CDN's theme of the month
Monthly focus: Surfacing & aerodynamics
Car Design News explores surfacing and aerodynamics this month, speaking to a range of automotive designers about the delicate balance between sculptural expression and aerodynamic efficiency
What do you see when you first look at a car? Is it the lighting signature, or perhaps the grille?
More often than not, what leaves the lasting impression is something far less obvious – it’s the way the light moves across the bodywork, how reflections stretch and tighten over the wheelarches and how a shoulder line flows into the rear. Before a designer even adds trim or a badge, the vehicle is viewed almost as a standalone sculpture – one that should ideally evoke emotion from the customer too. No small feat.
Surfacing is widely known as the art of shaping a sculpture. In automotive design, it runs deeper as the treatment of a vehicle’s exterior directly impacts the interior. Good surfacing is almost invisible – and it comes down to an expert eye to know when it is complete. But as we all know, a designer's job is never done
This discipline is also intertwined in countless other design practices – from architecture to industrial design to aerospace and yacht design. All of these design practices share a common goal – for surfacing to expertly combine engineering and artistry.
As electric vehicles continue to dominate the automotive industry, surfacing and aerodynamics have become even more of a talking point. Reducing drag and improving range as a result is a top priority for both brand and buyer. This begs the question – is creative surface expression ever compromised by aerodynamic requirements? Perhaps the most successful designs allow performance and sculpture to become one and the same.
Throughout this month’s conversations with designers from Lamborghini, Maserati, Citroén and Lepas (with more to come), one common theme has emerged: while each brand interprets surfacing through its own design language the discipline is also viewed as the intersection between brand identity, engineering and artistic intent.
Mitja Borkert, Lamborghini’s design director, proposes that surfacing is a reaction to the individual goals of the vehicle. “Sometimes [it is] a little bit more human, sometimes a little bit sharper, sometimes a bit more robotic. For me, the surface treatment comes automatically with the mission.”
Borkert also points to AI as a useful surface experimentation tool: “AI is a catalyst for my inspiration. It helps me to very quickly visualise all these sparks in my brain. People say AI creates familiar surfaces because it knows all the pictures that already exist. But in the end, it's you treating the AI. If something looks like it’s already been seen, it's because you didn't tell it the right thing.”
For Maserati, surfacing has to be purposeful, with head of design Klause Busse stating the value in modelling by hand to create a “rolling sculpture.” “We even reactivated a modeller out of retirement who had worked on the [Lamborghini] Miura,” he told CDN. “He was part of a team of course, but it was amazing to work with someone who's had such an influence on car design history. The sensuality of a car's surfacing is so important to us, whereas on the race cars, it's more about modernity and performance."
As mentioned, aerodynamics is even more of a key design consideration when it comes to EVs, with Citroën design manager Kate Mouiron relating this to the C5 Aircross. “We're strongly constrained, but also challenged by aerodynamics," Mouiron said. "In the beginning we probably saw it as an obstacle or a frustration. But now it's something that we work hand in hand with the aerodynamic technicians to make sure that we're at the forefront of aerodynamics. It's something that drives us forward.”
Lepas – part of the Chery group – integrates aerodynamics into the design language itself from the get-go. The design philosophy is powerful – natural energy inspired by nature, an in particular, the leopard. “Because of our philosophy, it’s easier for us to tackle aerodynamics as all our forms are elegant,” explained Head of design Ivan Dulanovic “Air flows around the car much more easily compared to a very edgy design. As a result, it’s less of a challenge but we do take a lot of care when it comes to proportions.”
If this month’s conversations have revealed anything so far, it’s that surfacing is evolving alongside electrification and AI but the fundamentals remain unchanged – the most successful designs will always be those that communicate purpose and emotion through form.
Keep an eye on Car Design News for more industry insights on our monthly theme of surfacing and aerodynamics.
