Exterior and interior design

Text 1

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN

The stylist responsible for the design of the vehicle exterior develops the proportions, shape and surfaces of the vehicle. Exterior design is first done by a series of digital or manual drawings. Progressively more detailed drawings are executed and approved. Clay and/or digital models are developed from and along with the drawings. The data from these models are then used to create a full-sized mock-up of the final design (body in white). The clay models is first designed in a computer program and then ‘carved’ using the machine and large amounts of clay. Even in times of high-class software and virtual models on power walls the clay model is still the most important tool to evaluate the design of a car and therefore used throughout the industry.

The stylist responsible for the design of the vehicle interior develops the proportions, shape, placement and surfaces for the instrument panel, seats, door trim panels, headliner, pillar trims… Here the emphasis is in ergonomics and the comfort of the passengers. The procedure is the same as with exterior design (sketch, digital model and clay model).

Electronic components and parts of the automobile give more challenges to designers who are required to update on the latest information and knowledge associated with emerging gadgetry, particularly dashboard mobile devices (GPS navigation, satellite and HD radio, mobile TV, MP3 player, video playback and Smartphone interfaces). Though not all the new gadgets are to be designed as factory standard items, but some of them may be integral to determining the future course of any specific models.

1. Complete these sentences with the information from the text:

a) Exterior design is done ………

b) In times of high-class software ………

c) The stylist responsible for the interior design develops ………

d) Here the emphasis is in ………

e) Electronic components and automobile components give ………

2. Make sure that you know these terms:

Accelerator, brake pedal, clutch pedal, dashboard, gearstick, handbrake, horn, ignition, rear-view mirror, wing (fender), petrol cap or flap, sunroof, indicator (turn signal), logo, windscreen (windshield) wiper, exhaust pipe, number plate, wing mirror, roof-rack, rumble seat, spare wheel, rear compartment, brand image, mud flap, step, sill, grill(e), door handle, quarter window, center post, washer nozzle.

 

3. Study the following information:

Trunk: place for stowing baggage.

Tail light: rear light.

Back fender: side rear part of the body that covers the wheel.

Quarter window: window pane situated approximately above the rear wheel.

Roof post: vertical structure that supports the top of the car.

Door handle: part of the door used to open it.

Door: opening used to enter the passenger compartment.

Outside mirror: external mirror used for looking backwards.

Door post: vertical structures that encase the windows.

Hub cap: piece of metal covering the hubs.

Wheel: round object that turns around a central axel and allows the car to advance.

Shield: movable apparatus that protects against bumps.

Indicator light: amber light that is used to signal changes in the car's direction.

License plate: piece of metal that carries a number used to identify the automobile.

Bumper: apparatus at the front and rear of a vehicle that protects the body from minor bumps.

Head light: front light of a car.

Grill: plastic or metal decoration over the radiator.

Hood: cover of the engine compartment at the front of a car.

Windshield wiper: movable device made partly of rubber that wipes the windshield and rear window of a car.

Outside mirror: external mirror used for looking backwards.

Sun roof: movable part that allows the roof of a car to be partially opened.

 

4. Match words from the two boxes to find the exterior car parts:

Head, rear, exhaust, wheel, front, petrol, windscreen, wing, door, number

Wipers, lights, plate, trim, bumper, cap, mirror, handle, lights, pipe

 

5. Complete the sentences with the following words (exterior design):

Bonnet (hood), boot (trunk), side window, aerial, head and rear lights, badge.

a) Don’t forget to retract the …… before using the car wash.

b) You open the …… to look at the engine.

c) Can you put my suitcase into the ……, please?

d) When it starts raining, you need to switch on the ……

e) “What model is that?” “I don’t know, I can’t see the …… from here.”

f) Open the …… and let some fresh air into the car.

 

6. Complete the sentences with the following words (interior design):

Cup holder, sun visor, cigarette lighter, glove compartment, clutch pedal, hands-free telephone, ashtray.

a) It’s so practical to have a …… near the steering wheel, I can take a drink whenever I want.

b) In a car with manual transmission, you need to press the …… when you want to change gear.

c) There’s usually a cosmetic mirror on the passenger’s ……

d) It’s against the law to phone while driving so I’ve ordered a car with a ……

e) Could you have a look in the road atlas? It’s in the ……

f) I don’t need a …… and an …… as I don’t want anyone to smoke in my car.

