Editing Automotive design

{{Short description|Design discipline for motor vehicles}}

'''Automotive design''' is the design discipline for [[motor vehicle]]s. It covers the exterior shape, interior layout, body structure, materials, controls, visibility, passenger space, and practical use of a vehicle.

Automotive design is used for cars, tractors, trucks, buses, motorcycles, and modified vehicles. It works with engineering, safety, production, and repair needs. A vehicle design must give the vehicle a clear form while still allowing the engine, drivetrain, suspension, steering, seats, doors, lights, and controls to fit and work correctly.

== Scope ==
Automotive design includes the outside shape of the vehicle, the layout of the cabin, and the placement of mechanical parts. Exterior design controls the vehicle's proportions, body panels, glass areas, doors, lights, and surface details. Interior design controls the seating position, dashboard, controls, storage space, visibility, and access.

Design also includes colour and trim. This covers paint, fabric, leather, plastics, metal finish, badges, and other visible materials. These choices affect how the vehicle looks and how the driver and passengers use it.

== Process ==
Automotive design usually begins with sketches and layout studies. Designers set the basic size, wheel position, cabin space, engine placement, and body shape. Later stages use scale models, full-size models, and computer-aided design to test the form and prepare it for production.

Engineering work runs beside the design process. A vehicle cannot be shaped only for appearance. It must have enough space for its mechanical parts, enough strength in the body, proper driver visibility, safe access, cooling, lighting, and usable controls.

== Vehicle examples ==
The [[Ferdischreiter]] used a simple agricultural design. Its open frame, exposed belt, side flywheel, and basic driving position were shaped by farm use and workshop repair needs.

The [[Mercedes-Benz SLS (Eef Hoos)]] kept the two-door coupé body of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but its raised suspension and roof-load setup changed the vehicle's practical design. The conversion showed how automotive design can continue after factory production when a vehicle is modified for a specific owner or use.

== See also ==
* [[Ferdischreiter]]
* [[Mercedes-Benz SLS (Eef Hoos)]]
* [[Renault NN (Petru Rambam)]]
* [[Vehicles]]


[[Category:Vehicles]]