Prompt 1: Asking Questions and Breaking Assumptions

By: Nick S.

There are many preconceptions and misconceptions about automotive fanatics and the members of the automotive field. When people imagine the truck driving breed, a lot of the time they imagine rednecks and loud trucks. When people see the small 4 banger with the wing that's too big and hear the exhaust coming straight out of the downpipe, they think about the average ricer and probably picture a showoff that wants everyone to see him. However, making preconceptions about these people, no matter how natural, sometimes isn't the best representation of the culture.

My good friend from my hometown and I are always looking for something to improve on either of our cars during the summer. While we know that sometimes we may not know what we're doing before we jump into the middle of a project, we also know that we find this the best way to learn, and that it can be thrilling.  Simply put, we consider ourselves to be inquisitive and inventive in the way we enjoy most. Not only do we fall into this category, but all of my friends that are as enthusiastic about the automotive field aren't weird or attention-seekers.

Therefore, I believe it's important to consider the motives and backgrounds of the members of the automotive field before assuming the worst. The book "An Introduction to Modern Vehicle Design" gives young engineers and enthusiasts as insight to the culture and careers of automotive design and the kinds of people that work in the field. It features many lectures from those working in the field and those studying the engineering aspects. This book provides a good view of the reality of all things automotive.

Sources

http://www.okebook.club/uncategorized-list/introduction-to-modern-vehicle-design_4svi.html (book review)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47710077275535413/ (truck picture)

http://www.bestcarinf.com/honda/honda-civic-ricer (civic picture)

Blog Synthesis Post

There are many different evolving technologies that allow engineers to fulfill the expectations that the public have about the safety, practicality and visual standards of cars. Technology is in continuous development, and with it, comes faster and more efficient automobiles.

Safety standards continue to increase as time moves forward, and with it, comes smarter technology. While the first few versions of cars didn’t have seatbelts, every car today comes standard with seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones. To read more about seatbelts, click here. Besides being required by law, ethics are a major reason to have top safety standards in a vehicle. The first code of ethics in engineering is holding the safety of the public before anything else. Read more about ethics here.

Aside from safety and forms of power the automotive technology that has changed the most is Exterior design. Since the car was created the exterior has been constantly changing shape. From the first assembly line vehicle the Model T, being a boxy unflattering and not aerodynamic design, to new cars like the Mclaren P1 being formed almost entirely in wind tunnels. One car company will make a trend and others will follow is usually how the exterior design pattern goes, for example, Aston Martin has had their front grill style for years, and now Ford, Fisker, and Tesla (with their new model X and III) have all joined in on the style. Soon the consumers will grow tired of cars with this style and the automobile will evolve again. You can learn more about alternative energy here and here

Up until the muscle era, performance was not much of a goal for automotive makers. While older cars before the muscle era did have large engines capable of producing lots of horsepower, such as a 1930’s Buick La Salle with a v8. While the engine technology was there, the powertrain technology was not up to speed and resulted in very low horsepower numbers. Enter the muscle era of the 60’s and 70’s; long cars with big engines capable of more straight line speed than ever before, and a new addition: the tachometer. Before now barely any cars had tachometers because people were not going for performance or speed, thus having no reason to track rpm limits of their engines. Now, some 50 ish years later, we have cars like the Hennessey Venom GT with twin turbochargers, a 0-60 of 2.3 seconds, and a top speed of 270.49 miles per hour. Clearly, performance has evolved. With advances in technology, a small 4 cylinder can put out as much horsepower as a screaming v8.

Alongside performance evolving in cars, the method of power delivery for cars has changed greatly, some benefitting performance, some benefitting efficiency in multiple aspects. For example, the Tesla P85D is a non-transmission, silent, sleeper of a performance car. The P85D produces around 700 horsepower and has infinite torque at any rpm thanks to its electric motors and lack of a transmission. On another aspect of battery powered cars, one not so performance oriented; the prius. On opposite ends of the spectrum, the prius uses batteries, and an engine (but also has a battery only option) and gets roughly 50 miles to the gallon. Back onto terms of performance, cars like the McLaren P1, Ferrari LaFerrari, and Porsche 918 Spyder use powerful gasoline engines coupled with electric motors at each wheel to put impressive horsepower numbers to the ground. In terms of diesel technology, diesel, when not paired with a turbocharger is mainly used for one thing and that is torque. Turbo diesel cars however like the volkswagen jetta get around 50 miles to the gallon thanks to the efficiency of diesel fuel. Click here to learn more about a new power delivery system

The future of the automotive industry can be reflected in the image that Tesla has portrayed in it’s recent lineup of electric automobiles. The rate at which people have reserved their own Tesla Model III for the end of 2017 is a staggering statistic, and it is clear, judging by this demand, that this vehicle is widely accepted by the consumers and shows that Tesla will soon be dominating the automotive industry. To get a better look at the shiny new Model III, take a look at my more detailed post about it here. It is encouraging to see the industry shift from gasoline power to electric power, especially as quickly and effectively as it is.

