Bugatti Veyron. A name which is known to those who are crazed for speed and luxurious automobiles. It has the top speed of 431.07 km/h (267.85 mph) and currently holds the record of the world's fastest legal car. When it comes to the shape, or the form of the car, does it ring a bell? Have you ever wonder why is the legendary Veyron designed this way? Was it because that it's attractive? Or is it due to the performances' needs?
In my opinion, the forms or the shape of the car follows the function of the car. For example, Buggati Veyron runs a maximum speed of 431.07 km/h, therefore,things such as the down force and the aerodynamic current should be taken into account in order to prevent the far from flying off or thrown into the air when it is running that fast.
Look at the picture above, it's the spoiler of Bugatti Veyron. Do you think they design it this way then think of it's function? It's like designing a box without thinking what use does it do. Designers normally work with the engineer to know what kind of design are to be made while maintaining the function that they wanted the car to possessed. When the car reaches 220 km/h (140 mph), hydraulics lower the car until it has a ground clearance of about 9 cm (3.5 in). At the same time, the wing and spoiler deploy. This is the handling mode, in which the wing helps provide 3,425 newtons (770 lbf) of downforce, holding the car to the road. The driver must, using a special key (the top speed key), toggle the lock to the left of his seat in order to attain the maximum (average) speed of 407 km/h (253 mph). The key functions only when the vehicle is at a stop, when a checklist then establishes whether the car and its driver are ready to enable top speed mode. If all systems are go, the rear spoiler retracts, the front air diffusers shut and the ground clearance, normally 12.5 cm (4.9 in), drops to 6.5 cm (2.6 in).
The Veyron was design with it's back part longer than it's front part is due to that it's engine is situated at the back of the car, giving it powers on the back wheels to increase the acceleration as cars with engines in front had a hard time accelerating due to their front parts pushing weight. Besides that, Veyron's shell or frame was design to sustain the air pressure outside the car while in top speed.
In conclusion, I think the forms normally follows functions as we could not deisgn or to invent the look of something without knowing first what it will do.