 

Text 2

1. Transport is a non-productive branch of economy, but it sometimes compared to veins in human body. Why is it so important? Are you able to find any synonyms for the verb ‘to transport’? Give five examples for your own activities which wouldn’t be possible without using transport.

Which in your opinion is simple: transporting passengers or goods?

AUTOMOBILE DESIGN

Introducing a new …… of automobile generally takes three to five years from inception to assembly. Ideas for new models are developed to respond to unmet public needs and preferences.

Trying to predict what the public will want to drive in five years is no small feat, yet automobile companies have successfully designed automobiles that …… public tastes. With the help of computer-aided equipment, …… develop basic concept drawings that help them visualize the proposed appearance of the …... Based on this simulation, they construct clay models that can be studied by styling experts familiar with what the public is likely to accept.

Aerodynamic …… also review the models, studying air flow parameters and doing feasibility studies on crash tests. Only after all models have been reviewed and excepted, tool designers permitted to begin building the tools that will …… the component parts of the new model.

 

5. Translate the following words and word combinations into Ukrainian:

Appearance, to some extent, road vehicles, automotive engineers, in this context, aesthetics of the vehicle, product concept, art background, exterior design, interior design, colour and trim design, proportions, shape and surfaces of the vehicle, ergonomics, to work closely with, to optimize, effectiveness, to assemble, workshop, factory, plant, machinery, raw materials, equipment, productivity, to produce, inventory control, quality control, to store, fashionable, concept car, prototype, to implement, sound engineering techniques, sound proofing.

 

6. Complete the text ‘A handmade car’ with the following words.

 

Craftsmen, highly-skilled, skills, traditional, unique.

A HANDMADE CAR

The Morgan is a ________ car: is made in Britain by a family-owned company and it is handmade. Each Morgan is made individually. Modern materials and up-to-date manufacturing technology are combined with 100-year-old ________.

There are no assembly lines because each stage of the manufacturing is done by ________ craftsmen. For example, the wooden frame is made in the same way as the first Morgan in 1909, upholsterers make the leather seats and sheet metalworkers make the panels by hand.

In contrast to all these ________ skills, Morgan engineers make precision mechanical components using modern Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery so Morgan driver has a state-of-the-art engine in a traditionally-made car.

It takes a long time to make a car by hand. The Morgan factory produces about 500 cars a year. Buyers put their name on a waiting list and then wait for the factory to tell them that their car is finished. The shortest wait is about two years and sometimes it is five years.

Like proud parents-to-be, people on the waiting list can visit the factory to see their car being made and to talk to the ________ doing the work.

 

Text 3

What model of car should a student have to impress his group mates? What model of car should a bridegroom have to impress his bride? What car should a film star have? What car do you or your parents have?

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Have you ever thought about car names? Do they mean anything? For example, you may think “Rover” is just a name, in marketing. A rover is a wanderer – someone who likes to travel around. So, the name suggests mobility, freedom, having fun and going wherever you want. These were important qualities when Rover cars first came on the market.

Marketing departments of car companies spend a lot of time and money thinking up names for cars. The names should be a reflection of the brand, product and target group. The car you drive tells the world about your status, how much money you have and the socio-economic group you belong to. Good car names are catchy and fit the product, such as the “Beetle” or the “Mini”. The name should also appeal to a global audience. At the very least, the name should not mean anything bad in another language. (This was why Rolls-Royce decided not to use the name “Silver Mist” for one model: ‘mist’ means animal manure in German.)

American car makers like to give their SUVs names that remind people of the Wild West, full of adventure and danger. Did you know that “Wrangler” is another word for cowboy? Or that “Maverick” means an unbranded cow that has strayed from the herd? People who own SUVs seldom drive them off-road, but they enjoy the feeling of excitement that the name creates.

6. Answer these questions:

a) Have you ever thought about car names?

b) Should the name appeal to a global audience?

c) How important is the name of a car to you?

d) Can you think about other interesting car names?

Text 4

Have you ever visited any car factory? Where would you like to work after graduating from our university? How many factories are there in Ukraine, in Russia, in the USA? Would you like to work for any Ukrainian company or to go abroad?

3. Complete the text (A tour of a car factory) with the following words:

Clutch, combustion, crankshaft, cylinders, distribution, fuel, piston, spark plug, torque.

