The dialogue between design and engineering is a difficult one and determines the steadyrnpace at which vehicles evolve.rnThe traditional view is that designersrnwork on what is desirable, and engineers add thernreality. A stylist sketches some lines for the side panel,rnfor instance, and the engineer finds out if it's possiblernto get that crease at the front while maintaining therncurve and structural strength at the back.rnBut, as more sophisticated drivetrains, electronics and materials emerge from R&D, the emphasis is moving onto designers to find inventive ways of incorporating them into future vehicles.rnAs both a coachbuilder and a design house, Pininfarina has always been aware that cars have to be engineered and manufactured. Its work on the iconic 1987 Ferrari F40's design took on board its research into aerodynamics, while the car's skin comprised just 11 carbon-fibre body panels.
展开▼
