust the sound that they want.

How will the sounds of future cars evolve?

"As eco-powered cars will increase, the overall noise level will reduce and sounds that consider the emotions of drivers will increase, as well as sounds that alarm the drivers of passersby," said Park of Hyundai Motors.

"Virtual engine sounds will also increase as autonomous cars don't create much sound. They'll also start to heavily inform the drivers at the right moment. They'll selectively provide necessary information."

Future cars will drastically change the "soundscape" of cities according to Park.

"Hybrid cars such as Toyota Prius, Tesla model S, BMW i3, and Audi R8-etron will change the soundscapes of the future," he said.

"Also, as more people are sharing instead of possessing cars, the sounds that define the identity of cars will ultimately change."

Palazzani imagined that future cars will connect with each other.

"Cars will be part of us, walking with us and connecting with each other. Now we're facing a new era of the hybrid, electric cars," he said.

"In the future we will see crazy cars, not in terms of the engine, but the material and everything surrounding it."

Will there be 3D-printed cars?

Lei Pong, president of Renown Auto Style, says the time isn't ripe yet.

"The 3D printing technology isn't there yet. It will get there but it will be cost prohibitive in terms of what type of materials you can use because they change with heat," said Pong.

How long will it take to get there? "At least 10 years," he said.