Sabic Innovative Plastics says it is offering customers new insight into the latest automotive design trends through its Auto Trend Watch Programme.

“We offer customers a different perspective on the auto market and its future designs, and provide a forum for thought-provoking discussions on these trends,” said Geert Jan Schellekens, the company’s principal automotive designer. “We rely on our own knowledge, experience, and special ‘antennae’ for design trends that we’ve developed over the years. Our broad and deep experience in automotive styling and engineering, combined with our knowledge on plastics-specific design issues, makes our reports unique and valuable to customers.”
Double-curved glazing is a key automotive design focus, the company said. “As one of the last traditional material strongholds, glass is being replaced by thermoplastics such as Lexan GLX polycarbonate resin. Lexan GLX resin not only offers substantial weight reduction for high-mounted glazed areas such as panoramic roofs, but also facilitates three-dimensional design. This approach can enhance aesthetics and allow integration of functionality within the glazing component.”
It added that although double-curved glazing had been used in some production cars since the late 1990s, it had remained a niche application.
“Now there is a great variety of interpretations of this enabling technology in stunning concepts such as the Hyundai Qarma and Chevrolet Volt. Applications for double-curved glazing include integrated spoilers and lighting functionality in a tailgate, and “double bubble” styling shapes in the panoramic roof of a sports car.”
The company said thermoplastic fenders offered the design freedom needed for complex shapes. “Alternatively, now that headlamp units have become true engineering thermoplastic assemblies (glass lenses, thermoset housings and aluminum reflectors and bezels have been replaced with plastics), these complex components may be reconfigured to include the air intake function,” Sabic Innovative Plastics said.