Smart Auto Design

Part 4: Smart design reduces vehicle weight and mass

Government and consumer demand is on the rise for improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Accordingly, automotive designers are exploring new ways to reduce vehicle weight and mass.

“The less your car weighs, the more miles per gallon you get,” said Johnson Controls Automotive Experience Seating design manager Sherry Sabbagh. “We also want to reduce mass. But, making seats slimmer, for example, doesn’t necessarily make them lighter because you may need a heavier structure for safety reasons.”

Automotive Experience is resolving this apparent conflict by employing smart design utilizing lighter components and less material without compromising structural integrity or safety. Here are two examples:

Synergy Seat