Car Designer Plans to Design... Yacht?

By: Nick H.

Brilliant car designer Henrik Fisker is well known for his ability to design cars. His most famous design was his Fisher Force 1 Supercar. While his expertise is clearly in designing cars, Fisker has decided to take his talents elsewhere for his next project.

Introducing the Benetti Fisker 50 Concept. A sport yacht made for both performance and luxury. Benetti, a yacht company, is best known for using a sleek, sporty design when building their Italian yachts. While Fisker does not have this exact style, he understands what Benetti is looking for. A different vantage point and lots of thinking outside the box will provide Benetti with a more original design.


The interior of the vessel was designed with three main things in mind; having a "homey" feel, being able to easily accommodate 12 guests, and having the ability to have parties of roughly 100 people. Specially luxury elements were also included. This includes a suspended ceiling fireplace in the master bedroom, and taking advantage of the ever-changing views by using many windows.


The largest difference, according to Fisker, when moving from cars to yachts was the sheer size. For example, cars can be put into clay models, scalped, and then changed when necessary. Because putting a 163 foot yacht into a clay model would be outrageous, all the designing was done and displayed visually by use of computer programs and softwares. Also, in a car, people do not have the freedom to get up move as they please.  In a yacht, however, people can get up, walk around, and move to different rooms. Fisker claims that this is something that he has never had to think about when design anything.



Sources:


Viju, Matthew. Bennetti Fisker 50. Digital image. RobbReport.com. Viju Matthew, 8 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.



Viju, Matthew. "Car Designer Henrik Fisker Reveals Superyacht Design for Benetti Yachts [Q&A]." Robb Report. Matthew Viju, 08 Apr. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.

Prompt 4: How the front design of cars influence the customers

By Ryan

In automotive engineering, a grille covers an opening in the body of a vehicle to allow air to enter. Most vehicles feature a grille at the front of the vehicle to protect the radiator and engine, or on the rear deck lid (in rear engine vehicles).

The front fascia of a motor vehicle has an important role in attracting buyers. The principal function of the grille is to admit cooling air to the car's radiator. However, the look of the vehicle matters a great deal more than whether the design features actually serve any function. As one of the main visual components on the front of vehicles, an inspired grille design makes a car attractive and shapes its identity by tying it to the carmaker's history and reputation.

The front end, grille, fascia and headlights form a very distinct “face,” and, much like a human visage, it can have expressions: happy, purposeful, angry, aggressive, sad or even bored. And, just like we recognize and trust familiar human faces, it’s important for car brands to maintain “facial continuity” for purposes of recognition and awareness.

Nobody has done this better than BMW and Mercedes. Both, across many decades and dozens of new vehicles, have evolved and modernized their grilles (with the “twin kidneys” of BMW sometimes wider, sometimes framed, sometimes more rectangular), but they have maintained their essential brand identities. This consistency is a large part of their enviable brand health. Being instantly recognized by everyone as the owner of a BMW or Mercedes is hugely important to the owners.

Sources

http://www.forbes.com/sites/boblutz/2012/04/11/how-designers-put-a-face-on-cars/#118de31e59cf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grille_(motor_vehicle)

https://www.zhihu.com/question/22444321

Images

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/47/67/fd/4767fd364a85d76952438d4e2dba3f64.jpg

The Power of NOS

By Eric

Now what would be an automotive blog without nitrous? Nitrous oxide is chemical compound with the formula N₂O. More commonly nitrous oxide is called laughing gas, nitrous, nitro, or NOS. There are different uses for nitrous oxide which include medicinal uses (an aesthetic for surgery and dentistry), aerosol, internal combustion, and for other recreational uses.

For Internal combustion uses, nitrous is used to increase the power output of your car’s engine. First let me explain how it does this. Nitrous is stored as a liquid form inside nitrous canisters. When the nitrous is released into the engine, usually from the intake manifold, it will turn into a gas form and cool down the engine. When it does this, it produces more oxygen for the engine to burn, causing the engine to work harder and produce more power. Nitrous kits can be categorized into two types, Dry or Wet. A Dry system just injects nitrous into the intake manifold, while a Wet system injects nitrous (N₂O) and fuel into the intake.  

