AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN
Tanks to virtual reality and 3D models, Bugatti now develops its hyper sports cars considerably faster and even more precisely. “Today, we are the leading manufacturer to apply this form of development in such a systematic way, and not just in the hyper sports car segment,” says Stephan Winkelmann, president of Bugatti. Everything starts with the draft from a
creative individual such as chief designer, Achim Anscheidt. Design computer specialists then digitise this draft and virtually develop the shape on the screen using special computers with enormous computing power. Tey first roughly edit the studies on the basis of sketch models to come up with initial, rudimentary proportions. “We subsequently refine the curves, adapt surfaces and balance the interplay of light and shadow. We generate a VR presentation from the completed digital data record, which comes stunningly close to seeing the real thing,” Ahmet Daggün explains.
DIGITAL MODELS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND PRECISION Using monitors or VR goggles with a high depth effect, Bugatti employees can assess the vehicles, which are already at 90% of the subsequent production status, from all sides. Experts implement requested changes within one day – regardless of the country in which the decision-makers such as Winkelmann and Anscheidt are currently located. Back in the analogue age, this took up to two weeks. Tis gives designers and engineers more freedom and time to perfect the respective model.
The process for draft drawings of new cars has now been digitised Bugatti produces a physical data
control model from rigid foam as soon as an agreement has been reached on the digital model. Designers and developers analyse the proportions at a distance of between 30 to 40m to get a better impression of the shapes and proportions. “A physical model you can touch is still important because Bugatti vehicles are always highly emotive and we really want to feel them,” says Anscheidt. Any requested changes are manually visualised by the designers for correction on the
respective model and are incorporated in the digital model so that a show car or pre-series vehicle can be directly created from the final data record. “Tanks to this digital process, we save a minimum of five months development time, while also increasing the number of adaptation loops and thus also the quality. Digital models also allow us to identify and smooth out even the smallest imperfections in advance. We therefore designed the Bugatti Divo in six months instead of one year,” explains Anscheidt. All the involved Bugatti designers
are also experts in computer-generated imagery (CGI) and image synthesis. It is extremely important to have an excellent visual understanding of 3D animations, vehicle volumes, shapes and defining contours. “Tese individuals are absolute specialists and without them, this process would not be possible,” says Anscheidt. Digital 3D technology will continue
The Divo was designed in just six months
to massively transform the automotive design and engineering process. Bugatti is one of the most outstanding innovators here. “As a result, we live up to the claim of company founder Ettore Bugatti, who once said that perfection is never reached. But we will do all we can to get as close to it as possible,” Stephan Winkelmann.
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