Car of the future in Pasadena? - Pasadena's Art Center College of Design

Sunset, Jan, 1990

Car of the future in Pasadena? The car of the future may very well emerge from a lump of modeling clay sculpted in Harry Bradley's auto design class (shown above) at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design.

Sound far-fetched? Not when you consider that car-crazy Southern California has become an international center for automobile design, and that many of the leading auto designers in this country, Japan, and Western Europe are graduates of the Art Center program.

To recognize the region's design leadership, Sunset has established the annual Western Automotive Design Award for students in the program. Our first award project: devise a vehicle for weekend use by Westerners of the future. Results will go on display in Art Center's lobby gallery January 15.

Not only students but also professional designers are targeting Southern California's huge, tough market of car buyers--described as the most discriminating, knowledgeable, and innovation-hungry in the world. The region also has acute need for vehicles that offer improved fuel efficiency and meet toughening emissions standards.

Aware that California's car-buying tastes lead the rest of the country by about three years, 12 automakers--all the major American and Japanese companies, and two European manufacturers--have set up Southern California design studios since 1973. Here they can watch trends emerge. They study how people use their vehicles--what they carry, where they go, how long they drive--and how they customize what they drive.

Then the automakers start responding. Richard Hutting, Ford's head California designer, says, "Detroit wants unbiased opinions, true West Coast thinking."

Innovation from the Southern California design studios has included development of sunroofs and T tops, plusher interiors in utility vehicles like pickups that often double as family cars, pop-out body panels that transform a car into a convertible or pickup, built-in beverage holders for the commuter, and generally rounder, sleeker, more aerodynamic-looking lines. Among vehicles developed in Southern California are Chevy's 1986 Camaro RS, Chrysler's '86 Dodge Lancer and '90 Plymouth Laser, Ford's '89 Thunderbird, Honda's '84 CRX and '91 Accord station wagon, Mazda's '89 MPV minivan and '90 Miata, Mitsubishi's '89 Eclipse, Nissan's '86 Hardbody pickup and '87 Pulsar NX, Toyota's '78 Celica and '91 Previa van.

In the projects underway at Art Center, we've seen hints of tomorrow's minivans, sport-utility vehicles, and pickups. Concepts taking shape include modular removable seating, hatches that open like roll-top desks, storage bins low on the chassis, thief-proof bike carriers, and lots of glass--from a removable bubble top to a glass tailgate. Considering future needs, one student says, "In 20 years people may not be hauling home sheets of plywood; the load may be photovoltaic cells instead."

You can see the winning results from January 15 through mid-March at Art Center, 1700 Lida Street, off Linda Vista Avenue in the hills just west of the Rose Bowl. Hours are 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 to 5 Fridays and Saturdays. Call (818) 584-5000 for details.