Inspirational Design: The process of creating a world-class SUV
·
SUV’s have grown in popularity
over recent years
·
Ford has been designing SUV’s
for almost as long as the vehicles have existed
·
At its heart, a Ford SUV is
both capable and versatile
Take a look around on the roads today, and you
will see Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) everywhere.
That wasn’t always the case. For years, sedans,
wagons and hatchbacks ruled the roads, and were for many customers the only
options when buying a new car. But since the birth of the SUV segment in the
1950s and 1960s, these flexible and capable vehicles have become more and more
popular.
The increasing popularity of SUVs can be
attributed to many changes in the segment. Improvements in engine technology
and a better understanding of aerodynamic design have helped to increase their
efficiency to passenger-car levels, saving owners money over the lifetime of
the vehicle. There have also been dramatic improvements in safety, making SUVs
some of the safest cars on the road.
Another key aspect is design: People want to
buy a vehicle that looks like it’s ready to take on the world.
Ford has been designing and building SUVs for
almost as long as the vehicles have existed. Over that time, Ford’s design team
has learned what customers are looking for in an SUV and refined the design process
into an art form.
What
makes an SUV?
Countless individual elements go into distinguishing
an SUV from other vehicles. These elements can be emphasized or toned down
depending on the intended customer and segment.
At its heart, a Ford SUV needs to be both
capable and versatile, and the design plays a major role in presenting that
image. Even more than most cars, SUVs are bought because of the emotions they
evoke and the doors that they open – SUVs give drivers the opportunity to go almost
anywhere and do more than other vehicles.
“When designing an SUV, it’s so important to
portray a sense of the vehicle’s robustness and strength,” said Doreen
Mashinini, Marketing Manager, Ford South Africa. “After decades of designing the
world’s best utility vehicles, we know what makes an SUV look like it’s ready
to take on the world. From high ground clearance, to a wider stance, every
element has been tailored with functionality at the top of our mind.”
Highlighting an SUV’s robustness alone is not
enough: It is an SUV’s versatility that makes it stand out as the ultimate
vehicle for modern lifestyles. Customers want a car that fits seamlessly into
their lives – a vehicle equally at home whether on a long commute, taking the
kids to school or discovering hidden secrets on a weekend trip.
The design of a Ford SUV usually begins with a
basic silhouette. Designers need to have an idea of a vehicle’s size and shape
before they turn their attention to the finer details. At this stage the
designers are already targeting specific customer requirements. For example, if
the vehicle is expected to primarily be used in the city then a smaller
silhouette will be important to help the customer maneuver in busy traffic.
Whereas if the vehicle is targeting a customer with a passion for the outdoors
then a bigger, wider silhouette will be important to improve the vehicle’s
off-road capabilities.
Even with these simple outlines, it’s easy to
distinguish the vehicle as an SUV thanks to some instantly recognizable design
traits.
For instance, a raised driving position enables
the driver and passengers to see over obstacles and traffic, giving a better
view of the road ahead. Higher seating positions also make entering and exiting
more natural. This has the added benefit of making SUVs easier to load without
having to bend or crouch – a back-saving advantage for parents putting small
children into car seats.
The natural stance of an SUV is also much bolder
than that of other vehicles. Increased ground clearance, a raised driving
position, and more aggressive approach and departure angles are all classic
hallmarks of Ford’s SUV DNA.
Some smart design tricks can even make smaller
vehicles, such as compact SUVs, maintain a feeling of toughness. Bold, horizontal
lines across the front can help to make the vehicle look wider, more powerful
and firmly planted. Greater ground clearance adds to the sense that a vehicle
can go anywhere and tackle any terrain.
Robustness and strength are synonymous with
Ford SUV design, and just as designers employ certain techniques to allow
smaller SUVs maintain their tough appearance, they can also use other features
to increase the feeling of capability in larger vehicles. The Everest, for
example, makes use of silver skid plates at the front and rear to improve its
off-road ability and present an image of ruggedness.
