Concept car glows in the dark

. The company says that 60 percent of accidents occur at intersections at night. The GloCar is therefore illuminated by translucent panels and LED lights to make it more visible. At the same time, the concept simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the need for paint application and minimises air pollution Ford’s Brand Imaging Group will display the GloCar as part of “National Design Triennial: Inside Design Now,” an exhibit now on display at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York. Nearly 100 years ago, Henry Ford let his colour preference be known with a legendary quote: “You can have any colour as long as it’s black.” GloCar challenges the icon by being any color except black. The customisable car was designed to be safe, fun and evoke emotion. “The soft glowing panels serve as a safety feature to make you very visible at night,” said Laurens van den Acker, chief designer at Ford’s Brand Imaging Group. “The rear panel doubles as a brake light, and the side panels as blinkers. When somebody comes too close, the panels increase in intensity, signaling the driver to keep a distance.” The only car on display at the exhibit, it is built around a lightweight aluminum space frame with aluminum extrusions and castings. It is powered by fuel cell technology. The idea came out of socio-cultural and technological trend research. The research determined five scenarios for the future: the unfolding universe, the mosaic society, the experiential society, the sustainable society and the caring society. “These scenarios were used to anticipate future consumer needs and provide solutions for new challenges the automotive industry might face,” said van den Acker. “The intended user is always the end user – the customer.” Based on the scenarios, designers explored possible trends. Among the most important were safety and sustainability. Sixty percent of accidents happen at intersections at night. ‘Being seen’ is key to avoid this. The can be seen from all angles, not just headlights and tail lights. In addition, the car can potentially eliminate the need for vehicle paint, thus eliminating waste as well as reducing complexity at the manufacturer by making only one version of the vehicle. The ecological and bottom line benefits might be obvious, but the positive social impact of the car is also important. “The GloCar projects an image of concern, safety, intelligence and lightness and takes the car from an aggressor to a protector,” said van den Acker. “Imagine hundreds of GloCars, brightening up a city. It shows a future where cars become more intelligent and optimistic.” The “National Design Triennial,” a series of exhibitions exploring contemporary design in the United States, was inaugurated in 2000 by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, to study and celebrate the technological innovations, artistic evolution and cultural impact of design. The work of 80 designers and firms will be on view in an exhibit containing more than 300 objects, models, photographs, films and renderings. The second annual event is subtitled “Inside Design Now,” on view until January 25, 2004. TS