One of the major problems of using nitrous oxide, is that it can produce enough power to damage or destroy the engine. It is very important when using nitrous, to maintain proper operating temperatures and fuel levels to prevent "pre-ignition", or "detonation" (which is known as a "knock"). Since nitrous allows a much denser charge into the cylinder it dramatically increases cylinder pressures. The increased pressure and temperature can cause problems such as melting the piston or valves, crack or warp the piston or head, and cause pre-ignition due to uneven heating.

Sources

BoxWrench. "What Is NOS ? - Nitrous Oxide Systems - How NOS Creates Power." YouTube. 

YouTube, 30 Mar. 2009. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

"Nitrous Oxide." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

"Engineering Explained: How NOS Works." Car Throttle. Car Throttle. 6 April 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.

"Nitrous Express." Corvette Nitrous Oxide. West Coast Corvettes. n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2016.

Goodyear’s Spherical Tire: A Glimpse into the Future

By: Grattan R.

With the autonomous car becoming an advancing reality, Goodyear has decided to undergo prototyping and design of a far-off future tire. The tire will actually be a spherical design that will be suspended from the car by a magnetic field, eliminating the need for wheels and axles in tires. Presumably, technology of automobiles will have to advance quite a bit for tires to be magnetically levitated under a car, but a lot of companies are not too far off from making magnetically powered cars. The tire will be able to have a custom tread for any specification thanks to 3D printing the tread, meaning tires can be created and adapted for different conditions. In addition to not requiring axles, the tire does not require suspension, dramatically reducing weight and cost of vehicle production.

The tire is adaptable to different conditions, a sponge-like groove design softens when wet to create deeper grooves for more traction and to prevent hydroplaning in rainy conditions. In addition, water is dispersed from the tire and these grooves thanks to centrifugal force. The grooves stiffen when dry versus wet to offer better performance. The tire is not all rubber though, underneath the layer of rubber is foam which helps the tire make better contact with the road.

In terms of safety enhancements, active technology allows the tire to rotate freely, thus reducing the chance of losing control of the car due to hazards. The free rotation also allows the car to have a smooth ride with fluid movement, the car can pass another vehicle without having to change direction at all. One problem someone might suggest is wear of tires causing uneven surfaces, the tires will have sensors to rotate the tires automatically after assessing tread wear. One more benefit of free rotating tires is less area needed to park due to each tire being able to rotate individually.

Clearly this technology is far off, but when someone first came out with a design for an autonomous car, everyone assumed that was just as far away, and look where we are now. This tire could see a new mode of transportation and safety for the future, provided the technology is there to produce it.

Sources Cited

“The Future Tire by Goodyear - It's a Sphere!”. CarThrottle.Com. CarThrottle. 6 April 2016. Web. 7 April 2016.

Cadillac to Expand Variety of Cars

By: Nick H.


Cadillac's Ciel concept car was best known from being seen in the movie Entourage. However, dreams of owning this car are far from reality, as the concept has been cancelled by Cadillac. In its wake Cadillac has dreams of further expanding the types of cars that they intend to produce in the future. With higher demand for SUV's, the Ciel didn't seem to be worth the production.

Many other car companies are looking into SUV's as well. Companies known to produce sport vehicles such as Bentley, Maserati, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, and Rolls Royce are now investigating the idea of producing an SUV model. Mercedes Benz has already began looking into SUVs with its production of the  GL-SUV. With such demand for SUVs on the market, it is no wonder that Cadillac is choosing to drop its sporty "Ciel" concept.


Many may point out that Cadillac already has its luxury, SUV, Escalade brand. Though this is a high production vehicle in the United States, it is far less popular overseas due to its bulky size. Other countries, especially Europeans, prefer a large vehicle that can still drive like a mid-sized sedan. This is what Cadillac intends to produce with its future models.


Cadillac is rumored to be already planning new car models for the future. The XT9 is said to be a crossover vehicle based off the sporty CT6's body. This would compete with Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce's new SUV.

Sources:

Vijayenthiran, Viknesh. "Cadillac Nixes Plan for "CT8" Flagship Sedan [Report]." KEPR. Motor Authority, 5 Apr. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.

Warner Bros. Cadillac Ciel. Digital image. Gmauthority. Cadillac, 24 Dec. 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2016.

Tesla Model 3

By Nick S.

At the unveiling of the Model 3 at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, California, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the car will deliver at least 215 miles of range beginning at just $35,000 - that's a bold claim, and an important one for Tesla to meet. Musk is "fairly confident" that deliveries will begin by the end of 2017, and "you will not be able to buy a better car for $35,000, even with no options." And it will be one of the safest cars in the world, according to Musk.

