HALF! Lightweight with a Passion

As consumers and governments push for dramatic gains in fuel efficiency, the automotive industry is looking to design and develop lightweight next-generation vehicles.

Designers create the inspirational forms that drive desire for vehicle ownership, but they will also contribute to lightweight vehicle development through materials choices and using the most effective manufacturing techniques. Successful design relies on closer cooperation between design, engineering, manufacturing and planning than ever before.

Participants are asked to explore lightweight vehicle development by designing a family vehicle capable of transporting between four and six people, meeting consumer demands for safety and comfort, usable on the current road infrastructure, and production feasible using materials, powertrain solutions, or manufacturing solutions that are in use today or in development for use in the foreseeable future.

Michelin is looking for exciting and passionate designs that employ innovative vehicle architecture for weight reduction, without compromising safety or comfort. The vehicle's lightweight characteristics must extend to the tire/wheel assembly, including dimensional specifications and visual detail of the tire/wheel assembly.

Deliverables:

    2D renderings/drawings/sketches illustrating vehicle architecture from a minimum of three perspectives—at least one with context of people and intended driving environment.
    2D renderings/drawings/sketches illustrating the tire and wheel assembly from a minimum of three perspectives, including dimensions and specifications.
    Description of materials or manufacturing process enabling the innovation.
    A brief (200 word) essay on the envisioned targeted usage and benefits, as well as expected trends for the size of wheels and tires in the future.

DESIGN PROPERTIES TO BE DISPLAYED:

    Concept models, in scale and full-size form
    Concepts in two dimensions
    Sketches, computer-generated renderings, engineering drawings

PARTICIPANTS:

    OEM design studios
    Independent design studios
    Individual designers
    Academic Transportation Design students and teams
    Automotive suppliers

JURY EVALUATES ENTRIES ON FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

    Relevance to the theme
    Concept originality
    Design value and quality
    Developmental potential
    Design displayability

Michelin Challenge Design
Michelin North America, Inc. (“Michelin”) created the annual Michelin Challenge Design™ to celebrate, promote, publicize and give visibility to original creative thinking and innovation in vehicle design.

By embracing and supporting design, Michelin aims to establish a closer relationship with the design community, combining technical innovation with transportation design to create vehicles that consumers want to buy and will enjoy driving.

Michelin Challenge Design is a collection of events and activities reflecting Michelin North America’s interest in and commitment to innovative design. Michelin’s corporate culture places a high value on design and innovation as important to consumer satisfaction and maintaining Michelin’s role as the industry leader.