Mon, August 04, 2008
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"It's time for the all new Chevrolet Camaro."
A 21st century face on that sixties' sports car, the Chevy Camaro. Boasting 26 miles a gallon, it reflects what designers say will characterize all cars ten years from now: efficiency. Vehicles of all types, they say, will shrink to make them more fuel efficient. General Motor's vice president of global design, Ed Welburn.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) ED WELBURN, VICE PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL DESIGN, GENERAL MOTORS, SAYING:
"We have technology under development that'll take away that dependency on oil from other countries. Volt is a very good example of it. Volt will be mainstream technology."
He's referring to Chevy's concept car, the all-electric Volt.
Cars will also look sleeker and more aerodynamic, as seen in the models assembled by students here at California's prestigious Art Center College of Design. The emphasis on the environment will hasten the use of new materials, and that could give a new look to cars, inside and out.
Stewart Reed chairs the College's transportation design department.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) STEWART REED, CHAIR, TRANSPORTATION DESIGN DEPARTMENT, ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN, SAYING:
"If you look at the production processes, raw material extraction, truly sustainable materials, maybe the interior that is changeable, so like a wardrobe, you swap out different types of materials."
And with advances in those materials, electronics and lighting, motorists will be able to customize their car more, even changing the hue.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) STEWART REED, CHAIR, TRANSPORTATION DESIGN DEPARTMENT, ART CENTER COLLEGE OF DESIGN, SAYING:
"Those seem to be leading the way toward the same sort of reconfigurability. The opportunity to change the color of something as you choose or by mood seems to be possible now. Or an artificial muscle that changes the way seat forms and arm rests might feel, so you might have different postures in the 8 am drive versus 3 in the afternoon drive."
New camera technologies could eliminate side and rear view mirrors, streamlining the look. And ten years from now, you'll be able to bark out voice commands. Now that's really sitting in the driver's seat.
Fred Katayama, Reuters, New York.
COMPANIES MENTIONED: General Motors
