RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CAR DESIGN

U članku se analizira odnos između dizajna i aerodinamičnosti automobila, te kako se dizajneri nose s ovim izazovom. Automobili nisu samo sredstva prijevoza nego i predmet osobnosti, zato se percepcija kupca mora rano uklopiti u proces oblikovanja karoserije. Razvoj dizajna novog vozila, kreće od percepcije kupaca, zatim slijedi proces dizajniranja te na kraju validacija. Dizajnom se mora pogoditi tržište odnosno regionalni ukus, koji određuje identitet i prepoznatljivost vozila. Istraživanje osobnosti izbora dizajna automobila na studentskoj muškoj i ženskoj populaciji govori da je dizajn najmanje jednako odlučujući čimbenik izbora vozila kao i njegove performanse. Činjenica je da su tehnički koncepti automobila sve sličniji u svim segmentima, stoga je dizajn više nego ikad prije sredstvo pomoću kojeg se razlikuju jedni od drugih. Stoga je moderni dizajn automobila uvjetovan ljepotom, komforom i sigurnošću vožnje, koje sve više dolazi do izražaja. Na kraju, dizajn vozila je prijelomna točka od koje ovisi tržišni uspjeh.The article analyses the relationship between design and aerodynamics of the car, and how the designers handle this challenge. Cars are not just a means of transport but also a subject of personality; therefore, the customer\u27s perception must be incorporated early into the body shaping process. The design development of a new vehicle is based on customer perception, followed by the design process and fi nally validation. The design must be guided by the market or regional taste, which determines the identity and distinctiveness of the vehicle. Research on the personality of car design choices on the male and female student population indicates that the design is at least as decisive a factor of vehicle choice as is its performance. The fact is that the technical concepts of cars are ever more similar in all segments, thus the design is more than ever a means of diff erentiation from each other. Consequently, modern car design is conditioned by beauty, comfort and safety of driving, which is becoming increasingly apparent. In the end, the vehicle design is the crucial point determining its market success