“Now we come to the engine. The principle of the internal ________ engine has not changed in the last 100 years. The engine takes in ________ and air which is compressed in a combustion chamber. Then this mixture is ignited by a ________ to produce an explosion, which moves the ________ in the cylinder. The up and down motion of the piston in the cylinder is converted into rotational motion by the ________. The rotational force generated by the engine is known as ________. The size of the engine determines the power. The more ________ there are, the more powerful the engine. This power is transmitted through the ________, the gearbox, the propeller shaft (in rear-wheel and 4-wheel drive) and the axles to the wheels. The position of the engine can vary, but generally speaking it is mounted at the front. In some sports cars, the engine is mounted at the rear (e.g. Porsche) or in the middle (e.g. Ferrari or Lamborghini) because of weight ________. So, that’s enough about the engine for the moment – let’s move on to the next stage …”

4. Complete the table:

Verb	Noun	Adjective
To	power
To		combustible
To	ignition
To		explosive
To	rotation
To	transmission

 

5. Now complete the sentences with the words from the table:

a) In the engine, linear motion is converted into ________ motion by the crankshaft.

b) The power of the engine is ________ through the clutch and the gearbox.

c) The spark plug ________ the air/fuel mixture and sets off an ________.

d) A 6-cylinder engine is more ________ than a 4-cylinder one.

e) Fuel and air is compressed in the ________ chamber.

 

6. Read and translate this extract:

Text 5

Do you agree that there will be no more switches, only voice control? Will the car be made of self-cleaning materials? Will the sensors in the car prevent accidents? Would you like to be able to do most of the tasks you usually do in your office – in the car?

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

Navigation aids, telemetric equipment, audio system features and the standard instruments are all fighting for space on the instrument panel (IP). This creates a challenge for interior designers and engineers who need to keep the IP simple so that the driver is not distracted by too many buttons and instruments. Customers also equate a spacious interior with luxury – another reason why the IP shouldn’t look overcrowded.

Designers deal with the problem in various ways. They reduce the size of ‘space-eaters’ such as heating and cooling systems, or even remove them completely from the IP by putting them under the seat or in the boot. They also put many functions, such as station pre-set buttons for audio systems, on touch screens, which save space on the IP. But there is still the danger of overcrowding the screen, which could distract the driver and thus cause an accident. Another problem is the position: the touch screen needs to be located high on the dashboard so that the driver can use it easily while driving. But if it is too high it can be hard to read because of reflections and the sun ‘washing out’ the screen.

Some engineers see voice recognition as a way to get rid of many manual controls and to simplify the IP. But voice recognition can also be overused. There needs to be an optimal balance between visual displays and voice instructions, so that the driver can deal safely with all the information he or she receives.

 

3. Study the following information:

 

 

Automobile dashboard: the control panel of a car. Contains gauges used to measure speed, distance traveled, etc. It is generally located in front of the driver.

Rearview mirror: mirror used for looking backward.

Cigarette lighter: device used for lighting cigarette.

Vent: opening that allows air to circulate in the passenger compartment.

Glove compartment: storage compartment at the front of passenger compartment.

Radio controls: button used to control the radio.

Heating controls: button used to control the different heating systems of a car.

Steering column: set of mechanisms used for steering a car.

Turn signal level: control that operates the turn signals.

Windshield wiper controls: hand lever controlling the windshield wiper.

Instrument panel: set of dials and pictograms that give information on the state of a vehicle.

Sun visor: movable device that shields against the sun.

 

Text 6

1. Look through the adjectives used to describe cars. Can you add any more? Use them to write short descriptions of some well-known brands (Acura, BMW, Bugatti, Infinity, Lexus, Maserati, Audi, ………).

Charming, unconventional, muscular, sleek, distinctive, unique, stylish, striking, bold, sporty, contemporary, spacious.

Work in groups of three to have a role-play meeting. You have to decide whether the tailgate of a new car should be made of steel or plastic. Take the parts of a controller (A), a member of the technical department (B) and a member of the production department (C). Try to reach a decision by the end of the meeting.