The base car will do 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds, with versions that go "much faster." Range will be at least 215 miles, but Tesla hopes to exceed those numbers in the final car. All Model 3 cars will include support for Tesla's high-speed Supercharging network, because "it's about going where you want to go," according to Musk. By the end of 2017, when the Model 3 launches, Tesla says it will have a total of 7,200 Superchargers, double the number available today.

Like the Model S, the Model 3 will come in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, and there's a 15-inch landscape touchscreen inside - an interesting change from the 17-inch portrait touchscreen in the Model S and X. Autopilot hardware is standard, and all safety features will be active automatically. Five adults will fit comfortably - "comfortably is the important part here," says Musk.

Elon Musk laid it all out in a blog post 10 years ago, and he's held up his end so far:

- Build sports car - The Tesla Roadster

- Use that money to build an affordable car - The Model S

- Use that money to build an even more affordable car - The Model 3

But don't expect to get your hands on one any time soon. The Model 3 isn't expected to begin production until late 2017, more than 18 months from now. Tesla will happily take your preorder for a modest $1,000 down payment. Tesla plans to more than double the size of its dealership and service network by the end of next year, to sell and take care of all these new cars.

Sources

 Golson, Jordan. "This Is the Tesla Model 3, Coming in 2017 for $35,000." The Verge. 31 Mar. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016. 

 King, Alanis. "Tesla Model 3: Everything We've Learned." Jalopnik. 03 Apr. 2016. Web. 03 Apr. 2016. 

Prompt 5 The mechatronics’ role in automotive

By Ryan

The field of mechatronics in automotive engineering refers to a combinatorial approach to design, with emphasis on contributions from mechanical, electrical, computer, and control engineering groups.

A large share of automotive innovations consists of significant improvements in formerly pure mechanical systems which are made possible using integrated electronics together with complex information processing. Such mechatronic systems require a concurrent design of mechanical, electronical, and information processing sub-systems in order to reach the cost requirements of the automotive industry.

In the recent past and in the foreseeable future, most innovations in automotive systems rely on electronics. Those innovations are rarely pure electronic systems for information processing and communication—like the mobile phones or navigation system—but most of them are closely tied to mechanical parts of the system. The three major mechanical subsystems in a car, the chassis system, the propulsion system and the interior system, all are undergoing a massive change from mainly mechanical systems with some electronic control towards highly integrated mechatronical systems which would not function without electronic control.

Mechatronics can be said to be one of the core competencies of the automotive industry. With mechatronics a better functionality, better use of space, lower number of interfaces and smaller cost for a given performance can be reached. Mechatronics is more than just technology: it requires a function-oriented design approach to solve a problem with the best suited technologies available. For good mechatronic systems, teamwork and use of tools with well-defined interfaces to link the technologies together are the key success factors.

Sources

http://www.qualitymag.com/articles/92182-mechatronics-creates-new-testing-challenges-for-automotive-industry

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967066103002314

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechatronics

   

Images

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Mecha_workaround.svg

         http://www.autoalliance.org/images/dmImage/SourceImage/AdvancedTech-Cobots.png

April Fools Jokes in the Automotive World

By: Grattan R.

If you are like most people, you probably know April fool’s day as one of many jokes, particularly in this article, from automotive companies. From Porsche releasing a cologne that smells of burnt rubber and e85 race gas, Chevrolet bringing back a car from 1914, Mazda claiming to phase out manual transmissions, to Ford making a website where you can date other ford drivers, here’s some of the best April fool’s jokes from the car scene. While these jokes may be to gain publicity, and to make a better joke than the other car companies, it lifts the tension on automotive competitors.

1. Mazda knows the mass of its driver population prefers manual transmission, so they decided to make an “all automatics” ad to get under the skin of manual purists everywhere.

2. Ford date, here at forddate.com, you can join 1 million other Ford owners in finding the love of your life who probably drives the same car as you.

3. My personal favorite along with the next- Lexus’ Velcro seat. If you are a performance minded driver, you may notice from time to time it is difficult to stay planted in your seat. Lexus has noticed this too, so to help you stay put when you are pushing 1.8 G’s of force around a corner, Lexus made a dress suit and car seat Velcro combination so that you stay safely planted.

4. Porsche cologne eau d’essence. If you love getting your hands dirty working on a car or smelling like you just left a race track after swimming in race gasoline, Porsche has got the solution for you!

