Winners of the recently reported PPG-sponsored autoglass design contest each received a trophy made of PPG ultra-clear Starphire glass, plus scholarships of US$ 1,500, US$ 1,000 and US$ 500 for first,…
Winners of the recently reported PPG-sponsored autoglass design contest each received a trophy made of PPG ultra-clear Starphire glass, plus scholarships of US$ 1,500, US$ 1,000 and US$ 500 for first, second and third place respectively. First prize went to 21-year-old Herain Patel, second prize to Addam Ebel, aged 28, and third prize to Thamer Hannona, 21. The awards, for students at Detroit“s Center for Creative Studies (CCS), were presented by Ernest Hahn, PPG vice president automotive glass, during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “We have indeed accomplished our most important goal of uncovering some innovative concepts,” said Hahn, adding that PPG will review all entries to determine the viability of every concept for pursuit with its automotive customers. Patel“s design was for a vehicle that is a cross between a car and pick-up truck. It has an electrochromic glass canopy comprised of slats that open, close or stack for control of air and sunlight. Side door glass is a single piece, shaped like an upside-down L, from foot well to roof and front to back, with an operable glass inset window. Glass panels slide from the roof and sides to enclose the truck bed. Ebel“s design was for a two-seater that can transform into a truck-like sport-utility vehicle (SUV) with room for five people, by raising the back of the electrochromic glass roof to provide headroom for back-seat passengers. Hannona“s third-place design was for an SUV crossover that can look like a convertible by retracting its three-piece tinted-glass roof. Thirteen transportation design students submitted concepts. To prepare them for the contest, PPG glass and coatings experts provided information on glass manufacturing, design and colour trends, and relationships between automotive paint and glass.