Technical Report.doc

Command & Conquer. Liyong Liu. 2013Command & Conquer Compact 4x4Technical Report Teesside UniversityBA (HONS) Product design Industrial & TransportationMajor Project: The Compact 4x4 vehicleLiyong LiuM219405405/2013Project SummaryThis project focuses on improving the design of the 4x4 vehicle which is used for families and individuals, especially in family weekend outgoing as well as personal off road experiencing. This vehicle was chosen as it is a multipurpose transportation and it can meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of majority of consumers. The main aim of this project is therefore to find the problems which may face by the drivers and passengers in their daily using and find the solutions by creating new concept through marketing researching, sketching, physical model analysing as well as further development. The final result will be presented as rendered picture and physical model to indicates the feature of both visual and functional design.It is common to find the complains about the drawbacks of feature that a 4x4 vehicle has, for instance, some 4x4 have the less luggage capacity, have the boring exterior looking, have the inappropriate body and chassis constriction which might has negative effect on off-road and on-road performance. While some vehicles can provide better experience for the customers, as much as they available low consumptions, attractive looking, and big sitting space which can afford a cosy environment for move about and breath. Besides, it is therefore hoped that this design would solve the issues that faced by the majority of customers in their daily usage. Contents Page1. Brief 1.1 Context 4 1.2 What the design should and shouldnt do 5 2. Design Process 6 3. Initial Research 3.1 Initial potential consumers7 3.2 Meeting with potential consumers 73.3 Example vehicle researching 83.4 Questionnaire 94. Secondary Research 4.2 Real example test driving 11 4.3 The engine type 12 4.4 Advanced Vehicle Technology 12 5. Marketing 5.1 Market sectors 13 5.2 The UK Market 145.3 The key to success of a compact 4x4 15 6. Design Development 6.1 Development of Concepts 166.2 Development of form through physical modeling 17 6.3 Development of aesthetic style 187. Design Solutions 7.1 The steer and drive system 20 7.2 Functionality Solution 20 7.3 Vehicle dimensions 218. Branding 219. SWOT Analysis 22 10. In Conclusion 22 11. Bibliography231. Brief1.1 Context Cars made our live easy, look further, youll see a man in a machine, look again, youll see a machine in a man, without one another, they are nothing. Hundreds years ago, carriage was our servant, and then the cars came to our daily life. During the last 100 years, cars developed a lot and a variety of vehicle types has been created to meet different usage proposals. To this day, 4x4 vehicles helped us not only conquer every field of the land, but also move quickly and easy convenient.The initial phase of this project has identified that In EU countries, 4x4 vehicle is familys priority choice usually, then comes the saloon or other type of cars, as off road vehicles are not only active, but functional as well. Near 60% consumers admitted that 4x4 vehicle is one of the best choices among all types of cars.Special consideration should be focused on how the design can improve on aspects of multifunction, economical efficiency as well as the styling.Some of the following aspects of 4x4 vehicle should be seriously concerned:- Materials- Drivetrain- Fuel efficiency- Exterior styling- Weight reducing- Luggage capacity- Technical feasibility- Body & chassis construction The final design should be revolved around the multipurpose and how the exterior styling will attract the consumers. Besides, the road performance is also important to the car handling. This research should therefore identify the issues which should be solved during the developing progress. 1.2 What the design should and shouldnt do What the design should do The needs of both family members and individuals should be combined in this design. Besides, the emphasis should be placed on multipurpose and exterior styling of the vehicle.Now-days, a trend that using the luggage space as much as a vehicles capacity can is burning in peoples daily usage. A design idea should therefore be created is building the maximum luggage space in a restricted interior area. Meanwhile, trying to place the stuff in an appropriately location of the inside space, and this method can be also used in building the exterior as well.It has already decided that this 4x4 vehicle will provide a better feeling for the end users in their usage, meanwhile, a efficient but low fuel consuming driving system will be designed with some designated features. What the design shouldnt doThe scale if this 4x4 needs to be in an appropriate size, in another word, it cannot too big, as much as its for family and individuals, and it must has an effective fuel consuming level, ad well as a easy-handling body.This design shouldnt be restricted in a common styling, as the consumers would not pay for a boring-looking car, in addition, the styling design should follow the aesthetic trend, a modern styling would be possibly fall behind the time.In addition, the manufacturing cost must be reduced to a minimum, as families usually cannot afford a unreasonable price car, furthermore, family cars usually belong to a segment which is usually a segment with a reasonable price. 