5. Audi's emoji headlights. Ever wanted to let every other driver on the road know how you feel and not be able to see the road at night at the same time? Audi has got you covered. In addition, you can also let drivers know to pass or thank them for letting you over. 

Picture and Video Sources

https://twitter.com/mazdacanada/status/715891536798564352/photo/1

http://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/Ford-Date-April-Fools.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&fit=around%7C660%3A439&crop=660%3A439%3B%2A%2C%2A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxVrkqv2Bc0

https://twitter.com/Porsche/status/715886443449737216/photo/1

http://www.motortrend.com/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/Audi-Emoji-Headlights-April-Fools.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&fit=around%7C660%3A439&crop=660%3A439%3B%2A%2C%2A

Magnetic Ride Control

By: Eric B.

Magnetic Ride Control or, MagneRide, is an automotive adaptive suspension with Magnetorheological damper system that utilizes magnetically controlled dampers, or shock absorbser,for a highly adaptive ride. So Magnetic Ride Control uses a fluid filled with magnetized magnetic particles to adjust how hard or soft your suspension is.

The system reads and reacts to every imperfection in the road and instantaneously adjusts the shock absorbers to subdue the impact from the bump, pothole or dip in the road. According to Cadillac, “Magnetic Ride Control reads and reacts to the road surface as many as 1,000 times per second, or ten times faster than the blink of an eye, to keep the vehicle’s chassis composed and to enhance the driving experience.” ()Although Caddlac is not the only ones who use it, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Buick, GMC, ect. all use the system or systems similar to this.

Not only does Magnetic Ride control adjust to deal with impact from bumps, it also delivers more precise body motion control. So when you go around a turn the system can put more presser on one side of the car to make the car stay steady instead of tilting to one side. Another benefit is that opposed to traditional suspension systems, it has no mechanical valves or small moving parts that can wear out. Overall, this Magnetic Ride Control system will make you feel like you are hovering in midair.

Sources

CadillacRussia. "Cadillac - Magnetic Ride Control." YouTube. YouTube, 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

"GM Corporate Newsroom - United States - Videos." Media.gm.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

"Magnetic Ride Control • /r/cars." Reddit. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

"Understanding Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control." Cavender Cadillac. N.p., 22 Dec. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

Prompt 6: Evaluating Sources

By: Eric B.

Chris Bangle, an American automobile designer for BMW,  has shared his opinions on the designs of others--and they aren't overly positive. He said that ""There is a real need for a change and that's just not happening," he told Automotive News Europe (subscription required). Bangle feels the car design world is stuck in a rut, and that many designers are stuck with the same "mannerisms" as cars of the past. 

From his design direction at BMW, it's clear what he means--while popular, BMW's range before Bangle consisted of very similar designs simply enlarged or shrunk depending on the market segment, all mere evolution of the generations of cars before." (Chris Bangle, motor authority).

From my experience I think that his opinion and judgment is typically true and I agree with Bangle. Now a day's every car looks the same, they all have that same kind of a "jelly bean" shape to them.  This is partly because of aerodynamics and fuel efficiency that you would get from having that type of shape, but still there isn't any real good styling ques to each car and that many car from different companies look really similar.

let's take a look at that "Jelly bean" shape of cars. The Jelly bean shape is really just how cars are more rounded and bubblier. An early car with that look would be like a ford Tourus. but as you take a look at the newer models they become more and more rounded, which is what Bangle was saying about the evolution of the car generations.

OK lets going back on how there isn't any real good styling cues to each car and that many car from different companies look really similar. So if you stop and take a look at the grille of each car from different companies you will see that all look the same. They all have that pointed notch on them. Starting from top down you have the 2016 Subaru legacy, the 2016 ford Taurus, and the 2016 Kia k900. You can see this with vans too, the 2016 Ford Edge, and the 2016 Subaru outback.   

So I do agree with Bangle on how he feels the car design world is stuck in a rut. I also think that now a day's cars are being made for their performance, instead of style. 

Sources

"Chris Bangle On The Problem With Modern Car Designs." Motor Authority. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"Is the '86 Ford Taurus Worthy of Classic Car Status?" Automotive News. N.p., 20 May 2011. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"Ford Taurus." Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"2016 Subaru Legacy and Outback: More Starlink, More EyeSight, (Almost Same) Price." – News – Car and Driver. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"2016 Kia K900 Luxury Sedan | Challenge The Luxury You Know." 2016 Kia K900 Luxury Sedan | Challenge The Luxury You Know. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"New 2015 / 2016 Ford Edge For Sale Near Houston, TX." New 2015 / 2016 Ford Edge For Sale Houston, TX. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.

"2016 SUBARU Outback." Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2016.