As a worked example, consider a hypothetical redesign of the current-generation Toyota Sequoia. The Toyota Sequoia is classified as a sport utility vehicle (SUV). An SUV is a combination of a passenger car with the features of an off-road vehicle. In the US, SUVs are categorized as “light trucks,” so regulations on these large vehicles…
What is vehicle benchmarking? Vehicle benchmarking is the structured process automakers use early in a vehicle program to compare a new or redesigned vehicle against its closest competitors and reference vehicles. Rather than copying a rival’s design, benchmarking gives engineering teams objective data — dimensions, performance, features — to set realistic, competitive targets for the…
What is automotive interior design? Automotive interior design is the discipline of shaping a vehicle’s cabin around the people who will actually sit in it — seating, controls, sightlines, and comfort, all built to fit real human bodies. The interior of the vehicle is designed around the occupant package: engineers start with where the driver’s…
What Is Quality Function Deployment (QFD)? Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is a structured methodology for translating customer needs into specific, measurable engineering requirements. Rather than relying on assumptions about what a customer wants, QFD starts with actual customer feedback, ranks those needs by importance, and maps them against the engineering and functional requirements needed to…
System engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering decision-making process involved in designing and using systems and products throughout their life cycle. The approach a system engineer takes is that as a car company does not build one component or system, they make an automobile. With that mentality several of the basic characteristics system engineering approach to…
What Is the Systems Engineering V-Model (V-Cycle)? The V-Model — also called the V-cycle — is a systems engineering framework that lays out a project’s entire lifecycle in the shape of a “V.” The left side of the V walks down from high-level requirements to detailed component design; the right side walks back up, integrating…
To ensure a thorough evaluation of both drivetrains, both powertrains will be studied under various conditions so the best choice could be made. First, it is important for us to know the EPA fuel economy regulations for when these systems will be. Released into market. If either of these two systems does not meet the…