A New Car Concept Developed with Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE)

Abstract

<jats:p>In this work, a structured design method, the Stylistic Design Engineering (SDE), isapplied for the construction of a new minivan car, in particular a new city car, which we will callFIAT 600 Omega. The SDE, or Stylistic Design Engineering, is a structured engineering method forcarrying out automotive design projects. The SDE method consists of six different phases: (1)Analysis of stylistic trends; (2) Sketches; (3) 2D Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings; (4) 3DCAD models; (5) Rendering; (6) Solid stylistic model (also called style maquette). This project dealswith the external redesign of the Fiat 600 multiple, a small minivan which was very successful inthe 1950s and 1960s. SDE is a methodology consisting of various technologies and designmethodologies that will be further explained in detail, such as the Pininfarina method, the QualityFunction Deployment (QFD) method, Benchmarking (BM), and Top Flop Analysis (TPA). The workwas organized according to the different phases. Initially, the Fiat style was studied, in particularthe style of the FIAT 600 MULTI PURPOUSE VEHICLE (MPV). This step is essential to betterunderstand the characteristics of the brand and also the main characteristics carried out over thedecades. Then we moved on to the freehand sketching phase, based on what we learned in theprevious phase of the study. When a satisfactory shape was found for the new car, by analyzing anddiscarding the different proposals of the various types of style, we proceeded to the evaluation ofthe proportions and dimensions through two-dimensional drawings and finally we obtained thethree-dimensional shape of the new car thanks to 3D CAD software and rendering software. Manyadvantages in the industrial world SDE takes together with its development. In fact, until the early2000s, car design and styling was considered quite a craft activity, not a technical or scientific one,mostly based on the great capability of famous car designers and masters, just like Giugiaro, Zagato,Bertone, Pininfarina, Stephenson, Bangle, etc. Then, thanks to the industrial activity of Eng. LorenzoRamacciotti, former CEO of Pininfarina Spa and Mechanical Engineer, and also thanks to theacademic studies developed at ALMA MATER STUDIORUM University of Bologna, SDE becamethe object of attention, because it is able to systematize the car design process and reduce costs. WithSDE, a good design research or an industrial product development team can complete a car designproject, also without the presence of a mentor. Car Design Process finally becomes with SDE ascientific method; Car Design becomes with SDE an industrial method. Industrial needs are niceproducts made in a short time; SDE is structured to attend these issues. Industrial challenges followinnovation, in shape and functionality; SDE is able to recognize innovation. Industrial benefits canbe reached with SDE, ensuring beautiful aesthetic projects are realized systematically and with lowcosts.</jats:p>

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