In the 50 years since the original Ford Bronco
was released, designers have built up a wealth of knowledge about what SUV
customers are looking for. They know that at its core, an SUV should be a
perfect blend of the capability and functionality of a truck, with the style, comfort
and drivability of a passenger car.
The
evolution of SUVs
Perhaps surprisingly, these fundamental
requirements have not changed since the first Bronco was introduced to the
world in 1965. What has changed is the demand for a greater variety of SUVs, and
growing expectations for the capabilities that these SUVs need to deliver.
While some customers still require the strength
of traditional body-on-frame off-road SUVs, such as the robust Ford Everest, evolving
customer demand has led to the development of SUVs on road-focused platforms designed
with the urban jungle in mind, like the agile Ford EcoSport.
Compact SUVs like the EcoSport have seen rapid
growth thanks to a growing need for nimble, efficient vehicles that are easier
to drive and park in busy urban areas. Offering many of the same benefits as
their larger SUV counterparts, including roomy cargo areas, a higher driving
position and a feeling of robustness, these SUVs are perfect for both city
driving and weekend escapes.
Even larger SUVs, however, are now expected to
deliver excellent fuel economy. In part, this has been achieved by the
introduction of more efficient powertrains, including the availability of
EcoBoost engines in most of Ford’s vehicles sold in South Africa. Advanced
EcoBoost technology is designed to provide drivers with the efficiency they
need in day-to-day driving, and the power they want in situations such as
passing on a highway.
Design also plays an important role in boosting
efficiency: The Ford design team works closely with aerodynamics engineers to
create SUVs that are able to slip through the air with ease. This may mean
adding “kickers” on the rear side windows to reduce drag, as on the EcoSport,
or creating an advanced 3D-formed front under-shield to more efficiently manage
air flow under the vehicle, as on the Everest. Each new Ford vehicle requires thousands
of hours of testing to maximize its aerodynamic efficiency.
Data from this testing can help designers to
create a more efficient vehicle, but one that still presents an image of
capability, versatility and opportunity that is at the core of what it means to
be an SUV. And as it has over the years, the significance of that design will
continue to increase.
“The design of an SUV is already a hugely
important distinguishing factor,” said Mashinini. “As their popularity grows, it
is only going to become more important as brands attempt to distinguish their
products from their competitors. It is vital that however the segment evolves,
all of our SUVs remain unmistakably Ford.”
The
Design of Ford’s SUV Family
Everest
The Everest’s wide stance and bold front end immediately
give an impression of its capability and impressive off-road credentials, while
the chiseled, sculptural curves of the exterior hint at the refined interior
within.
At first glance, Ford’s design DNA is most
visible in the bold, inverted trapezoidal grille that firmly places it within the
global One Ford family of vehicles.
The muscular hood, integrated headlamps and
front bumper convey the Everest’s power and rugged capability. A silver skid
plate underneath the front bumper and the aggressive approach and departure
angles give further clues as to the vehicle’s off-road prowess.
Kuga
The exterior of the Kuga clearly places it
within the modern Ford SUV family, with a large upper trapezoidal grille and a
lower grille flanked by sleek new headlamps with daytime running lights and
stylish fog lamps. Modern taillights complement the sophisticated front end.
Packed with technology, the Kuga makes the most
of its SUV design. In certain models, for instance, a Hands-Free Liftgate lets customers
easily open or close the tailgate by using a kicking motion beneath the rear
bumper. This smart feature helps parents easily access the cargo area when
returning to their vehicle with shopping bags or children.
EcoSport
The fluid, dynamic and refined lines of the
EcoSport are clearly defined by Ford’s global design DNA.
A wide hood sweeps into sculpted bodylines,
conveying a dynamic spirit of energy in motion. Modern, slim headlamps frame a
high-mounted trapezoidal grille.
Moving to the side, certain models have blacked-out
B-pillars that unify the windows into one elegant shape. The muscular beltline,
formed by the windows and door creases, ascends as it runs to the rear of the
vehicle, adding to the sense of movement.
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