Glass and Car Design: A Strategic Alliance

Lorenzo Ramaciotti

The daily challenge for a car designer is to break new ground with forms that are original and pleasing. This creative activity must be performed fulfilling a number of hard points and limitations.

Some of these constraints come from the materials used, that are in most cases a given element.

Glass is by far the one with the most constraints. From the early days, the introduction of a technological breakthrough in glass technology has brought a significant advance in design: from the flat or split windshield to the curved, wraparound; from the flat windows to the cylindrical.

There is a full range of functional constraints; visibility during day and night, being one of the first priority.

The increase in windshield angle compatible with good visibility has allowed to radically change the profile of cars. The same is for night vision, where the technology of glass in alliance with the evolution of lighting systems has completely changed size and shape of headlamps.

One more constraint where design and glass technology meet is comfort. Designers have for long dreamed of transparent roofs, bigger windshields and back lights. The availability of reflecting and insulating glass has allowed to make the dream come true on today's average cars.

These are the foundations of the strategic alliance between glass and car design. But what would a designer demand to fulfil his needs in the future?

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