Text 7

1. Think and speak about the main disadvantages of going by car. Pay attention to the following:

hazardous emissions, traffic jams, road accidents,

expensive fuel and maintenance of the vehicle

it is difficult to find somewhere to park

THE SMART

Over the last years people have got used to the sight of very small cars parked in tiny parking spaces. Smart is one of the world’s youngest car makers and yet the Smart Fortwo is such a distinctive car that it has already been included as an exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art in New York – one of only six cars to attain this distinction.

In April 1994, the Micro Compact Car AG was founded in Switzerland as a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Swatch. Nicolas Hayek, the inventor of the Swatch watch, brought his idea for an ultra-short small car and Mercedes-Benz contributed expertise and experience from more than a hundred years of building cars. Engineers devised a car which is not only extremely mobile and efficient, but also very economical. Its other key feature is safety, with its unique tridion cell.

After starting development, the Smart Fortwo celebrated its premiere at the Motor Show in 1997. Production in Hambach, France, started in 1998, and sales took off in other European countries. There is no doubt that it is a leader in urban mobility. All Smart vehicles embody the same brand values and have the same ‘DNA’: innovation, functionality and joie de vivre. They appeal to people who are sporty, independent and young at heart; people who love clever solutions and are open to new ideas.

 

3. Answer these questions:

a) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Smart?

b) In which countries do you think small cars are most successful?

c) Do you think small cars will become more popular in the future? Why?

 

4. Complete the table:

The exterior	The interior
Bonnet, front bumper, …	Air vent, car seat (headrest), …

 

Airbag, speedometer, headlight, petrol cap or flap, sunroof, sill, ashtray, wheel arch, cigarette lighter, dashboard, wheel trim, logo, windscreen wiper, wing, aerial, boot, gearstick, number plate, glove compartment, rear window, handbrake, horn, ignition, wing mirror, rear-view mirror, seat belt, rear light, steering wheel, sun visor, engine oil temperature gauge, fuel gauge.

Automobile

mechanic		exterior design
traffic warden		interior design
corporate identity		cigarette lighter
assembly line		ashtray
technical requirements		bonnet (hood)
fuel consumption		boot (trunk)
customer demands		aerial
technical inclination		head and rear lights
streamlined look		cup holder
body style / bodywork		sun visor
four-wheel drive		glove compartment
frame and chassis		sunroof
floor pan		indicator (turn signal)
model ranges		logo, badge, brand image
colour and trim design		exhaust pipe
sound proofing		number plate
transmission		wing mirror
muffler		spare wheel
battery		mud flap, mudguard
steering wheel		sill, grill(e)
air vent		luxury-class off-road vehicle
cockpit		washer nozzle
windscreen (windshield) wiper		accelerator, brake pedal, clutch pedal
semi-automatic		dashboard / instrument panel
inlet and exhaust valves		to move backwards and forwards
chassis frame		handbrake
crankshaft		horn
camshaft		ignition key
cast iron		rear-view mirror
alloy		petrol cap (flap), petrol tank
piston, cylinder		to maintain
piston rings		fuel gauge
flywheel		spring
boot lid		anti-lock braking system
gearstick / gearbox		intake stroke
airbag		compression
shock absorber		power stroke
warm-up period		exhaust stroke
resale value		automated assembly process
first gear		lubricating / oiling system
reverse gear		internal combustion engine
neutral gear		drum and disc brakes
emery cloth		brake shoe
to cause wearing		wheelbase
propeller shaft		electrically operated pump
cooling system		pressure gauge
spark plug		seat (safety) belt

 

British English	American English
accelerator	(also) gas pedal
aerial	antenna
aluminium	aluminum
bonnet	hood
boot	trunk
camper van	recreational vehicle (RV)
crossing	intersection
driving licence	driver’s license
engine	(also) motor
estate car	station wagon (SW)
gear lever/stick	gear shift / stick shift
gearbox	transmission
glove compartment	(also) glow box
gudgeon pin	piston pin
indicator	turn signal
kerb weight	curb weight
lorry	truck
motorway	highway, freeway
number plate	licence plate
oil sump	oil pan
MPV	(also) minivan
people carrier	MPV or minivan
petrol cap (flap)	gas tank lid
petrol station	gas station
petrol tank	gas tank
roundabout	traffic circle
saloon	sedan
side light	parking light
silencer	muffler
subway	underpass
swept volume	piston displacement
tyre	tire
windscreen	windshield
wing mirror	side mirror
wing	fender

 

Text 1

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DESIGN

The stylist responsible for the design of the vehicle exterior develops the proportions, shape and surfaces of the vehicle. Exterior design is first done by a series of digital or manual drawings. Progressively more detailed drawings are executed and approved. Clay and/or digital models are developed from and along with the drawings. The data from these models are then used to create a full-sized mock-up of the final design (body in white). The clay models is first designed in a computer program and then ‘carved’ using the machine and large amounts of clay. Even in times of high-class software and virtual models on power walls the clay model is still the most important tool to evaluate the design of a car and therefore used throughout the industry.