2. Design Process- Research issues faced by families and individuals when driving- Focus on 4x4 vehicle market- Meeting with the other 4x4s owners & potential consumers- Look further into 4x4 marketing share- Marketing positioning- General idea sketch- Make comparison between several concepts- Develop idea through sketch and foam models- Explore the styling and make decision- Make CAD model- Material selection- Make physical model- Generate final visuals- Clear up research & final results for final presentation 3. Initial Research 3.1 Initial people response to 4x4s The research and analysis shows the following informations:What people care about are functional, economic, and recreational in weekend outgoing and personally real off road driving. Heres some analysis form majority individuals complains:- Despite Large ground clearance can make the car cross barrier easily, but this would cause unstable dynamic in high-speed situation.- It is a common believe that light body weight can provide a flexible feeling for drivers, whats more, light weight can decrease the fuel consumption as well.- Too big size of vehicles makes them feel difficult to driving in urban.- Extremely boot space doesnt means omnipotent in some situation, for instance, if you have a mega boot at the rear of the car, but you need to carry a snowmobile or a mountain bike. Meanwhile, the variable combination of luggage space speaks louder than the word “ big ”.- Very few people willing to drive their beloved car pound the stone and dirty mud, they spend the most driving time in urban and outskirts during their weekend time.Therefore, compact 4x4 is more acceptable for majority consumers. This is more like a compromise requirement of mini 4x4, compact 4x4, and large 4x4.3.2 Meeting with potential consumersA meeting has been operated with the purpose of researching the customers requirements, and 3 people took part in it: me, a classmate and an old man that Ive met in a pub. I talked to them respectively and asked the classmate about what a 4x4 should be in his view, the feedback was that a 4x4 should has an aggressive appearance, and it could be a sharp or smooth style like, besides, the car should has a fantastic handling performance.In addition, the opinion from the old man indicated that the aged people or family members rather the function performance and a big sitting space, the problem therefore was its very difficult to build a large space in a compact car. The meeting with them gave me a blue print which showed me the direction of treating the relationship between sitting space and compact exterior scale.3.3 Example vehicle researching Examples: Jeep compass, Range Rover Evoque The comparison between Jeep Compass and Range Rover Evoque: Models DetailsItems Jeep Compass2.4 CVT Limited 4x4Range Rover EvoqueSD4 Automatic (4WD) 5 DoorsFuel Type Unleaded Petrol DieselDisplacement (cc) 2360 2179Gearbox CVT6-Speed automaticMax. Power hp rpm 168 6000 190 3,500Max. Torque - Nm rpm 220 4500 420 1,750Body TypeUnibodyUnibodyTurning Circle (kerb to kerb in metres) 11.3 11.3 Ground Clearance (Front/rear) (mm) 205 / 209 215 /240 Approach / Ramp / Departure Angle (degrees) 20 / 32 / 20 19 /30/22 Kerb Weight Max. (kg) 1530 1685 Gross Vehicle Weight (kg) 1980 2350Max Cargo Volume - Seats Up (ltr) 458 870 Max Cargo Volume - Seats Down (ltr) 1269 1445 Height x Length x Width （mm）1663 x4448 x1812 1,635 x4,365 x2,125（1,965） Wheelbase (mm) 2635 2660 Track Front/Rear (mm) 1520/1520 1625/ N/A0-62 mph (secs) 10.7 8.5 Max. Speed (mph) 116 121 Fuel Consumption：Urban mpg(l/100km） 25.0 (11.3) 36.2 (7.8) Range Rover Evoque performances better than Jeep Compass in driving and economic sectors, but Compass is good at off road experience, meanwhile, both of them have their unique characters. In conclusion, Evoque is better for normal weekend out door going. My design goal is to balance the equipment, and the advantages and drawbacks of compact 4x4s . 