The stylist responsible for the design of the vehicle interior develops the proportions, shape, placement and surfaces for the instrument panel, seats, door trim panels, headliner, pillar trims… Here the emphasis is in ergonomics and the comfort of the passengers. The procedure is the same as with exterior design (sketch, digital model and clay model).

Electronic components and parts of the automobile give more challenges to designers who are required to update on the latest information and knowledge associated with emerging gadgetry, particularly dashboard mobile devices (GPS navigation, satellite and HD radio, mobile TV, MP3 player, video playback and Smartphone interfaces). Though not all the new gadgets are to be designed as factory standard items, but some of them may be integral to determining the future course of any specific models.

1. Complete these sentences with the information from the text:

a) Exterior design is done ………

b) In times of high-class software ………

c) The stylist responsible for the interior design develops ………

d) Here the emphasis is in ………

e) Electronic components and automobile components give ………

2. Make sure that you know these terms:

Accelerator, brake pedal, clutch pedal, dashboard, gearstick, handbrake, horn, ignition, rear-view mirror, wing (fender), petrol cap or flap, sunroof, indicator (turn signal), logo, windscreen (windshield) wiper, exhaust pipe, number plate, wing mirror, roof-rack, rumble seat, spare wheel, rear compartment, brand image, mud flap, step, sill, grill(e), door handle, quarter window, center post, washer nozzle.

 

3. Study the following information:

Trunk: place for stowing baggage.

Tail light: rear light.

Back fender: side rear part of the body that covers the wheel.

Quarter window: window pane situated approximately above the rear wheel.

Roof post: vertical structure that supports the top of the car.

Door handle: part of the door used to open it.

Door: opening used to enter the passenger compartment.

Outside mirror: external mirror used for looking backwards.

Door post: vertical structures that encase the windows.

Hub cap: piece of metal covering the hubs.

Wheel: round object that turns around a central axel and allows the car to advance.

Shield: movable apparatus that protects against bumps.

Indicator light: amber light that is used to signal changes in the car's direction.

License plate: piece of metal that carries a number used to identify the automobile.

Bumper: apparatus at the front and rear of a vehicle that protects the body from minor bumps.

Head light: front light of a car.

Grill: plastic or metal decoration over the radiator.

Hood: cover of the engine compartment at the front of a car.

Windshield wiper: movable device made partly of rubber that wipes the windshield and rear window of a car.

Outside mirror: external mirror used for looking backwards.

Sun roof: movable part that allows the roof of a car to be partially opened.

 

4. Match words from the two boxes to find the exterior car parts:

Head, rear, exhaust, wheel, front, petrol, windscreen, wing, door, number

Wipers, lights, plate, trim, bumper, cap, mirror, handle, lights, pipe

 

5. Complete the sentences with the following words (exterior design):

Bonnet (hood), boot (trunk), side window, aerial, head and rear lights, badge.

a) Don’t forget to retract the …… before using the car wash.

b) You open the …… to look at the engine.

c) Can you put my suitcase into the ……, please?

d) When it starts raining, you need to switch on the ……

e) “What model is that?” “I don’t know, I can’t see the …… from here.”

f) Open the …… and let some fresh air into the car.

 

6. Complete the sentences with the following words (interior design):

Cup holder, sun visor, cigarette lighter, glove compartment, clutch pedal, hands-free telephone, ashtray.

a) It’s so practical to have a …… near the steering wheel, I can take a drink whenever I want.

b) In a car with manual transmission, you need to press the …… when you want to change gear.

c) There’s usually a cosmetic mirror on the passenger’s ……

d) It’s against the law to phone while driving so I’ve ordered a car with a ……

e) Could you have a look in the road atlas? It’s in the ……

f) I don’t need a …… and an …… as I don’t want anyone to smoke in my car.