3.4 Questionnaire To explore different views of a wide range of drivers, a questionnaire was distributed respectively among 6 4x4 owners and 2 drivers who drive the other type of cars. The following are some of the common points they raised.For 4x4 owners Question 1: What purpose urged you bought a 4x4 instead of any other types of vehicles?Answer: The characteristics of 4x4 is revolved around multifunction which is definitely appropriate for dailypurchasing and outgoing, in addition, 4x4s usually have high suspension, which is easier for conquer the mud surfaces.Question 2: Do you often go off-road drive?Answer: Not really, going off-road may damage my car, no one would drive their beloved car in to a mud surface or rap, and the common purpose of this car is outgoing or purchasing. A Hummer or Defender would be appropriate if we want to go to off-road drivingQuestion 3: What kind of problems do you face when using your 4x4?Answer: The thick A pillar causes blind angle area. 4x4s usually have thick A pillar because of the heavy roof and the big body, but this causes bad influence on driving safety. For drivers who drive the other type of carsQuestion 5: Have you ever drove a 4x4 before and whats the feeling like?Answer: 4x4 is high and big enough, I therefore can see the ground and the front of car clearly. Whats more, it can across the bumpy surface with a high speed, all of them are good driving experience.Question 6: What would you like to see the feature improving on exist 4x4 vehicles?Answer: A 4x4 vehicle could has a more attractive like appearance, and the equipments could be satisfy peoples entertainment requirements. After discussing all the issues with those 8 people it was decided that the A pillar problem, functionality, chassis and styling problem should be added into the new step. 4. Further Research 4.1 Real example 4x4 test drivingCar maker: Faw-Audi (An Audi factory in China), Model: Q5 2.0 TFSIAs a compact 4x4 which gained a great success, Q5 is absolute valuable, and Ive operated this private test with the purpose of understanding how a good 4x4 would be like. A test driving has been operated during the holiday that I stayed in China. The test car belongs to a friend of my families. The test was revolving around the exterior styling, functionality as well as the handling.The Q5 remained a good impression to me. The styling was a kind of luxurious; the fabrication procedure was faultless which represented the advanced technology of great manufacturers. A compact exterior shape made it looks sporty. Above all, it heritages the characteristics of Audi and has its own unique details as well. The rear boot space of Q5 was good enough for us to carry all our stuff. It has a cross wall in the middle of the boot, which can loads a lot of small stuff, and the passengers can pick up straight away while sitting inside. A big roof window on the top broaden the passengers view, and the curtain can keep the privacy, but theres a pillar in the middle of the roof window might block the view.The test drive operated in the undulating mountain in Xingjiang, China, and this Q5 got its nature released. There were 4 people on this so called “small engine” 4x4, however the turbo charger made the 2.0L petrol engine as strong as a normal 2.5L engine, and Ive pushed it from 0-100km/h within circa 9 seconds, The Q5 wasnt as strong as a super car, but it really meant a big success to a 4x4 with only 2.0L engine. Besides, the suspension was less comfortable for me, but it can keets a good dynamic performance on a bumpy surface. The Quattro four-wheel drive system made the car agile under every condition.In general, Q5 is a good 4x4, and Ill regard it as an example in the next several progresses. 4.2 The engine type There are 2 types of common engine that have been widely used on mass produced cars: petrol and diesel, the technology of both of them have been developed to an advanced level. In addition, despite the electric engine and hybrid system is the way forward, but unless they are less developed than a traditional gas engine. The cost of running a car with a diesel engine is less than that with a petrol engine, especially in a 4x4 or van. The research on exist 4x4 vehicles shows that most compact 4x4s use 4 inline cylinders engine, and some available turbo charger, however the V6 engines are equipped on a more luxury compact 4x4. In this project, I plan to build a 2.0L 4-inline cylinders engine. The displacement of the those engines are circa 2000 cc, to say it truly, 2.0L engine has a good fuel economic and can provides a strong power and torque as well. 4.3 Advanced Vehicle TechnologyIn this project, mechanical data can be hardly available, as this project focuses on the art styling and roughly body construction. The technology details would be only roughly expounded. 4-wheel drive system has been widely use on 4x4 vehicles, this system can provide good contact between tyres and road for the drivers. In this project, the general idea is to explain the drivetrain as “4 wheel drive”.Theres no A pillar in this car, as I want to provide better sight for the driver. The B & C pillar should be strong enough to support the roof.A car cant be stable in a high speed with a high suspension, to tackle with it, theres a front wing and a rear wing near the end of the roof, whats more the two steps in left and sight side of the car can also be designed as a wing with the purpose of improving aerodynamic. In addition, the material of front wing is soft plastic and it can therefore protect pedestrian in an accident. 5. Marketing 5.1Market sectorsAccording to British car segment, off road vehicles are classified by mini 4x4, compact 4x4 and large 4x